Should you buy McDonald's stock now?
No, the technical signal for McDonald's is currently Strong Sell. McDonald's trades at $232.80 as of Oct 7, 2026. The technical analysis shows the following: MACD is negative (bearish trend) at -7.703 with falling momentum (signal: -7.249); RSI is at 26.3 (oversold), which could point to a potential buying opportunity; the stock is in a short-term downtrend (price below the 20-day average); the analyst price target of $297.03 points to 27.6% upside. The stock is in a broader downtrend (below SMA50/SMA200). Buying in a downtrend is generally not recommended. This is a technical observation based on current data, not investment advice.
What is the price target for McDonald's stock?
The average analyst price target for McDonald's is $297.03. The current price is $232.80, which gives an upside of 27.6%. Based on this, the stock is considered undervalued. The fair value range (±10% of the price target) is between $267.33 and $326.73.
Is McDonald's a dividend stock?
Yes, McDonald's is a dividend stock with a dividend yield of 3.17%. The latest dividend was $1.86 per share. The latest ex-dividend date (traded without the dividend) was Sep 1, 2026. The payout ratio is 59.3%, which is considered moderate. The next dividend payment is scheduled for Dec 15, 2026.
When does McDonald's pay a dividend in 2026?
McDonald's pays its next dividend on Dec 15, 2026. The latest dividend was $1.86 per share with an ex-dividend date of Sep 1, 2026. The dividend yield is 3.17%. The payout ratio of 59.3% points to moderate dividend coverage.
What is the risk of McDonald's stock?
McDonald's is rated as a stock in the risk category Conservative. the annual standard deviation is 19.1%, which classifies the stock as Conservative. In addition, an RSI of 26.3 signals oversold (potential bottom).
Is McDonald's overvalued?
No, McDonald's is considered undervalued based on the analyst price target (27.6% upside). McDonald's has the following valuation ratios: a P/E ratio of 18.8 (moderately valued), a P/S ratio of 5.9, a P/B ratio of 146.1. The analyst price target suggests that the stock is undervalued by 27.6%.
Is McDonald's overbought?
No, McDonald's is actually oversold with an RSI of 26.3 (below 30). The technical indicators show: RSI is at 26.3 (below the 30 mark), which actually signals the price is oversold – the opposite of overbought. In addition, the price is 4.0% below the 20-day average (short-term downtrend). In addition, MACD is negative with falling momentum (bearish). IMPORTANT: The stock is oversold in a downtrend. A low RSI in a downtrend is NOT a buy signal – the price can keep falling. Wait for a trend reversal before buying.
When is the next McDonald's earnings report?
McDonald's reports its next earnings on November 4, 2026. The stock currently trades at $232.80. With a P/E ratio of 18.8, the market will be watching closely whether earnings meet expectations. The RSI is at 26.3, so the report can reinforce the current technical trend.
Is McDonald's shorted?
Yes, McDonald's is shorted with 1.9% of the free float sold short. This is a moderate level of short selling, within the normal range for most stocks. The figure comes from our data provider EODHD, is reported about twice a month, and we check it every trading day.
Are insiders buying McDonald's stock?
No, insiders are not buying McDonald's shares – they are net sellers. Across the last 20 reported transactions, the split is 0 purchases and 20 sales, with a net 29,161,796 $ sold. Active sellers include Erlinger Joseph M., Ralls-Morrison Desiree, Baroni Dario and others. Insider selling can have several explanations (e.g. planned 10b5-1 sales, portfolio diversification or taxes), but sustained selling by several insiders is worth watching closely.
Is McDonald's a good stock?
Based on our total score, McDonald's is rated as a mediocre stock with a total score of 53 out of 100. The stock scores around average on value, quality and momentum – it sits near the median in our database. The score is made up of Value: 38/100, Quality: 94/100, Momentum: 28/100. In addition: analysts see 27.6% upside to the price target; a dividend of 3.17%; technical signal: Strong Sell. Whether McDonald's is a good investment depends on your time horizon, risk profile and portfolio. This is a data-driven observation, not investment advice.
