McDonald's CorporationNYSE: MCD
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants
$287.01
-2.24%
Vol: 3.3M
Research Digest
Friday, May 1, 2026
McDonald's earnings due May 7; new beverage launches including refreshers and crafted sodas drive engagement with Gen Z
McDonald's will report Q1 2026 earnings on May 7 with projected EPS of $2.75. The company launches new fruit-flavored refreshers and crafted sodas in May, including Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer and Dirty Dr Pepper, targeting younger consumers. Stock recently recovered with positive momentum. Erste Group cut to Hold with trimmed EPS forecasts. Annual shareholders meeting scheduled for May 20, 2026.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysApr 30Rothschild & Co upgrades McDonald's to Neutral from Sell, raises PT to $306 amid menu innovation focusMixed▶
McDonald's revealed six new specialty drinks and relaunched the Biscoff McFlurry alongside new breakfast items. Rothschild & Co upgraded the stock to Neutral from Sell with a price target of $306 (up from $260), while Erste Group downgraded to Hold. The company faces softening consumer demand and inflation but is pushing value menu offerings. Earnings are expected May 7 with consensus EPS of $2.75 (+3% YoY) and revenue of $6.48B (+8.82% YoY). Recent share pullback amid mixed valuations creates near-term headwind.
Apr 29McDonald's faces valuation pressure ahead of Q1 earnings on May 7 with guidance anticipating 3% EPS growth to $2.75Mixed▶
McDonald's reported a -3.06% share price pullback as the company continues to focus on beverage innovation with new specialty drinks and menu expansions. Earnings are expected on May 7 with EPS of $2.75 and revenue of $6.48 billion (+8.82% YoY). Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded MCD to Neutral from Sell, raising the price target to $306 from $260, while Erste Group downgraded to Hold from Buy. Recent analyst moves show mixed sentiment in the equity markets.
Apr 16McDonald launches McValue menu April 21 with 10 items under $3 and $4 breakfast deal; adds refreshers and crafted sodas in MayPositive▶
McDonald is rolling out its McValue menu nationwide on April 21, featuring 10 items under $3 and a new $4 breakfast bundle, prioritizing predictable everyday low prices over app-only discounts. The company is adding refreshers and crafted sodas to menus starting in May, with energy drinks coming later in 2026. New menu items launched in April include lemonade and Bacon Cajun Ranch McCrispy. McDonald USA President Erlinger Joseph M. sold 2,626 shares on April 10 at $307 per share for $806,182. The stock trades near $306 with consensus Buy ratings and a $342.21 average price target.
Apr 15McDonald's announced new energy and specialty drink lineup launching in May while managing inflation pressuresMixed▶
McDonald's expanding beverage strategy with new drinks launching in May including Dirty Dr Pepper and Mango Pineapple Refresher, targeting Gen Z. Company doubling down on value offerings with discounted bundles. Stock at $304.51, down 6% over the month. Analysts rate Buy with average target of $342.21. Comparable sales increased 5.7%.
Apr 14McDonald's launches McValue overhaul April 21 with Under $3 menu; stock down 6% in AprilNeutral▶
McValue 2.0 launching April 21 with Under $3 menu and $4 breakfast deal. Adding Lemonade permanently. Insider sold shares April 10. Stock declined 6% in April.
Apr 13McValue 2.0 menu expansion with under $3 items and $4 breakfast deal launching April 21Neutral▶
McDonald launched McValue 2.0 menu with Under $3 items (Sausage McMuffin, Hash Browns, McCafe coffee) and $4 breakfast deal. Rollout starts April 21 nationwide. Analyst consensus: Buy with $342.21 target (+11.95%). Stock down 1.25% overnight amid consumer pressure and pricing strategy questions.
Apr 10McDonald's launches Under $3 menu and $4 breakfast deals April 21; continues value repositioning.Positive▶
McDonald's announced McValue menu expansion starting April 21 with Under $3 Menu items. Launched Lemonade as permanent menu fixture April 8 and new Bacon Cajun Ranch McCrispy. Stock trading at $308 with $218.18B market cap. Consensus Buy from 28 analysts with $342.21 target. Q1 2026 earnings scheduled May 7.
