McDonald's Option Alert: May 16 $285 Puts at the Bid: 5000 vs 64 OI; Earnings 4/29 Before Open [est] 

McDonald's Option Alert: May 16 $285 Puts at the Bid: 5000 @ $2.28 vs 64 OI; Earnings 4/29 Before Open [est] Ref=$306.47

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) Bolsa

McDonald's

McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2024 system sales of $131 billion across more than 43,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald's pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.

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<ul>
<li>CNN reports that casual dining chains are in crisis, as evidenced by a 0.9% drop in sales over 2024</li>
<li>One contributing factor to the decline is rising prices, which have gone up by 34% over the last five years</li>
<li>Meanwhile, fast-casual restaurants have seen a 0.6% increase in sales, and fast food restaurants have seen a 1% increase in sales</li>
</ul>
Casual dining chains, a staple of the American restaurant industry, are facing a crisis, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/04/business/hooters-red-lobster-tgi-fridays/index.html">CNN</a>. Four well-known establishments—TGI Fridays, Red Lobster, Hooters and Buca di Beppo— have iled for bankruptcy in the last few months. And several others, like Applebee's, Denny's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DENN#NASDAQ">DENN</a>), Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Red Robin Gourmet Burger.(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RRGB#NASDAQ">RRGB</a>), and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRL#NASDAQ">CBRL</a>), have seen a sharp drop in sales.&nbsp;
This downturn, CNN reports, is due to a number of factors, including hiking prices, shrinking incomes, and general mismanagement.
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Chains like Red Robin and TGI Fridays have long been favorites among lower and middle-income families who want a sit-down dinner without a several-hundred-dollar price tag. But as disposable incomes shrink and the threat of a recession increases, CNN says, these diners find themselves less willing to spring for a full meal out. Instead, they're opting to cook at home or visit fast food and fast casual chains like McDonald&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>).&nbsp;
Data from the <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SEFV">US Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> also shows that restaurant prices have increased 34% since 2019, outpacing the overall growth of inflation. This has undoubtedly played a role in the 0.9% drop in sales at casual dining chains in 2024, that CNN reports, as well as the 0.6% and 1% increases at fast casual and fast food chains, respectively, where prices are already more affordable.
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But shrinking incomes and rising prices aren't the only reasons these dining institutions are struggling. Strategy mistakes and a reluctance to invest in location and service updates have also marred the chains' once-bright futures. For example, Hooters' racy atmosphere and reputation have become less appealing to diners over the few years, contributing to decreased sales. One of its prospective buyers recently told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-03-27/hooters-bankruptcy-founders-to-welcome-families-end-bikini-nights?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a> it intends to give the establishment a family-friendly makeover. Only time will tell if the revamp will be enough or too little, too late.&nbsp;
Clarence Otis Jr., a former CEO of Darden Restaurants (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>), told CNN the struggling chains "got dated in terms of their menu offering, the look and feel of the restaurants, and how they reach consumers."&nbsp;
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While many chain restaurants are struggling, a few have managed to find the right recipe. Chili's, Olive Garden, and Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXRH#NASDAQ">TXRH</a>) are all seeing rising profits, thanks to their investments in labor and facilities and their dedication to keeping prices low, according to CNN.&nbsp;
Chili's, CNN says, has invested $400 million into their restaurants, simplifying the menu, adding more staff, and renovating existing locations. As a result, it's gone viral on social media apps like TikTok and has increased sales by 31% over the last quarter, its third consecutive quarter of double-digit sales growth.&nbsp;
"There's a widening gap between winners and losers in the casual dining category," and "brands that are investing in labor and the quality of guest experience are winning," Raymond James analyst Brian Voccaro told CNN.&nbsp;
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Personal Finance

CBRL

DENN

RRGB

TXRH

The End Of Casual Dining? Chain Restaurants Shutter By The Hundreds As Prices Increase By 34%

