McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Given New $315.00 Price Target at Guggenheim

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) had its target price decreased by equities researchers at Guggenheim from $325.00 to $315.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the fast-food giant’s stock. Guggenheim’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 16.53% from the company’s current price.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $312.00 to $297.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 16th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $305.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Tuesday. StockNews.com cut McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Barclays reduced their price target on McDonald’s from $343.00 to $340.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on McDonald’s from $335.00 to $330.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $317.74.

McDonald’s Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of McDonald’s stock traded down $2.96 during trading on Thursday, hitting $270.32. 2,642,344 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,812,742. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $279.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $282.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $194.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.71. McDonald’s has a 1-year low of $245.73 and a 1-year high of $302.39.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 30th. The fast-food giant reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.71 by ($0.01). McDonald’s had a net margin of 33.36% and a negative return on equity of 180.54%. The business had revenue of $6.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.16 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.63 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that McDonald’s will post 12.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 1,098 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.64, for a total value of $303,750.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 16,977 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,696,517.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 1,098 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.64, for a total transaction of $303,750.72. Following the sale, the insider now owns 16,977 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,696,517.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 1,099 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.38, for a total value of $312,533.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 18,075 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,140,168.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonald’s

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MCD. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the third quarter worth $121,000. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. raised its position in McDonald’s by 30.1% during the 3rd quarter. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. now owns 1,954 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $515,000 after purchasing an additional 452 shares during the last quarter. Total Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. Total Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,238 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $326,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Aspire Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter valued at about $355,000. Finally, Bouchey Financial Group Ltd increased its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 2.2% in the third quarter. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd now owns 2,325 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $613,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the period. 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.