McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Price Target Raised to $370.00 at Truist Financial

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) had its price objective hoisted by Truist Financial from $356.00 to $370.00 in a report published on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the fast-food giant’s stock.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on MCD. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $340.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley set a $335.00 price target on McDonald’s in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price target on McDonald’s from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, McDonald’s currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $335.63.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of MCD stock opened at $331.78 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $312.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $308.07. The stock has a market cap of $236.28 billion, a PE ratio of 27.76, a P/E/G ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.52. McDonald’s has a 1 year low of $283.47 and a 1 year high of $333.38.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.05 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 313.07% and a net margin of 31.85%.McDonald’s’s revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.83 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that McDonald’s will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.48%.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In related news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the company’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 transaction of $795,520.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,005,760. This represents a 28.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Ian Frederick Borden sold 17,134 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total transaction of $5,311,540.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 26,353 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,169,430. This represents a 39.40% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 31,439 shares of company stock worth $9,772,464. 0.25% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of McDonald’s

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,750 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $535,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Encompass More Asset Management increased its position in McDonald’s by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Encompass More Asset Management now owns 2,120 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $648,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Richmond Investment Services LLC raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Richmond Investment Services LLC now owns 2,278 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $696,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. WD Rutherford LLC lifted its position in McDonald’s by 1.0% during the third quarter. WD Rutherford LLC now owns 3,261 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $991,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in McDonald’s by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,102 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $642,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat — McDonald’s reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results (revenue up ~9.7% YoY; EPS topped consensus), a primary bullish catalyst for the stock. McDonald’s Q4 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Rise Y/Y
• Positive Sentiment: Value-driven traffic recovery — Management says Extra Value Meals, $5 meal bundles and promotions lifted U.S. traffic and drove the fastest comparable-sales growth in over two years, while loyalty engagement climbed strongly. McDONALD’S REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2025 RESULTS
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades/targets rising — Multiple firms have raised price targets and reiterated Buy/Overweight ratings after the beat, supporting upside momentum. MCD Price Target Raised at Truist (example)
• Neutral Sentiment: Marketing/pop-culture buzz — Stunts like free McNugget “caviar” kits and the seasonal Shamrock Shake generated headlines and short-term traffic spikes; good for brand momentum but limited long-term earnings impact. McDonald’s launches McNugget caviar kits
• Negative Sentiment: Franchisee tensions — Some franchisees are resisting centralized pricing/value directives; uneven local execution or disputes could limit consistent margin or traffic benefits. Value is the key to McDonald’s growth plans, but it’s creating tensions with some franchisees
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling — A senior U.S. executive disclosed a ~2,626-share sale (~$854k), which some investors view as profit-taking after the earnings pop. SEC Form 4: Joseph M. Erlinger sale

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.