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether this is an institution or just a wealthy individual, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MCD, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 11 options trades for McDonald's.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 27% bullish and 45%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, 10 are puts, for a total amount of $520,310, and there was 1 call, for a total amount of $75,500.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $250.0 and $320.0 for McDonald's, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of McDonald's stands at 890.43, with a total volume reaching 881.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in McDonald's, situated within the strike price corridor from $250.0 to $320.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>McDonald's Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1744383642_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$30.8</td>
<td>$28.55</td>
<td>$30.0</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$150.0K</td>
<td>796</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$77.1</td>
<td>$73.55</td>
<td>$75.5</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$75.5K</td>
<td>5</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.25</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$51.7K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td align="right">345</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$21.7</td>
<td>$19.65</td>
<td>$21.7</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$49.9K</td>
<td>135</td>
<td align="right">46</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$20.5</td>
<td>$19.3</td>
<td>$19.89</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$49.7K</td>
<td>135</td>
<td align="right">97</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About McDonald's</h3>
McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2024 system sales of $131 billion across more than 43,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald's pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding McDonald's, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of McDonald's</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 775,510, the price of MCD is down by -0.18%, reaching $306.22.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 18 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on McDonald's</h3>
Over the past month, 3 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $329.33.
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20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup has decided to maintain their Buy rating on McDonald's, which currently sits at a price target of $353. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on McDonald's, maintaining a target price of $335. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Baird keeps a Neutral rating on McDonald's with a target price of $300. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for McDonald's with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

McDonald's Unusual Options Activity For April 11

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NASDAQ">XLY</a>) pulled back Thursday, falling 3.9% to $187.90 during afternoon trading as investors took profits <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44720903/nasdaq-100-eyes-strongest-day-since-2008-as-magnificent-seven-add-15-trillion-in-historic-market-rally">following a dramatic surge</a> Wednesday.
What To Know: The ETF, which tracks leading U.S. consumer discretionary stocks, had soared over 11% on Wednesday—its strongest single-day performance since 2020—driven by President Donald Trump's announcement of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44723376/goldman-sachs-scraps-recession-call-after-trumps-surprise-tariff-pause-as-wall-street-marks-strongest-day-since-2008">90-day pause on additional tariffs</a> for non-retaliating countries.
XLY's top holdings include Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) and McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>). These companies are highly sensitive to consumer spending trends, input costs and trade policy—all of which were front and center in this week's macroeconomic shifts.
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What Else: Despite the marked pullback, Thursday's economic data further supported the bullish backdrop. The March Consumer Price Index revealed that inflation had cooled more than expected. 
Headline inflation fell to 2.4% year-over-year—its lowest reading since September—while core inflation eased to 2.8%, also below expectations. The monthly CPI even posted a rare 0.1% decline, reinforcing optimism that consumer price pressures are subsiding.
For discretionary names, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/04/44733390/march-inflation-rate-cools-far-more-than-expected-raises-hopes-for-near-term-fed-rate-cuts">lower inflation</a> translates to stronger real spending power and potentially higher margins—particularly important for retailers and automakers navigating tight pricing environments. However, the sector's outsized rally on Wednesday potentially left it, as well as the broader market, vulnerable to short-term profit-taking.
Thursday's selling also likely reflects a natural breather after an aggressive move higher, as markets digest whether the tariff pause and inflation surprise mark a turning point—or just temporary relief—for consumer-focused stocks.
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According to data from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, XLY has a 52-week high of $240.28 and a 52-week low of $166.60.

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Baird analyst David Tarantino maintains McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $310 to $300.

Baird Maintains Neutral on McDonald's, Lowers Price Target to $300

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Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintains McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $360 to $353.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on McDonald's, Lowers Price Target to $353

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MCD usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 10 extraordinary options activities for McDonald's. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 60% leaning bullish and 10% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $360,806, and 4 are calls, amounting to $249,741.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $290.0 and $320.0 for McDonald's, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of McDonald's stands at 1078.43, with a total volume reaching 1,719.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in McDonald's, situated within the strike price corridor from $290.0 to $320.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>McDonald's Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743625846_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$40.1</td>
<td>$39.45</td>
<td>$40.0</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$120.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$12.35</td>
<td>$11.95</td>
<td>$12.28</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$89.9K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td align="right">189</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$12.3</td>
<td>$12.15</td>
<td>$12.15</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$88.6K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td align="right">262</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$12.35</td>
<td>$12.0</td>
<td>$12.2</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$71.9K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td align="right">115</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$7.2</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$7.1</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$63.9K</td>
<td>351</td>
<td align="right">98</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About McDonald's</h3>
McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2024 system sales of $131 billion across more than 43,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald's pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.
In light of the recent options history for McDonald's, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>McDonald's's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,731,282, the price of MCD is down -0.65% at $311.58. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 27 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On McDonald's</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $335.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Overweight rating for McDonald's, targeting a price of $335. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for McDonald's with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

