Budget-conscious Americans are returning to McDonald’s as the fast-food giant doubles down on value meals, discounted bundles and limited-time promotions aimed at stretching diners’ dollars.The strategy appears to be working as US sales rose 6.8% in the fourth quarter – the biggest jump in about two years – and lower-priced offers and aggressive promotions drove traffic back into restaurants. Analysts had expected a smaller 4.9% gain.McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said there is growing evidence the compan ...

Core Viewpoint - McDonald's Corporation continues to demonstrate strong performance and growth potential despite competitive pressures in the fast-food industry [1][6]. Financial Performance - McDonald's stock has reached new all-time highs, currently priced at $332.21, reflecting a 2.78% increase or $9 from previous levels [3]. - The company's market capitalization stands at approximately $237.07 billion, indicating strong investor interest [3][6]. - In the fourth quarter of 2025, McDonald's exceeded revenue and earnings per share estimates, showcasing its ability to navigate market challenges [4]. Analyst Sentiment - Jake Bartlett from Truist Financial set a new price target for McDonald's at $370, representing a 12.06% increase from its trading price of $330.19 [2]. - BTIG analyst Peter Saleh also raised his price target to $370, maintaining a Buy rating, reflecting confidence in McDonald's growth potential [2]. - TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles noted potential concerns such as higher interest rates but remains optimistic about same-store sales growth [4]. Sales Growth Projections - Charles anticipates approximately 3% growth in U.S. same-store sales for 2026, with stronger performance expected in the first half of the year [5]. - This growth is driven by better-than-expected sales across all segments, particularly in the International Operated Markets (IOM) and the U.S. [5][6].

McDonald’s signaled this week it’s looking to better cater to customers on weight-loss drugs — and the name of the game is protein.During a Wednesday earnings call, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said the fast-food giant has been testing high-protein menu items for customers on so-called GLP-1 drugs. He didn’t share details or comment on timing, but that didn’t stop experts from speculating. 3 McDonald’s is the latest fast-food chain to jump on the GLP-1 train. FOTO_STOCKER – stock.adobe.comMike Haracz, ...

Key Takeaways McDonald's reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $3.12, topping estimates, with revenues up 10% Y/Y to $7B.MCD's global comps rose 5.7% Y/Y, driven by 6.8% growth in the United States and solid international gains.McDonald's Q4 operating income increased 10% Y/Y to $3.15B, while net income rose 7% to $2.16B.McDonald's Corporation (MCD) reported fourth-quarter 2025 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The top and bottom lines increased on a year-over-year basis.McDona ...

The well-off are still hitting the drive-thru, and McDonald's wants to make sure its theirs. ...

Group 1: Software Stocks - Retail investors are actively buying software stocks despite the current poor performance of the sector, with some analysts cautioning against this trend [2][11] - The sentiment around software stocks is mixed, with some believing the market has overreacted and presents buying opportunities, while others remain skeptical about the long-term viability of certain companies like Workday and Salesforce [11][14] - The AI trade is still in its early stages, causing anxiety among investors about potential job losses and market changes, but there is optimism about new job creation in the long run [12][19] Group 2: Consumer Staples - Consumer staples have been performing well, with companies like Coca-Cola reporting solid earnings, while Kraft's performance was disappointing [3][42] - McDonald's has seen strong US sales attributed to value offerings and marketing strategies, despite concerns about the impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs on consumer behavior [46][61] - The company is focusing on value and affordability to attract lower-income consumers, which has been successful in recent quarters [49][52] Group 3: Memory Chips - Lenovo's CEO indicated that the memory chip shortage affecting hardware companies will continue into the year-end, echoing sentiments from Cisco's CEO [5][6] - This ongoing shortage is seen as beneficial for memory chip companies like Sandisk, which are experiencing stock price increases [6] Group 4: Economic Outlook - The economy is showing signs of strength, with corporate earnings exceeding expectations and a robust jobs report indicating private payroll growth [23][26] - Analysts suggest that the current economic conditions favor cyclical and defensive value stocks, with the value trade up 4.5% year-to-date compared to a 1.5% decline in growth stocks [24][25] - There is a belief that the economy does not require further rate cuts, as current conditions do not indicate a downturn [28][29]

The McDonald's AnalystsTD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles maintained a Hold rating on McDonald's stock with a price target of $320.BTIG analyst Peter Saleh reiterated a Buy rating and raised the price target from $360 to $370.TD Cowen: McDonald's fourth quarter results represent a "strong end to 2025," Charles said in a new investor note.The analyst cautions that higher interest, higher G&A guidance, and higher-than-expected CapEx guidance could be negatives from the quarterly results."We are encouraged by bet ...

瑞银将麦当劳目标价从350美元上调至365美元。 来源：滚动播报 ...

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market showed mixed results with the Dow Jones up by 0.46%, while the Nasdaq fell by 0.31% and the S&P 500 increased by 0.09% [1] - Major tech stocks experienced varied performance, with Nvidia rising by 0.7% and Amazon and Apple both declining by over 1% [3] Semiconductor Sector - Storage concept stocks continued to perform well, with Seagate Technology rising by 11%, Western Digital by over 8%, SanDisk by over 8%, and Micron Technology by over 3% [3] - Micron Technology announced that its new NAND flash wafer plant is on track to begin shipments in the second half of 2028, with HBM4 customer shipments expected to increase in the first quarter of 2028, one quarter ahead of schedule. The CFO indicated that market demand exceeds supply, and this tight supply situation is expected to persist until after 2026 [3] Retail Sector - Major U.S. retailers saw collective gains, with Walmart rising over 2% to reach a historical high, Macy's up nearly 4%, Kohl's up nearly 3%, and Ross Stores up over 2% [4] - McDonald's reported a 9.5% year-over-year revenue increase to $7 billion for the fourth quarter, with adjusted earnings per share of $3.12, exceeding expectations [4] Software Sector - Software stocks faced significant sell-offs, with Cisco's stock plummeting over 9%, marking its largest drop in 2023. Despite an increase in AI demand leading to an upward revision of annual guidance, the gross margin guidance for the current quarter fell short of expectations [4] - Other software stocks showed mixed results post-earnings, with Fastly surging over 60%, HubSpot up over 10%, and Applovin dropping over 14% [4][5] Chinese Stocks - Chinese stocks listed in the U.S. experienced a collective decline, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index falling by 1.4%. Tencent Music dropped nearly 6%, while other companies like Huya, Boss Zhipin, and Beike fell over 4% [6] Commodity Market - Precious metals saw a decline, with spot gold down by 0.37% at $5065 per ounce and spot silver down by 1.43% at $83 per ounce [8] - International oil prices also fell, with Brent crude futures down about 1% to $68.75 per barrel and WTI crude futures down about 1% to $63.99 per barrel [8] Cryptocurrency Market - The majority of cryptocurrencies saw an increase, with Bitcoin rising by 0.96%, remaining below $68,000. In the last 24 hours, 118,000 individuals experienced liquidations [10][11]

The Investment Doctor is a financial writer, highlighting European small-caps with a 5-7 year investment horizon. He strongly believes a portfolio should consist of a mixture of dividend and growth stocks. He is the leader of the investment group European Small Cap Ideas which offers exclusive access to actionable research on appealing Europe-focused investment opportunities not found elsewhere. The a focus is on high-quality ideas in the small-cap space, with emphasis on capital gains and dividend income f ...