McDonaldsMCDHOLDDec 16, 2014Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 05, 2026. Market Open.
Half its business is NA, half international. Not a huge amount of growth, perhaps 5-6%. EPS growth of 7-8%. Opens a few new stores a year. More of a landlord, with over 90% franchised. Very high ROIC.
Only 20x PE today, down from historically high 20s. In his world, it's a staple not discretionary :) Yield is 2.65%.
Was downgraded last Friday and today over fears they won't meet expectations this quarter, including disappointment over MCD's new chicken strips dish, that it won't turn things around. Rather, customer prefer heavily breaded chicken and the find these strips ugly. However, history says it has never paid to downgrade MCD. It's the king, offering good value and is highly well-run. The CEO will figure it out.
Raised its dividend 25 years straight. Have always been about to reinvent themselves. The idea of a better, healthier, nutritional, organic locally sourced type of environment is really challenging right now. The dividend yield is the parachute that keeps him in this stock. He just heard that there might be an activist investor coming along to get this moving. Don’t give up on it.