This Is What Whales Are Betting On McDonald's

McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 2.04% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 12.48%. Currently, McDonald's has a market capitalization of $222.91 billion. 
Buying $100 In MCD: If an investor had bought $100 of MCD stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $324.44 today based on a price of $312.00 for MCD at the time of writing.
<h3>McDonald's's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743464713_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In This Stock 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MCD usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 17 extraordinary options activities for McDonald's. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 52% leaning bullish and 41% bearish. Among these notable options, 8 are puts, totaling $397,746, and 9 are calls, amounting to $426,458.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $305.0 and $325.0 for McDonald's, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for McDonald's options trades today is 916.0 with a total volume of 6,088.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for McDonald's's big money trades within a strike price range of $305.0 to $325.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>McDonald's Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743008520_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$4.75</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$95.7K</td>
<td>353</td>
<td align="right">610</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$12.7</td>
<td>$12.1</td>
<td>$12.4</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$75.0K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$9.85</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$72.5K</td>
<td>142</td>
<td align="right">307</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$5.15</td>
<td>$5.05</td>
<td>$5.05</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$70.1K</td>
<td>353</td>
<td align="right">221</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$3.0</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$317.50</td>
<td>$50.8K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td align="right">429</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About McDonald's</h3>
McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2024 system sales of $131 billion across more than 43,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald's pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.
Having examined the options trading patterns of McDonald's, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>McDonald's's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 831,429, the price of MCD is up by 1.68%, reaching $312.07.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 34 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for McDonald's</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $335.0.
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&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on McDonald's, maintaining a target price of $335. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest McDonald's options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

McDonald's Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Looking into the current session, McDonald's Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) shares are trading at $304.52, after a 0.30% decrease. Over the past month, the stock fell by 1.70%, but over the past year, it actually spiked by 9.63%. With questionable short-term performance like this, and great long-term performance, long-term shareholders might want to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742821225_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>McDonald's P/E Compared to Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
McDonald's has a lower P/E than the aggregate P/E of 91.56 of the Hotels, Restaurants &amp; Leisure industry. Ideally, one might believe that the stock might perform worse than its peers, but it's also probable that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742821225_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

A Look Into McDonald's Inc's Price Over Earnings

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on McDonald's.
Looking at options history for McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) we detected 11 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 9% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 72% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $74,350 and 9, calls, for a total amount of $1,100,372.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $270.0 and $330.0 for McDonald's, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for McDonald's's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of McDonald's's whale trades within a strike price range from $270.0 to $330.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>McDonald's 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742589092_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$6.35</td>
<td>$6.05</td>
<td>$6.18</td>
<td>$305.00</td>
<td>$301.5K</td>
<td>729</td>
<td align="right">47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$305.00</td>
<td>$262.6K</td>
<td>729</td>
<td align="right">945</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$4.3</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$3.91</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$190.8K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td align="right">286</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$19.75</td>
<td>$18.9</td>
<td>$18.9</td>
<td>$305.00</td>
<td>$94.4K</td>
<td>199</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$3.34</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
<td>$66.8K</td>
<td>939</td>
<td align="right">224</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About McDonald's</h3>
McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2024 system sales of $131 billion across more than 43,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald's pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding McDonald's, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>McDonald's's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 6,001,089, the price of MCD is down by -0.51%, reaching $305.44.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 39 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for McDonald's</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $335.0.
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&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on McDonald's, which currently sits at a price target of $335. 
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Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on MCD Options