Apr 9McDonald's launches $3 value meals and GLP-1 focused menu options amid same-store sales pressure.Neutral▶
McDonald's expanding value menu with $3 meal options launching next month and testing new GLP-1 friendly menu items. Q4 EPS of $3.12 beat consensus $3.05; Q4 revenue $7.01B up 9.7% YoY. Latest share price $308 with 7.5% decline over past month. Company facing same-store sales headwinds. Analyst consensus: Buy (20 Buy, 15 Hold, 2 Sell). 12-month target $342.21 (12.51% upside). Upcoming Q1 2026 EPS projected at $2.75.
Apr 8McDonald's CEO 'Big Arch' burger taste test goes viral amid same-store sales challenges.Neutral▶
McDonald's CEO video tasting 'Big Arch' burger went viral. Stock closed April 7 at $304.85 (-1.59%). Overnight trading recovered to $307.80 (+0.97%). Company undergoing leadership changes amid challenges with sluggish same-store sales growth.
Apr 7McDonald's launches under-$3 value menu and $4 breakfast deal April 21 to combat sales pressureMixed▶
McDonald's unveiled new Under $3 Menu and $4 breakfast meal deal starting April 21 as core menu innovation strategy. Company plans to introduce new offerings across beverages, chicken, and beef categories, with 2025 testing showing high success on energy drinks and specialty beverages. Big Arch burger debuting March 2026 nationwide. McDonald's lifted 2026 capex to $3.7-3.9B supporting ~2,600 global openings. Q4 2025 revenue reached $7.009B and full-year $26.885B.
Apr 6McDonald's launches sub-$3 value menu and $4 breakfast deal amid pricing pressure.Neutral▶
McDonald's launched new under-$3 value menu and $4 breakfast deal to address pricing concerns. Stock down 7.5% over month. Tigress Financial raised PT to $385 from $360; KeyBanc to $354 from $340 (March 2026). Achieved 5.4% comparable sales growth vs 2.2% industry average.
Apr 3McDonald's launched new under-$3 McValue menu and $4 breakfast deal effective April 21, targeting budget-conscious consumers.Positive▶
McDonald's announced its McValue menu with 10 items under $3 and a $4 breakfast deal, rolling out April 21 to counter softer consumer demand. CEO Chris Kempczinski warned of a two-tier economy driving value-focused promotions. The company reported 9.5% revenue growth and 5.7% global comparable sales. Analyst consensus is Buy with average 12-month target of $342.21. Portfolio of promotional initiatives and new menu items position the company well.
Apr 1McDonald's previewed new Big Arch burger and value-focused menu amid leadership restructuring; Q4 2025 revenue beat at $7.01B.Positive▶
McDonald's beat Q4 2025 earnings with $3.12 EPS vs. $3.05 estimate and $7.01 billion revenue vs. $6.81 billion expected. CEO Chris Kempczinski announced new Big Arch burger to address affordability amid rising beef costs. JPMorgan raised price target to $325 from $305 with Overweight rating. Company focusing on value menu strategies. Analyst consensus is Buy with average $342.21 PT, 10.39% upside. Stock trading around $311.81.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCDMCDONALD | $287.01 | -2.24% | -5.2% | 20.4x | 0.53 | $208.7B |
| SBUXSTARBUCKS | $105.84 | +0.48% | +11.1% | 34.9x | 0.94 | $120.0B |
| YUMYUM | $158.14 | -0.95% | +1.5% | 21.3x | 0.66 | $44.1B |
| CMGCHIPOTLE | $32.98 | -2.99% | +1.5% | 25.0x | 1.06 | $43.7B |
| DRIDARDEN | $195.03 | -2.76% | +2.0% | 17.6x | 0.63 | $23.0B |
| DPZDOMINO | $338.34 | -0.32% | -10.9% | 16.1x | 1.19 | $11.3B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price below 200d MA — bearish structure.