Mediolanum International Funds Ltd Cuts Stock Holdings in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Mediolanum International Funds Ltd reduced its position in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 56.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 31,655 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 41,746 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $9,229,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 0.9% during the first quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC now owns 3,630 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,134,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Security Financial Services INC. lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Security Financial Services INC. now owns 5,043 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,575,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the period. AGP Franklin LLC boosted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. AGP Franklin LLC now owns 10,001 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $3,125,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. WealthTrust Axiom LLC grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 1.8% in the first quarter. WealthTrust Axiom LLC now owns 1,946 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $608,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. Finally, Certior Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 2.6% in the first quarter. Certior Financial Group LLC now owns 1,367 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $427,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Manuel Jm Steijaert sold 13,134 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.42, for a total value of $3,945,716.28. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,606 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,383,734.52. This represents a 74.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 1,000 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $315,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer directly owned 6,858 shares in the company, valued at $2,160,270. This represents a 12.73% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 34,463 shares of company stock valued at $10,549,351. 0.25% of the stock is owned by insiders.

McDonald’s Price Performance

NYSE:MCD opened at $309.00 on Friday. McDonald’s Corporation has a one year low of $276.53 and a one year high of $326.32. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $302.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $304.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $220.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.50.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.11). McDonald’s had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. The company had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.23 earnings per share. McDonald’s’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.86 per share. This is a boost from McDonald’s’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is presently 63.48%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on McDonald’s from $305.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Mizuho upgraded McDonald’s to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on McDonald’s in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $320.00 price objective for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $324.57.

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.