Last week, J.P. Morgan analyst John Ivankoe hosted Bloomin&#8217; Brands Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLMN#NASDAQ">BLMN</a>), CAVA Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAVA#NYSE">CAVA</a>), Brinker International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>), and Sweetgreen Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SG#NYSE">SG</a>) at the J.P. Morgan Las Vegas forum.
The analyst noted that the key takeaway from all four companies was the focus on doing &#8220;fewer things better&#8221; and consistently reinvesting in customer and employee experiences.
According to the analyst, stock volatility has created opportunities, with the current 10-year yield of 4.3% helping global QSR valuations, easing fears of a 5-6% yield.
The analyst recommended adding fresh investments in Dutch Bros Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BROS#NYSE">BROS</a>), Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), and CAVA.
While McDonald&#8217;s Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) and Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) are fairly valued, slower U.S. data and international growth may present better buying opportunities, per the analyst.
Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>) exceeded expectations, benefiting from tech-fee recapture. Domino&#8217;s Pizza Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>) is fairly valued due to high expectations. It remains uncertain if the Middle East conflict&#8217;s impact will drive sustained sales growth or just a leveling out.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44420034/d-waves-new-blockchain-architecture-could-slash-energy-usage-by-1000x" rel="noreferrer noopener">D-Wave Unveils New Blockchain Architecture To Slash Energy Usage</a>
The analyst upgraded the shares of CAVA to Overweight. CAVA has significant potential for expansion in the U.S., with impressive free cash flow generation and a strong pipeline of operational and brand initiatives to drive sales and profits.
The analyst reiterated a Neutral rating on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) and EAT due to high valuations and peak comps, but remain cautiously optimistic and would consider adding on volatility.
Overweight-rated SG and Krispy Kreme Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DNUT#NASDAQ">DNUT</a>) face sales and profit challenges, with SG offering near-term potential through seasonal menus and loyalty programs.
Following YUM&#8217;s Taco Bell analyst day on March 4, which highlighted the &#8220;Byte by YUM!&#8221; platform and improving KFC international trends, the analyst conducted a full model review and a valuation reset.
Projections include Taco Bell U.S. growing to 9,000 units by 2030 and Taco Bell International expanding to 2,000 units. The analyst assumes KFC international (excluding China) will increase to 22,300 units, while KFC China will reach 19,400.
Compared to previous expectations, only BROS, DPZ, and Taco Bell (YUM) are performing ahead, while high-growth brands like CAVA, SG, Chili&#8217;s, and SBUX are on track.
Larger QSR brands like MCD, BK (QSR), KFC/PH (YUM), and fast-casual chains such as CMG and Shake Shack Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHAK#NYSE">SHAK</a>) are underperforming. Casual dining brands like Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) (Olive Garden), Texas Roadhouse Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXRH#NASDAQ">TXRH</a>) (Roadhouse), and BLMN (Outback) are also tracking lower.
The U.S. restaurant labor market remains stable, with open positions at 6.2% of total employment, close to the 20-year average of 4.4%. The quits rate stands at 3.8%, near the historical average of 4.0%.
Consumer confidence has declined, with a focus on the &#8220;expectations&#8221; component, as cautious consumers become more selective in discretionary spending.
Large QSR brands, like MCD and DPZ, report weaker performance among low-income consumers. In contrast, high-growth brands like CAVA are seeing strong growth in the lowest income quartiles, suggesting a shift toward QSR trade-ups and growing brand awareness.
According to the analyst, sourcing talent and retention remain key to building strong brands and scaling operations, mainly during the rapid adoption of in/out-of-store tech.
Total industry supply growth has remained surprisingly resilient, up 12% from third-quarter FY18 to third-quarter FY24 for a CAGR of ~2%, opined the analyst.
So much attention is placed on future AI driven opportunities, but the reality is 40% of the industry sales are from the top 500 chains with a very large addressable market of another 60% are considered to be independents, the analyst noted.
Tariffs are less of an issue for this sector than other industries but related inflation could impact several daily consumer staple commodities including avocados, seasonal produce/fruit and coffee, said the analyst.
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Image via Shutterstock.

Analyst Color

Upgrades

Reiteration

General

BLMN

CAVA

DNUT

Is Tariff An Issue For Restaurant Sector? J.P. Morgan Highlights Winners & Losers

