Asset Planning Inc Invests $3.86 Million in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Asset Planning Inc bought a new position in shares of McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor bought 13,323 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock, valued at approximately $3,862,000. McDonald’s makes up 2.9% of Asset Planning Inc’s holdings, making the stock its 7th largest holding.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MCD. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Collier Financial purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Hara Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.8 %

MCD opened at $309.99 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $222.15 billion, a PE ratio of 27.22, a P/E/G ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.74. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $291.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $292.08. McDonald’s Co. has a fifty-two week low of $243.53 and a fifty-two week high of $317.90.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.83. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 175.42% and a net margin of 31.79%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Co. will post 11.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $1.77 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.28%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 62.16%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.75, for a total value of $84,225.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 7,887 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,214,275.25. This trade represents a 3.66 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 3,409 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.15, for a total transaction of $989,121.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,675 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,807,201.25. The trade was a 26.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 17,906 shares of company stock valued at $5,406,382 over the last ninety days. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Citigroup raised their target price on McDonald’s from $336.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Loop Capital restated a “buy” rating and set a $342.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Friday, January 3rd. KeyCorp raised their target price on McDonald’s from $320.00 to $335.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Guggenheim lowered McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $290.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $323.61.

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and the U.K.