NYSE:MCD

McDonalds (MCD)

265.23
-5.41 (2.00%)
as of Aug 3, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.
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Investor Insights
star iconAug 3, 2026, 12:00 am

This summary was created by AI, based on 14 opinions in the last 12 months.

McDonald's (MCD) is currently experiencing headwinds due to inflation and changing consumer habits, making investment opinions mixed. While some experts note the company's strong fundamentals, including steady cash flow and international growth, concerns about its price-to-earnings ratio (around 20-21x) persist, particularly as US consumers grapple with economic challenges. A significant portion of its customer base is feeling the strain of a K-shaped economy, which could impact sales. Moreover, the increase in beef prices poses a challenge, although there's optimism surrounding potential price relief in the coming months. Despite these challenges, many analysts see McDonald's as a defensive investment with considerable brand strength and growth potential in the long run.

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Consensus
Mixed
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Valuation
Fair Value
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QSR
BUY
He saw big call-buying in MCD today and likes this action.
DON'T BUY
He bought this in April 2020 as a reopening stock, but it didn't pan out. Volumes didn't pick up, not even drive-thrus, and revenues haven't risen much, though margins have. They also enjoy real estate gains. Still, it didn't bounce back as expected, and didn't gain market share.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jun 08/20, Up 22%) Pick when the market was selling off. Was looking at companies that would benefit from reopening. Made some money but not a lot and sold it since it was not benefitting from the reopening as much. Was a bit of a disappointment.
BUY
They report Wednesday. They'll guide up numbers and people will buy the stock. He predicts customers to come back.
BUY
Given long lines now. Their fundamentals are encouraging. It's good, and not just because of long lines at some locations.
BUY
The CEO is doing a great job and doing good things technologically. Shares are up 10% YTD.
WATCH
Part of the current reopening rally? The problem with MCD is that they've been inconsistent lately. It pays a 2.5% yield, but if that reaches 3%, then buy.
DON'T BUY

It has always been seen as a staple or safe haven. Outside of the US a lot of locations are still closed. In the US, same store sales numbers have been pretty good. It was strong coming out of last spring's COVID and through the summer. She would prefer a clothing retailer, however, such as ATZ-T.

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Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 06/20, Down 7.6%)Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly Our PAST TOP PICK with MCD has breached our $210 stop. We are recommending to cover the position at this time. We will look for other opportunities.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jan 29/20, Up 1%) He sold it last April during the meltdown. He saw danger signs of restaurants closing. Two-thirds of their business is drive-thru, but in-store dining looked vulnerable. But this has done well since then, so kudos to manager to maintaining their margins. No, he wouldn't have done things differently.
COMMENT

CMG vs. MCD - Why don't the stocks move in tandem if they're in the same business? CMG is going all-in with tech. CMG is more technologically savvy than MCD, though MCD is a good business. MCD is a dinosaur in comparison. MCD, though, is a great company.

WEAK BUY
Big store refresh. Share buyback program will take a bit to get going. Need to deleverage balance sheet. Can benefit as they shift business model to delivery. Key will be whether they see the drive-through traffic back. Not a terrible investment here. Peter Lynch's advice is to buy the stocks that you're already buying as a consumer. Yield is about 2%.
BUY
They're the king of the drive-thru economy. They report Monday. A definite Covid play.
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Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

TOP PICK

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly This fast food king has definitely benefited from the trend away from expensive restaurants. As we head into wave two of the pandemic potentially, this will continue to be on people's radar as an affordable break from cooking at home. Analysts at Bank of America just upgraded this to a $250 target. We would trade this with a stop-loss at $210. Yield 2.21% (Analysts’ price target is $221.52)

DON'T BUY
Used to own it. Doesn't see them increasing revenues. Cheap gas hasn't been the tailwind as expected, and now he expects increases in gas prices. Consumers are scared of the pandemic so aren't buying at MCD. Restos that rely in dine-in are less off than pick-up and delivery.
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