Guardian Partners Inc. Has $12.71 Million Holdings in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Guardian Partners Inc. trimmed its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 13.4% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 47,037 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 7,283 shares during the period. McDonald’s accounts for about 1.1% of Guardian Partners Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Guardian Partners Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $12,715,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in MCD. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Abound Financial LLC acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. DecisionPoint Financial LLC increased its position in shares of McDonald’s by 1,616.7% during the 4th quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC now owns 103 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the business’s 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 transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,744,760.48. The trade was a 30.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the company’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 transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,198,930.88. This trade represents a 40.44% decrease in their position. 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 worth $2,355,634. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is emphasizing lower-priced meals to win back cost-conscious customers, a potentially supportive strategy as consumers increasingly prioritize value. McDonald’s is betting on cheaper meals to win back customers
• Positive Sentiment: New growth initiatives include Red Bull energy drinks, additional beverages and limited-time menu items. These products could increase traffic and average spending while supporting a simpler restaurant operating model. McDonald’s bringing Red Bull drinks and new sodas to US customers
• Positive Sentiment: The Hello Kitty x Godzilla Happy Meal promotion may generate customer interest and family traffic when it launches, although its financial impact is likely limited. McDonald’s Announces Eight Hello Kitty x Godzilla Toys
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent earnings showed adjusted EPS of $3.38, above expectations, while revenue of $7.10 billion was slightly below consensus. Management acknowledged inconsistent value-menu execution and excessive operational complexity, making successful implementation of the turnaround strategy critical. Five Insightful Analyst Questions From McDonald’s Q2 Earnings Call
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s is reportedly losing ground to Burger King and other low-cost alternatives, including gas-station food, as customers seek cheaper meals. Slowing second-quarter sales growth raises concerns about U.S. traffic and market share. The burger wars are heating up as McDonald’s loses ground
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group lowered its fiscal 2027 EPS forecast, adding to investor concerns about earnings growth. McDonald’s FY2027 EPS Forecast Lowered
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that McDonald’s maintained a 515-page customer dossier could create privacy and reputational risks, though the immediate financial effect is unclear. McDonald’s customer dossier report

McDonald’s Price Performance

McDonald’s stock opened at $272.61 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $192.91 billion, a PE ratio of 22.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.41. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $273.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $295.15. McDonald’s Corporation has a one year low of $260.96 and a one year high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.32 by $0.06. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 572.06% and a net margin of 31.72%.The company had revenue of $7.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.13 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.19 EPS. McDonald’s’s quarterly revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on MCD. Freedom Capital raised shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $350.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded McDonald’s from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $260.00 to $306.00 in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, Piper Sandler set a $286.00 price target on McDonald’s in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $325.44.

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.