Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund Increases Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund grew its position in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 238.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 95,331 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 67,179 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $29,628,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MCD. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Abound Financial LLC purchased a new position in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, DecisionPoint Financial LLC increased its position in shares of McDonald’s by 1,616.7% in the 4th quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC now owns 103 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 in the company, valued at approximately $2,198,930.88. The trade was a 40.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total value of $769,108.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,744,760.48. The trade was 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 three months, insiders sold 8,348 shares of company stock valued at $2,355,634. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Price Performance

Shares of MCD opened at $264.46 on Monday. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1-year low of $260.96 and a 1-year high of $341.75. The stock has a market cap of $187.90 billion, a PE ratio of 21.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.41. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $275.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $298.86.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $6.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.62% and a negative return on equity of 442.10%. McDonald’s’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.67 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be given a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 61.34%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MCD has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Cfra upgraded shares of McDonald’s to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 8th. BTIG Research decreased their price target on McDonald’s from $370.00 to $350.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Tigress Financial increased their price objective on McDonald’s from $385.00 to $390.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Erste Group Bank lowered McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on McDonald’s from $375.00 to $335.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $334.32.

More McDonald’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s announced a quarterly dividend of $1.86 per share, reinforcing its reputation as a steady income stock and highlighting continued cash generation. McDONALD’S ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
• Positive Sentiment: BTIG Research kept a buy rating on McDonald’s and said the stock still offers meaningful upside, even after cutting its price target to $350 from $370. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Recent consumer-focused coverage around McValue packs, online availability, and a new dipping sauce suggests McDonald’s is still leaning on value-driven promotions and menu innovation to drive traffic. Here’s what’s new at McDonald’s this week
• Neutral Sentiment: Media coverage highlighting McDonald’s new McValue packs and online ordering is more promotional than financial, so it may help awareness but does not yet prove a material sales lift. McDonald’s McValue packs now available online. Here’s how to score one
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and media continue to frame McDonald’s as a defensive dividend name, but that alone is not enough to offset broader concerns about consumer spending. These 4 Dividend Stocks Are Money-Printing Machines
• Negative Sentiment: New research indicates restaurant customers remain highly price sensitive despite lower gas prices, which is a warning sign for traffic and margins at McDonald’s. McDonald’s (MCD) Faces Stubborn Price Sensitive Traffic Despite Lower Gas Prices
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s recently hit a new 52-week low, and commentary around the stock suggests investors are waiting for the August 4 earnings report before buying the dip. McDonald’s Just Hit a New 52-Week Low. Don’t Buy the Dip Until After August 4.
• Negative Sentiment: StockTwits-style coverage also points to McDonald’s trading near 52-week lows amid broader concerns about weakening consumer demand. Why Did PEGA, ISRG, MCD Stocks Plunge To 52-Week Lows Today?

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.