Banco Santander S.A. Boosts Stake in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Banco Santander S.A. boosted its stake in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) by 4.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 35,824 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after buying an additional 1,419 shares during the period. Banco Santander S.A.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $10,385,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its position in McDonald’s by 8.9% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 17,809 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $5,317,000 after purchasing an additional 1,451 shares during the period. Keudell Morrison Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter valued at $209,000. Hara Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter valued at $44,000. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP raised its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 31.8% in the 3rd quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 626 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $191,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. Finally, Mainstream Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter valued at $386,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

McDonald’s Stock Up 3.6 %

Shares of McDonald’s stock opened at $321.52 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $295.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $296.25. McDonald’s Co. has a fifty-two week low of $243.53 and a fifty-two week high of $323.17. The firm has a market cap of $229.71 billion, a PE ratio of 28.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.71.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.83. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.73% and a negative return on equity of 181.63%. Equities research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Co. will post 12.25 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $1.77 per share. This represents a $7.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is currently 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 stock was sold at an average price of $280.75, for a total value of $84,225.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,887 shares in the company, valued at $2,214,275.25. This trade represents a 3.66 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Tiffanie L. Boyd sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $309.27, for a total value of $309,270.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,564 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,720,778.28. The trade was a 15.23 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 33,504 shares of company stock valued at $10,206,575. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MCD has been the topic of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on McDonald’s from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on McDonald’s from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Bank of America increased their price objective on McDonald’s from $312.00 to $316.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $320.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price target on McDonald’s from $342.00 to $340.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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, Spain, and the U.K.