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$52.6K</td>
<td>20.0K</td>
<td>115.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$64.3K</td>
<td>17.9K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$38.6K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td>738</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DASH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$178.4K</td>
<td>385</td>
<td>723</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$57.1K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>632</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$36.9K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>455</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GCT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$27.0K</td>
<td>404</td>
<td>330</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$80.0K</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>260</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$45.8K</td>
<td>162</td>
<td>212</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$33.00</td>
<td>$56.0K</td>
<td>173</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 205 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $52.6K, with a price of $257.0 per contract. There were 20036 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 115852 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 117 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $64.3K, with a price of $549.0 per contract. There were 17951 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5541 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 25 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.6K, with a price of $1546.0 per contract. There were 4020 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 738 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DASH (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 350 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $178.4K, with a price of $510.0 per contract. There were 385 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 723 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 57 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $195.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.1K, with a price of $1142.0 per contract. There were 5499 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 632 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 57 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 41 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.9K, with a price of $900.0 per contract. There were 1688 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 455 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GCT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GCT#NASDAQ">GCT</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 666 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 80 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.0K, with a price of $338.0 per contract. There were 404 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 330 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For KLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLC#NYSE">KLC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 28 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 27 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $80.0K, with a price of $320.0 per contract. There were 10 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 260 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MCD (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 15 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 131 contract(s) at a $310.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.8K, with a price of $350.0 per contract. There were 162 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 212 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SG#NYSE">SG</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 211 day(s) on October 17, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $33.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.0K, with a price of $280.0 per contract. There were 173 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

BABA

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DASH

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on McDonald's.
Looking at options history for McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) we detected 15 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 40% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 46% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $737,785 and 6, calls, for a total amount of $303,266.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $295.0 to $350.0 for McDonald's over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for McDonald's options trades today is 891.62 with a total volume of 3,535.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for McDonald's's big money trades within a strike price range of $295.0 to $350.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>McDonald's Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742244339_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$15.1</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$15.1</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$116.2K</td>
<td align="right">221</td>
<td align="right">206</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.65</td>
<td>$30.05</td>
<td>$30.3</td>
<td>$295.00</td>
<td>$112.1K</td>
<td align="right">235</td>
<td align="right">37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$14.35</td>
<td>$13.8</td>
<td>$14.35</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$110.4K</td>
<td align="right">221</td>
<td align="right">206</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$14.4</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$108.5K</td>
<td align="right">221</td>
<td align="right">129</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$14.95</td>
<td>$13.8</td>
<td>$14.02</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$107.9K</td>
<td align="right">221</td>
<td align="right">501</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About McDonald's</h3>
McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2024 system sales of $131 billion across more than 43,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald's pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding McDonald's, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of McDonald's</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 2,747,733, the MCD's price is up by 1.38%, now at $303.97. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 43 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About McDonald's</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $335.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Overweight rating for McDonald's, targeting a price of $335. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for McDonald's with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

McDonald's's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) short percent of float has risen 27.05% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 11.03 million shares sold short, which is 1.55% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.09 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>McDonald's Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742238024_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for McDonald's has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing McDonald's's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, McDonald's's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 10.24%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Looking Into McDonald's's Recent Short Interest

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
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<li>Goldman Sachs cut Bumble Inc. &nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMBL#NYSE">BMBL</a>) price target from $10 to $8. Goldman Sachs analyst Alexandra Steiger maintained a Buy rating. Bumble shares closed at $4.82 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BMBL/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer slashed the price target for Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXPE#NASDAQ">EXPE</a>) from $235 to $230. Oppenheimer analyst Jed Kelly maintained an Outperform rating. Expedia shares closed at $162.11 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EXPE/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley cut McDonald&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) price target from $340 to $335. Morgan Stanley analyst John Glass maintained an Overweight rating. McDonald&#8217;s shares closed at $299.83 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MCD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>BMO Capital raised the price target for Pilgrim&#8217;s Pride Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPC#NASDAQ">PPC</a>) from $47 to $48. BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik maintained a Market Perform rating. Pilgrim&#8217;s Pride shares closed at $49.62 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PPC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan cut the price target for Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCI#NYSE">CCI</a>) from $121 to $115. JP Morgan analyst Philip Cusick maintained a Neutral rating. Crown Castle shares closed at $103.22 on Thursday. See how other analysts view <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CCI/analyst-ratings">this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Scotiabank cut Zoom Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZM#NASDAQ">ZM</a>) price target from $85 to $75. Scotiabank analyst Allan Verkhovski maintained a Sector Perform rating. Zoom shares settled at $74.20 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ZM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>DA Davidson cut e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELF#NYSE">ELF</a>) price target from $80 to $75. DA Davidson analyst Linda Bolton Weiser maintained a Neutral rating. e.l.f. Beauty shares closed at $68.18 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ELF/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>UBS cut Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>) price target from $74 to $50. UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri maintained a Neutral rating. Western Digital shares closed at $44.53 on Friday. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Mizuho cut the price target for Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) from $515 to $430. Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh maintained an Outperform rating. Tesla shares settled at $249.98 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Needham slashed NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) price target from $84 to $80. Needham analyst Tom Nikic maintained a Buy rating. Nike shares closed at $71.66 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/nke/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
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Morgan Stanley analyst John Glass maintains McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $340 to $335.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on McDonald's, Lowers Price Target to $335

