McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Given “Hold” Rating at TD Cowen

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD)‘s stock had its “hold” rating reiterated by equities research analysts at TD Cowen in a report released on Monday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $280.00 price objective on the fast-food giant’s stock. TD Cowen’s price objective points to a potential downside of 6.75% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on McDonald’s from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Tigress Financial boosted their price objective on McDonald’s from $355.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday, June 13th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $288.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $288.00 to $278.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, McDonald’s has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $307.48.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of MCD opened at $300.27 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $279.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $270.68. The company has a market cap of $216.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.49, a PEG ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.72. McDonald’s has a 52-week low of $243.53 and a 52-week high of $302.39.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 29th. The fast-food giant reported $2.97 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.07 by ($0.10). McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 178.68% and a net margin of 32.25%. The company had revenue of $6.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.62 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.17 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that McDonald’s will post 11.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In related news, CFO Ian Frederick Borden sold 5,939 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.04, for a total transaction of $1,781,937.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 20,403 shares in the company, valued at $6,121,716.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,498 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $248.26, for a total transaction of $371,893.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 1,560 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $387,285.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Ian Frederick Borden sold 5,939 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.04, for a total value of $1,781,937.56. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 20,403 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,121,716.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 12,231 shares of company stock valued at $3,513,659. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On McDonald’s

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new stake in McDonald’s in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Clear Investment Research LLC bought a new stake in McDonald’s in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s during the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Accent Capital Management LLC bought a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at $45,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

McDonald’s Company Profile

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. It offers food and beverages, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers, various chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, desserts, sundaes, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages; and full or limited breakfast, as well as sells various other products during limited-time promotions.