Gries Financial LLC Grows Holdings in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Gries Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) by 60.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,235 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 463 shares during the period. Gries Financial LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $358,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the third quarter worth $31,000. Hara Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the third quarter valued at $44,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter worth about $58,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter worth about $72,000. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

NYSE MCD opened at $290.19 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $291.11 and its 200 day moving average is $289.24. McDonald’s Co. has a fifty-two week low of $243.53 and a fifty-two week high of $317.90. The company has a market capitalization of $207.96 billion, a PE ratio of 25.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.73.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The fast-food giant reported $3.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $6.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.82 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 175.42% and a net margin of 31.79%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.19 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that McDonald’s Co. will post 11.72 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,499 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.95, for a total value of $436,134.05. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 1,560 shares in the company, valued at $453,882. The trade was a 49.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.75, for a total value of $84,225.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 7,887 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,214,275.25. This represents a 3.66 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 7,406 shares of company stock worth $2,150,857. Company insiders own 0.23% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on MCD shares. KeyCorp decreased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $330.00 to $320.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group upped their price objective on McDonald’s from $305.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on McDonald’s from $285.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Baird R W downgraded McDonald’s from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Argus upgraded McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.87.

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.