Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG Reduces Stock Holdings in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lowered its stake in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 13.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 160,712 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 25,897 shares during the quarter. McDonald’s accounts for 1.0% of Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG’s holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $49,118,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in 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 buying an additional 316,638 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 0.6% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,024,857 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $10,643,704,000 after acquiring an additional 196,505 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 4,757,967 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,445,899,000 after acquiring an additional 286,284 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,422,014 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,343,501,000 after acquiring an additional 21,168 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 36.6% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,396,837 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,336,155,000 after purchasing an additional 1,179,244 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Price Performance

Shares of MCD opened at $307.27 on Thursday. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1-year low of $283.47 and a 1-year high of $341.75. The company has a 50-day moving average of $321.86 and a 200 day moving average of $311.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $218.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.71, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.53.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.81 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.83 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $1.86 per share. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.26%.

McDonald’s News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is targeting a large beverage opportunity — aiming at a ~$100 billion beverage market with new McCafé drinks planned for a 2026 U.S. and global rollout, a potential multi-year growth driver and same‑store check boost. Can McDonald’s Tap a $100B Beverage Opportunity in 2026?
• Positive Sentiment: The company is launching a new $3 value menu and $4 meal, a tactical move to drive traffic and affordability that could support sales and offset margin pressure if adoption is strong. McDonald’s to launch new $3 value menu, $4 meal this week
• Positive Sentiment: Lower potato input costs reported for suppliers (Lamb Weston) could indirectly help McDonald’s margins if those savings flow through to the chain, reducing a key commodity pressure. Frozen Out: Lamb Weston Beats Earnings, but the Stock Still Slides
• Positive Sentiment: Operational leadership moves: Skye Anderson returns as U.S. COO and other executive adjustments aim to sharpen U.S. operations and franchising/delivery focus, which could improve execution if transitions go smoothly. McDonald’s creates US COO role
• Neutral Sentiment: Marketing/promotions: the global “KPop Demon Hunters” McFlurry and themed meal rollout is generating buzz and likely a short‑term traffic lift, but the impact is promotional and temporary rather than structural. McDonald’s menu has new ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ McFlurry. What’s in it?
• Negative Sentiment: Shares moved lower amid a broader market uptick, signaling some investor caution about near‑term upside despite recent initiatives. McDonald’s (MCD) Stock Falls Amid Market Uptick: What Investors Need to Know
• Negative Sentiment: Investor questions around the leadership shuffle and ESG focus highlight execution and strategic clarity risks; coupled with reports that some new premium product tests (e.g., a $12 burger) are receiving mixed consumer reaction, these factors could weigh on sentiment if trends persist. McDonald’s Leadership Shuffle And ESG Focus Raise Fresh Investor Questions

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total transaction of $2,066,731.29. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $763,567.39. The trade was a 73.02% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,276 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.54, for a total value of $8,764,097.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,900 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,638,066. This represents a 53.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 71,657 shares of company stock valued at $23,722,204. Company insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MCD has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Tigress Financial boosted their target price on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Guggenheim cut their target price on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Robert W. Baird set a $335.00 price target on McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, KeyCorp raised their price target on McDonald’s from $340.00 to $354.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $339.69.

McDonald’s Company 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.