Ray Dalio's career path has often taken unexpected turns. On <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O9-xzOh9Pg">Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast</a>, he recalled a time when his work as a commodities trader landed him a consulting gig with McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) during a period when agricultural prices were wildly unpredictable.&nbsp;
Tasked with guiding the fast-food giant through the ups and downs of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44147801/egg-prices-hit-record-4-95-per-dozen-agriculture-secretary-blames-overregulation-for-skyrocketing-cost">chicken</a> feed costs—mainly corn and soybean meal—his insights helped pave the way for the launch of the Chicken McNugget in 1983, according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ray-dalio-bridgewater-billionaire-investor-mcdonalds-chicken-mcnugget-inflation-commodities-2025-3">Business Insider</a>.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">At a Fiscal Crossroads</h2>
Today, Dalio's focus has shifted from the micro world of commodities to broader macroeconomic issues. He warns that if U.S. policymakers do not rein in the relentless rise in deficit spending, a severe debt crisis could erupt within three years, as per <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ray-dalio-warns-u-s-could-face-a-debt-crisis-heart-attack-within-three-years-bd0d9f59">MarketWatch</a>.&nbsp;
The 2024 federal deficit now hovers around $1.8 trillion—equating to 6.4% of the nation's gross domestic product—a level witnessed only six times since 1946, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/budget-deficit-national-debt-2024-079d8d13">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported. Dalio argues that trimming this figure down to about 3% of GDP is crucial for averting economic instability.
The overall picture grows even grimmer with a national debt that has swelled to roughly $36.2 trillion, more than tripling since 2000. This ballooning debt, paired with mounting pressure in the bond market—evidenced by a 30-year mortgage rate that is near 7%—raises alarms about investor confidence in the U.S. Treasury bonds.&nbsp;
Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a>
These signals point to the risk of a "financial heart attack" that could unsettle global markets and weaken the U.S. dollar's role as the world's reserve currency.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta reports that its <a href="https://www.atlantafed.org/cqer/research/gdpnow">GDPNow model</a> estimates real GDP growth at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of negative 2.4% for the first quarter of 2025 as of March 6, an improvement from negative 2.8% on March 3. Meanwhile, inflation has risen from 2.4% to 3%, adding further economic uncertainty.
Such trends have prompted figures like Michael Burry and Jeremy Grantham to predict an economic downturn, according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burry-grantham-stock-market-crash-recession-trumpcession-tariffs-inflation-krugman-2025-3">Business Insider.</a>
Meanwhile, divergent fiscal strategies add fuel to the fire. Historically, tax cuts implemented under Republican-led policies have not been paired with spending reductions, whereas Democrat-led policies have boosted expenditures without corresponding tax hikes.
See Also: Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/1milsaved"> The percentage may shock you</a>.
This mismatch has pushed the cost of servicing the debt to account for more than half of the annual budget deficit.
Balancing this cautionary tale, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/global-markets-bis-graphic-2025-03-11/">Reuters</a> reported that Europe's recent surge in defense spending—sparked by evolving U.S. security policies—has been met with market approval, suggesting a degree of economic resilience.
At the same time, unconventional proposals from President <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44237846/trump-proposes-special-a-gold-card-for-wealthy-immigrants-that-costs-5-million-says-selling-enou">Donald Trump</a>, such as swapping Treasury bonds for less expensive alternatives, selling residency cards for $5 million, and enforcing strict federal spending cuts alongside tariffs on imports, may potentially stir a measure of market confidence.
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<li>How do billionaires pay less in income tax than you?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/tax-deferring-adv"> Tax deferring is their number one strategy</a>.</li>
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