Welch Group LLC Increases Stock Holdings in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Welch Group LLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 199,402 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,745 shares during the period. McDonald’s makes up 2.6% of Welch Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Welch Group LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $57,747,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 6.4% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 146,130 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $44,498,000 after buying an additional 8,797 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in McDonald’s by 22.7% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 8,301 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,528,000 after buying an additional 1,534 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co grew its position in McDonald’s by 2.0% in the third quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 8,078 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,460,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Everpar Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter. Everpar Advisors LLC now owns 2,630 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $801,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smith Anglin Financial LLC raised its position in shares of McDonald’s by 2.0% during the third quarter. Smith Anglin Financial LLC now owns 2,743 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $835,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MCD has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $321.00 to $324.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Loop Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $342.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on McDonald’s from $315.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered McDonald’s from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $320.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $319.58.

McDonald’s Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE:MCD opened at $290.25 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $291.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $289.94. McDonald’s Co. has a 12 month low of $243.53 and a 12 month high of $317.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $208.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.48, a PEG ratio of 3.83 and a beta of 0.74.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,499 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.95, for a total value of $436,134.05. Following the sale, 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 filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 1,099 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $292.50, for a total transaction of $321,457.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 9,286 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,716,155. The trade was a 10.58 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 7,406 shares of company stock valued at $2,150,857. 0.23% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About McDonald’s

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.