McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Shares Bought by Empirical Asset Management LLC

Empirical Asset Management LLC grew its position in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 44.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,938 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,047 shares during the quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $3,020,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. raised its holdings 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 valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 162.5% in the third quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Traub Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in McDonald’s in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $333.23 on Wednesday. McDonald’s Corporation has a one year low of $283.47 and a one year high of $336.00. The stock has a market cap of $237.31 billion, a PE ratio of 27.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.52. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $315.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $309.60.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $7.01 billion during 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. McDonald’s’s revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $1.86 per share. 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 payout ratio is 62.26%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,005,760. This represents a 28.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.25, for a total value of $854,106.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 5,398 shares in the company, valued at $1,755,699.50. This trade represents a 32.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 71,550 shares of company stock worth $23,484,957. Corporate insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is rolling its Big Arch Burger into U.S. menus for a limited time — a larger, promotional sandwich that has driven traffic in other markets and fits the “bigger-burger” trend; this could boost short‑term ticket and visit frequency. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Seasonal and promotional menu items continue: the Shamrock Shake campaign is back, driving brand engagement and incremental visits around St. Patrick’s Day. These limited-time items support traffic and social buzz. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s India (West & South) owner Westlife Foodworld is running a Protein Week with low-price, app-focused protein options and free delivery promo — a targeted, value-led push that can grow AUVs and digital ordering in a fast-growing market. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: JPMorgan raised its MCD price target to $325 and kept an Overweight rating, and Erste Group upgraded MCD to Buy, signaling confidence in sales momentum and McDonald’s financial profile for 2026. Note JPMorgan’s new PT still sits modestly below the current quote, so upside expectations are mixed. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Longer-term perspective pieces highlight MCD’s solid multi‑year returns and low‑volatility dividend profile; useful context for investors weighing valuation vs. growth, but not immediate catalysts. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Operational tweak: McDonald’s updated cash handling/check-out rules as pennies phase out — a minor customer-experience and cost/handling change with limited stock impact. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Macro/market weakness (broader market sell-off and Dow declines) is pressuring equities including MCD today — an external headwind that can overwhelm company-specific positives in the near term. Read More.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MCD has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Barclays lifted their price objective on McDonald’s from $372.00 to $380.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on McDonald’s from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $337.57.

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.