Banque Pictet & Cie SA Trims Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Banque Pictet & Cie SA reduced its stake in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 7.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,451,679 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 114,445 shares during the period. McDonald’s comprises 2.6% of Banque Pictet & Cie SA’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Banque Pictet & Cie SA owned 0.20% of McDonald’s worth $443,677,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. WD Rutherford LLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 1.0% in the third quarter. WD Rutherford LLC now owns 3,261 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $991,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,102 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $642,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,423 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $736,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC boosted its position in McDonald’s by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC now owns 1,771 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $538,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Finally, Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in McDonald’s by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC now owns 11,032 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $3,352,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In related news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total value of $2,066,731.29. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $763,567.39. This represents a 73.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $328.34, for a total value of $862,220.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 8,733 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,867,393.22. This trade represents a 23.12% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 71,657 shares of company stock valued at $23,722,204. Company insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on MCD. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $340.00 to $354.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Oppenheimer raised McDonald’s from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $355.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Tigress Financial boosted their price target on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on McDonald’s from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $339.69.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

McDonald’s Price Performance

MCD stock 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 firm has a 50-day moving average of $321.86 and a 200 day moving average of $311.50. The company has a market cap of $218.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.71, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.53.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 343.90% and a net margin of 31.85%.The business had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.83 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

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

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.