Versant Capital Management Inc Reduces Stock Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Versant Capital Management Inc lessened its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 58.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,671 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 2,353 shares during the quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $452,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,750 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $535,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Encompass More Asset Management lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Encompass More Asset Management now owns 2,120 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $648,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Richmond Investment Services LLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Richmond Investment Services LLC now owns 2,278 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $696,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management inc. lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management inc. now owns 8,809 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,692,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in McDonald’s by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,102 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $642,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

NYSE:MCD opened at $273.67 on Thursday. McDonald’s Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $260.96 and a fifty-two week high of $341.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $194.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.41. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $274.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $296.80.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.32 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $7.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.13 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.72% and a negative return on equity of 512.80%. McDonald’s’s revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.19 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.84 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be issued a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is currently 60.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have commented on MCD shares. Evercore set a $320.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $300.00 to $290.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded McDonald’s from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $260.00 to $306.00 in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on McDonald’s from $322.00 to $319.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $305.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 11th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $325.44.

Trending Headlines about McDonald’s

Here are the key news stories impacting McDonald’s this week:

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s reported adjusted earnings of $3.38 per share, exceeding the $3.32 consensus estimate and rising from $3.19 a year earlier. Revenue increased 3.7% year over year to $7.10 billion, while comparable sales grew across all three operating segments. McDonald’s Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: International comparable-sales growth and record restaurant margins helped offset weaker domestic traffic, supporting the view that McDonald’s global franchise model remains resilient. Q2 Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: BTIG reaffirmed its “buy” rating with a $350 price target, indicating substantial potential upside and providing a bullish counterpoint to more cautious broker views. BTIG Rating Update
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s appointed longtime executive Skye Anderson as president of McDonald’s USA, replacing Joe Erlinger. The leadership change signals an effort to improve value, service and execution in the company’s largest market, but also underscores the urgency of the U.S. slowdown. McDonald’s Names Skye Anderson U.S. President
• Negative Sentiment: U.S. comparable sales rose only 0.8%, down sharply from 2.5% a year earlier and below expectations. Lower-income customers remain pressured by inflation and other economic costs, reducing restaurant visits. McDonald’s U.S. Sales Disappoint
• Negative Sentiment: Management acknowledged that an overly complicated value offering and reduced digital discounts failed to attract loyal customers. The company’s plan to reach 50,000 restaurants globally has consequently been pushed from 2027 to 2028, reflecting a more cautious expansion outlook. McDonald’s Expansion Timeline
• Negative Sentiment: Morgan Stanley, RBC and Baird each lowered their price targets, maintaining equal-weight, sector-perform or neutral ratings. The revisions reflect concern that higher spending, rather than customer growth, is driving results. Analyst Price Target Updates

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total value of $1,493,248.64. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,198,930.88. This trade represents a 40.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total value of $769,108.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,744,760.48. This trade represents a 30.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 8,348 shares of company stock worth $2,355,634. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Company Profile

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafé coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonald’s serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships.

Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brand’s national and international expansion.