Mizuho Increases McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Price Target to $325.00

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) had its price target raised by equities research analysts at Mizuho from $300.00 to $325.00 in a report released on Friday, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a “neutral” rating on the fast-food giant’s stock. Mizuho’s price target points to a potential downside of 0.70% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on MCD. Piper Sandler restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. BTIG Research raised McDonald’s from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $360.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on McDonald’s from $340.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $350.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $332.30.

McDonald’s Price Performance

NYSE:MCD opened at $327.29 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $310.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $307.31. McDonald’s has a 1-year low of $283.47 and a 1-year high of $328.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $233.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.93, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.52.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.33 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.10 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 32.04% and a negative return on equity of 280.89%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.23 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that McDonald’s will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total transaction of $795,520.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,005,760. The trade was a 28.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Manuel Jm Steijaert sold 6,567 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.50, for a total transaction of $2,006,218.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 4,606 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,407,133. This trade represents a 58.78% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 32,008 shares of company stock worth $9,895,452 in the last quarter. 0.25% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonald’s

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in shares of McDonald’s by 21.6% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,286 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,692,000 after buying an additional 1,649 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in McDonald’s by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,942 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $563,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in McDonald’s by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,017 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $589,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC grew its stake in McDonald’s by 12.6% during the 2nd quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 2,465 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $720,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 49.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 51,815 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $15,139,000 after purchasing an additional 17,113 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

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.