What is the outlook for McDonald's stock?
The outlook for McDonald's based on current data: the average analyst price target is $297.03 (+27.6%); the stock is in a downtrend (below SMA50 and SMA200); the next earnings report is due on Nov 4, 2026, which can move the price; the P/E ratio is 18.8 (moderate). Keep in mind that stock prices are affected by many factors, including earnings reports, the economy and market sentiment. Past returns are no guarantee of future returns.
Why is McDonald's stock falling?
McDonald's is falling right now. The technical indicators show: the price is 4.0% below the 20-day average; MACD is negative with falling momentum (bearish signal); insiders have mostly been selling the stock recently. For the latest context, see our technical analysis and insider section above.
How high can McDonald's go?
The average analyst price target for McDonald's is $297.03, which corresponds to a potential gain of 27.6% from the current price of $232.80. The stock has traded between $229.61 and $335.18 over the last 52 weeks. The price is 30.5% below the 52-week high, which can indicate potential if the underlying fundamentals are intact. Keep in mind that price targets are estimates, not guarantees. Actual price moves depend on earnings, market conditions and unexpected events.
How low can McDonald's fall?
The stock has traded as low as $229.61 over the last 52 weeks — that is 1.4% below the current price of $232.80. The biggest decline (drawdown) in the same period was 31.5% from high to low. Within a year, the price typically swings about ±19.1% (standard deviation — a measure of price swings). A difficult year could therefore mean a further decline of that size. Remember: past price swings are no guarantee for the future — a stock can fall further than the last 52 weeks suggest, especially on profit warnings, sector crises or a market crash. Use stop-loss orders and spread your portfolio to limit losses in single stocks.
What does McDonald's do?
McDonald's Corporation owns, 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, frozen desserts, sundaes, sof... The company belongs to the Consumer Cyclical sector, more specifically the Restaurants industry, is headquartered in United States, and is traded on the USA Stocks. See the key figures, earnings history and price development above to evaluate McDonald's as an investment.
Did McDonald's raise or lower its guidance?
Over the last 60 days we have not registered a guidance raise or cut from McDonald's. The company can still adjust its guidance at quarterly reports or between reports — see the earnings history above.
Is McDonald's making money or losing money?
Yes, McDonald's is making money, not losing it. The company has a profit margin (the share of revenue left over as profit) of 31.7% — which is excellent. The operating margin (profit before interest and taxes) is 46.5%. At a P/E ratio of 18.8, you currently pay 18.8 dollars for every dollar of the company's annual earnings. A consistently profitable company is usually more resilient than growth stocks that are not yet making money.
Can McDonald's go bankrupt?
The bankruptcy risk of McDonald's is rated as low. Altman Z2 (a model for assessing financial distress) is 5.37 — that places the company in the healthy zone. The company has a healthy balance sheet with limited debt relative to earnings and assets. The Piotroski score (financial health 0-9, higher is better) is 8 — which is strong. Debt relative to equity is 1,000% (high). Remember: models like Altman Z2 are statistical — unexpected shocks (fraud, a sector collapse, lawsuits) can always happen. Spread your portfolio.
Does McDonald's have a lot of debt?
Yes, McDonald's has elevated debt relative to equity. The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E — interest-bearing debt to equity) is 1,000%. For the consumer cyclical sector, anything above 200% counts as elevated — that raises the financial risk, especially if interest rates rise or earnings fall. Cyclical consumer companies can carry moderate debt in good times — high debt is risky in downturns. Note: D/E levels are highly sector-specific — a bank at 300% debt is normal, a tech stock at 300% is extremely leveraged. Always compare with similar companies in the same sector. Can McDonald's service its debt? Can service its debt, but it weighs on the company — the interest coverage ratio (how many times earnings can cover interest payments) is 8.2x, and net debt equals 3.6 years of earnings (EBITDA).
