Q1 Earnings Estimate for McDonald’s Issued By Zacks Research

McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) – Analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for shares of McDonald’s in a report released on Monday, February 24th. Zacks Research analyst H. Ray now expects that the fast-food giant will earn $2.65 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $2.70. The consensus estimate for McDonald’s’ current full-year earnings is $12.25 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for McDonald’s’ Q2 2025 earnings at $3.07 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $3.29 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $3.09 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $12.09 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.88 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $3.40 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.58 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $3.31 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $13.18 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $14.51 EPS.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued 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 negative return on equity of 181.63% and a net margin of 31.73%.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $347.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $312.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Piper Sandler cut their target price on McDonald’s from $297.00 to $290.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. TD Cowen reissued a “hold” rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on McDonald’s from $305.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $323.61.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

NYSE MCD opened at $310.84 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $222.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.29, a P/E/G ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.74. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $293.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $294.65. McDonald’s has a fifty-two week low of $243.53 and a fifty-two week high of $317.90.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $7.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.16%.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.75, for a total transaction of $84,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 7,887 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,214,275.25. This represents a 3.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,499 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.95, for a total transaction of $436,134.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 1,560 shares in the company, valued at approximately $453,882. The trade was a 49.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 32,504 shares of company stock valued at $9,897,305 over the last quarter. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of McDonald’s

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter valued at about $892,000. Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter worth about $550,000. Brick & Kyle Associates acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,941,000. Armis Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at about $458,000. Finally, Chokshi & Queen Wealth Advisors Inc purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $239,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

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.