Huntington National Bank Lowers Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Huntington National Bank trimmed its holdings in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 252,116 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 9,125 shares during the quarter. Huntington National Bank’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $76,616,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 0.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 71,647,669 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $21,773,010,000 after purchasing an additional 316,638 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in McDonald’s by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 34,828,352 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $10,175,800,000 after buying an additional 272,139 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 16,828,420 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $4,901,595,000 after buying an additional 276,065 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the 2nd quarter valued at $2,780,712,000. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 29,382.3% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,737,548 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,676,339,000 after acquiring an additional 5,718,087 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: Street support: JPMorgan raised its price target to $325 and remains constructive, giving buy?side validation and likely contributing to bullish flows. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Promotions and LTOs driving traffic: The U.S. rollout of the “Big Arch” supersized burger and national $1 McMuffin promotions are generating buzz and should lift short?term visits and digital engagement, supporting revenue and comp trends. Article Title Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Loyalty and digital momentum: Coverage highlights McDonald’s rewards and app-driven promotions are improving visit frequency and ticket, a structural tailwind for margins and recurring sales. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend income visibility: Management confirmed a $1.86 quarterly dividend (ex?div March 3, payable March 17), supporting demand from income?oriented investors. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst estimate moves from Zacks: Zacks updated numerous quarterly and FY2027/28 EPS estimates — lifting some full?year/quarter forecasts while trimming others. The net effect is ambiguous for near?term sentiment but shows analysts are actively re?modeling. (Zacks coverage also discusses value strategy sustaining traffic.) Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Product novelty tests: International menu items and limited?time offers can boost visits but their incremental margin impact is uncertain; useful for short?term traffic but not a proven long?term earnings catalyst. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: Executives disclosed sales (including a recent sale by Joe Erlinger), which can spook some investors even if part of routine diversification. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Regional ad controversy: A Ramadan ad in Germany showing empty boxes drew criticism — a reputational headline that may pressure local sentiment but is unlikely to materially affect global fundamentals. Article Title

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.43, for a total value of $110,033.19. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 8,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,885,645.19. This trade represents a 3.67% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total value of $795,520.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at $2,005,760. This trade represents a 28.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 78,084 shares of company stock valued at $25,661,722 in the last quarter. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of MCD stock opened at $340.85 on Friday. McDonald’s Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $283.47 and a fifty-two week high of $341.35. The company has a market capitalization of $242.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.52, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $316.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $310.19.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.83 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $1.86 per share. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 62.26%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on MCD shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on McDonald’s from $345.00 to $355.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Barclays upped their target price on McDonald’s from $372.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $337.57.

McDonald’s Profile

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.