Greenwood Capital Associates LLC Grows Stake in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Greenwood Capital Associates LLC raised its position in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 23.4% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 29,711 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,643 shares during the quarter. Greenwood Capital Associates LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $8,031,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of McDonald’s by 1.8% in 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 acquiring an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. Encompass More Asset Management increased its position in shares of McDonald’s by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Encompass More Asset Management now owns 2,120 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $648,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Richmond Investment Services LLC raised its stake in McDonald’s by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Richmond Investment Services LLC now owns 2,278 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $696,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management inc. raised its stake in McDonald’s by 0.4% in 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 purchasing an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allied Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Allied Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,366 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $417,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

McDonald’s News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Investors purchased 34,703 MCD call options, approximately 34% above typical volume. The activity may indicate increased bullish speculation, though options flow alone does not confirm a sustained rally.
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s benefited from a modest rebound in burger stocks as traders considered whether elevated short interest could contribute to a short squeeze. Wendy’s Climbs 4%, McDonald’s Ticks Up: Is Short Interest Setting Up a Squeeze in the Burger Trade?
• Positive Sentiment: The company is bringing back Spicy McNuggets on September 1 after a two-year absence, alongside other limited-time menu items and seasonal coffee promotions. These launches could support traffic and customer engagement, although their financial impact is likely modest. McDonald’s to Bring Back Spicy McNuggets
• Positive Sentiment: A consumer survey again ranked McDonald’s fries ahead of major competitors, reinforcing the brand’s strong customer recognition. A Hello Kitty and Godzilla Happy Meal promotion may provide additional promotional appeal.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst comparisons with Domino’s highlight McDonald’s global expansion, digital initiatives and customer-engagement efforts, but do not represent a new company-specific catalyst. McDonald’s vs. Domino’s: Which Stock Has Better Growth Prospects?
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports about a fake McDonald’s support bot promising free premium AI tools appear to be a scam warning rather than an operating or earnings development.
• Negative Sentiment: Argus lowered its McDonald’s price target to $310, signaling more limited near-term upside despite the target remaining above the current market level. Argus Lowers McDonald’s Price Target
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s slipped with other burger stocks after takeover speculation surrounding Wendy’s faded, removing a sector-wide catalyst. Separately, commentary pointing to weakening consumer conditions raises concerns about pressure on traffic and value-focused spending, though the claim is not a formal company forecast.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,198,930.88. This represents a 40.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

McDonald’s Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MCD opened at $265.05 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $270.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $291.72. The company has a market capitalization of $187.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1 year low of $259.85 and a 1 year high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $7.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.13 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 572.06% and a net margin of 31.72%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.19 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.87 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 60.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $322.00 to $319.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $300.00 to $290.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 31st. UBS Group set a $305.00 target price on McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised McDonald’s to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, August 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $322.96.

About McDonald’s

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.