Vantage Investment Partners LLC Lowers Stock Position in McDonald's Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Vantage Investment Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of McDonald's Co. (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 47,128 shares of the fast-food giant's stock after selling 971 shares during the period. McDonald's makes up 1.2% of Vantage Investment Partners LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Vantage Investment Partners LLC's holdings in McDonald's were worth $13,662,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,499 shares of McDonald's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $294.51, for a total value of $441,470.49. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 1,560 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $459,435.60. The trade was a 49.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 3,409 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.15, for a total value of $989,121.35. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 9,675 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,807,201.25. The trade was a 26.05 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 8,905 shares of company stock valued at $2,592,327 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.23% of the company's stock.

McDonald's Stock Performance

Shares of McDonald's stock traded down $1.61 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $291.48. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,333,409 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,077,488. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $291.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $288.97. The company has a market capitalization of $208.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.59, a P/E/G ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.73. McDonald's Co. has a one year low of $243.53 and a one year high of $317.90.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The fast-food giant reported $3.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.05. McDonald's had a net margin of 31.79% and a negative return on equity of 175.42%. The firm had revenue of $6.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.19 EPS. The business's revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that McDonald's Co. will post 11.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MCD. Wedbush reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $295.00 target price on shares of McDonald's in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Argus upgraded McDonald's from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $340.00 to $336.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Loop Capital reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $342.00 target price on shares of McDonald's in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of McDonald's from $321.00 to $324.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.