Econ Financial Services Corp Makes New $4.06 Million Investment in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Econ Financial Services Corp acquired a new position in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor acquired 13,270 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock, valued at approximately $4,056,000. McDonald’s accounts for approximately 2.0% of Econ Financial Services Corp’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MCD. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in McDonald’s by 162.5% in the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the period. Park Place Capital Corp raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 95.7% during the fourth quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 92 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Painted Porch Advisors LLC raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 735.7% during the third quarter. Painted Porch Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. Davis Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Saranac Partners Ltd purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on MCD. Piper Sandler upped their price target on McDonald’s from $323.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Argus raised shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $380.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, February 13th. KeyCorp upped their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $340.00 to $354.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $339.69.

Insider Buying and Selling at McDonald’s

In related news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,276 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.54, for a total value of $8,764,097.04. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,638,066. The trade was a 53.43% 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, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $328.34, for a total transaction of $862,220.84. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 8,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,867,393.22. The trade was a 23.12% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 71,657 shares of company stock worth $23,722,204. Company insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of McDonald’s stock opened at $310.76 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $321.83 and a 200 day moving average of $311.53. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12 month low of $283.47 and a 12 month high of $341.75. The firm has a market cap of $220.76 billion, a PE ratio of 26.01, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.51.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share (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 negative return on equity of 343.90% and a net margin of 31.85%.The company’s revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.83 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were issued a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.26%.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Company to roll out a new $3 value menu and $4 meal this week — a direct traffic and frequency play that should help same‑store sales and appeal to price‑sensitive consumers. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Major marketing tie‑ins: two K‑pop “Demon Hunters” meals and other pop‑culture promotions (Super Mario Happy Meal) are live — likely to drive short‑term visit spikes and social buzz. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Leadership shuffle returns an operations veteran to U.S. COO and names a new SVP for global franchising and delivery—an execution‑focused move that investors may view as strengthening day‑to‑day operations and franchise relations. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Local expansion approved in at least one market (plans for a second town‑centre McDonald’s), signaling ongoing unit growth opportunities. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Human‑interest and PR coverage (95‑year‑old customer celebration) and product nostalgia stories keep the brand visible but have limited direct financial impact. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Reports flag operational and margin pressure: rising energy costs and disruption concerns tied to Middle East tensions could weigh on margins and franchise economics. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Consumer pushback on a new $12 premium burger and localized complaints about near‑cashier‑free stores leaving staff to absorb extra work raise questions about product pricing/appeal and execution risks. Read More. Read More.

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.