Weekly Research Analysts’ Ratings Updates for McDonald’s (MCD)

Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD):

• 5/11/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $325.00 to $305.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 5/8/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by Royal Bank Of Canada from $330.00 to $305.00. They now have a “sector perform” rating on the stock.
• 5/8/2026 – McDonald’s was given a new $331.00 price target by Morgan Stanley.
• 5/8/2026 – McDonald’s was given a new $350.00 price target by Evercore Inc.
• 5/8/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by Wells Fargo & Company from $355.00 to $320.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 5/8/2026 – McDonald’s was upgraded by Cfra to “buy”.
• 5/8/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by Barclays PLC from $380.00 to $350.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 5/8/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by KeyCorp from $345.00 to $330.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.
• 5/7/2026 – McDonald’s was given a new $305.00 price target by Robert W. Baird.
• 5/7/2026 – McDonald’s had its “buy” rating reaffirmed by BTIG Research. They now have a $370.00 price target on the stock.
• 5/7/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by TD Cowen from $330.00 to $300.00. They now have a “hold” rating on the stock.
• 4/28/2026 – McDonald’s had its “buy” rating reaffirmed by BTIG Research. They now have a $370.00 price target on the stock.
• 4/27/2026 – McDonald’s was downgraded by Weiss Ratings from “buy (b)” to “buy (b-)”.
• 4/27/2026 – McDonald’s was downgraded by Erste Group Bank AG from “buy” to “hold”.
• 4/23/2026 – McDonald’s was upgraded by Rothschild & Co Redburn from “sell” to “neutral”. They now have a $306.00 price target on the stock, up from $260.00.
• 4/21/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by Morgan Stanley from $335.00 to $334.00. They now have an “equal weight” rating on the stock.
• 4/20/2026 – McDonald’s had its price target lowered by KeyCorp from $354.00 to $345.00. They now have an “overweight” rating on the stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total value of $2,066,731.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 2,291 shares in the company, valued at $763,567.39. This trade represents a 73.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $307.00, for a total value of $806,182.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 8,400 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,578,800. The trade was a 23.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 12,119 shares of company stock valued at $3,945,973. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

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.