Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) Sells McDonald's (MCD) Stock

Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey's 5th district, sold shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) valued between $1,001 and $15,000 on September 25, 2026, according to a report filed under the STOCK Act on October 7, 2026.

Gottheimer's trade comes as McDonald's shares have been struggling. As of October 16, 2026, the stock was recently trading around $242.57, which is below both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages by 4.2% and 15.3%, respectively. The shares are also 29% lower than their 52-week high of $341.75.

Other Institutional Activity in McDonald's

Several institutional investors have made notable movements in McDonald's shares recently. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings by 83,030 shares, bringing its total to about 55.4 million shares valued at approximately $13.5 billion. Vanguard Capital Management LLC added 180,244 shares, increasing its stake to nearly 46.4 million shares worth about $11.3 billion. In contrast, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced its position by 5.7 million shares, leaving it with about 31.9 million shares valued at roughly $7.8 billion.

McDonald's Corporation Stock Up 1.9%

As of October 16, 2026, McDonald's stock trades below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a potential challenge for the company. The recent price is also 16.9% below the mean price target of $292.03 set by analysts. This comes as the company prepares to announce its next earnings report on November 4, 2026.

Recent Earnings

McDonald's reported trailing twelve-month revenue of approximately $27.7 billion, with an earnings per share (EPS) of $12.31. The company has shown a revenue growth of 3.7% year-over-year and maintains a net margin of 31.7%. These figures highlight the company's consistent performance despite the recent stock price challenges.

Dividend

McDonald's currently offers a dividend yield of 3.18%, with a payout ratio of 59.7%.

Insider Buying and Selling at McDonald's Corporation

Insider trading activity has also been notable at McDonald's. On April 23, 2026, Officer Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares at an average price of $302.72, totaling about $100,806. Earlier, on May 26, he sold another 333 shares at $280.11, worth approximately $93,277. Additionally, Desiree Ann Ralls-Morrison, another officer, sold 2,763 shares on May 28 for about $769,109.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On September 24, 2026, BMO Capital maintained an "Outperform" rating for McDonald's with a target price of $310, down from $335. Following this, Melius Research set a "Sell" rating with a target of $230 on September 28, 2026. Morgan Stanley also maintained an "Equal-Weight" rating with a target of $297, while JP Morgan and Wells Fargo kept their "Overweight" ratings with targets of $250 and $270, respectively.

About McDonald's

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises restaurants globally, known for its hamburgers, fries, and breakfast items. The company continues to innovate its menu while maintaining a strong presence in the fast-food industry.

Bottom Line

As McDonald's prepares for its next earnings report on November 4, 2026, investors will be watching how the company navigates its current stock challenges. Gottheimer's recent trade adds to his pattern of selling shares, including previous sales of Nestlé S.A. and Applied Materials, both valued similarly. Further updates on institutional activity and analyst ratings will be important indicators for the stock's future performance.