McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Shares Acquired by ProShare Advisors LLC

ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 8.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 787,600 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 58,895 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC owned about 0.11% of McDonald’s worth $239,344,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in McDonald’s in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. lifted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 142.9% in the second quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 85 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in McDonald’s by 162.5% during the third quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Traub Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in McDonald’s during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

McDonald’s Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of MCD opened at $327.29 on Monday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $310.96 and its 200 day moving average price is $307.38. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12-month low of $283.47 and a 12-month high of $328.06. The firm has a market cap of $233.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.52.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.48%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on MCD. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $350.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley set a $335.00 target price on McDonald’s in a report on Friday, October 17th. BTIG Research upgraded McDonald’s from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $360.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $332.30.

McDonald’s News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and previews expect Q4 tailwinds from value meals, digital engagement and international growth, which could support comparable-sales gains and cushion margins. Zacks’ Q4 preview highlights these drivers even as it notes cost pressures. McDonald’s to Post Q4 Earnings: What’s in the Cards for the Stock?
• Positive Sentiment: MarketBeat and other previews argue that strong execution, menu innovation and value promotions could reinforce McDonald’s defensive appeal into earnings—analysts have been raising some price targets (BTIG/UBS recently higher), signaling confidence ahead of results. McDonald’s Earnings Could Cement Its Defensive Appeal
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s declared its quarterly cash dividend of $1.86/share (payable March 17; record/ex-dividend dates announced), supporting income-focused investor demand and reinforcing MCD’s blue‑chip/dividend‑king narrative. McDONALD’S ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
• Positive Sentiment: Consumer marketing and limited-time promotions (Valentine’s McNugget “caviar” kits, return of a popular Happy Meal toy) are boosting engagement and social buzz—small but helpful for traffic and brand momentum. McDonald’s is giving away free caviar kits…
• Neutral Sentiment: Brokerage consensus remains mixed: Mizuho raised its price target (to $325) but kept a neutral rating; overall analyst coverage averages to a “Hold.” That suggests limited immediate upside from ratings alone but keeps MCD squarely on the radar. McDonald’s Stock: Analyst Estimates & Ratings
• Neutral Sentiment: Deeper analyst note coverage is focused on traffic mix (notably lower‑income consumer trends), pricing power and promotional intensity beyond raw EPS/revenue—useful context but not an immediate catalyst until management guidance. Exploring Analyst Estimates for McDonald’s Q4 Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Local expansion news (e.g., approval for a 24‑hour drive‑through in Tinley Park) shows continued unit-level growth potential but is unlikely to move the stock materially on its own. McDonalds OK’d to open 24-hour drive through in Tinley Park
• Negative Sentiment: Brand/operational headwinds: a consumer piece highlighting perceived declines in several menu items and a NYT report that McDonald’s opted out of selling food/drink at some official World Cup Fan Fests could dent incremental sales/opportunity and raise short‑term concern about international event exposure. World Cup 2026 – McDonald’s opts out… 7 McDonald’s Menu Items Fans Say Have Quietly Gone Downhill

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total value of $795,520.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,005,760. The trade was a 28.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.58, for a total value of $805,079.08. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 5,398 shares in the company, valued at $1,654,918.84. This represents a 32.73% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 32,008 shares of company stock worth $9,895,452 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

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.