McDonald's stock hits a 52 week low before Investor Day

Published on 09/22/2026 at 11:54 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

UBS cut its McDonald's target to USD 320 from USD 340 on September 22, 2026. Second quarter EPS rose 6 percent to USD 3.38.

Modernes Fast-Food-Restaurant mit Self-Order-Kiosks an der Wand, lächelnde Gäste an weißen Tischen, Mitarbeiter an der Theke, warmes Ambientlicht, große Fensterfront zur Stadtstraße, kein Branding — McDonald's modernes Restaurant US5801351017 zeigt Self-Order-Kiosks mit freundlichen Gästen im hellen Innenraum, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

McDonald's stock traded at USD 247.85 on the NYSE on September 22, 2026, after reaching a new 52-week low of USD 246.52. The shares had closed at USD 248.24 in the previous session, while trading volume reached 6,193,282 shares, according to MarketBeat data.

Investor Day raises the stakes

The immediate company-specific catalyst is McDonald's Investor Day scheduled for September 23, 2026. A recent operating update said investors are looking for detail on growth plans, capital allocation, franchisee economics, menu innovation, digital monetization and the loyalty program. The stock was down more than 17 percent year to date in that report, making the event a test of whether management can address slowing comparable sales.

Analyst views have become more divided ahead of the event. According to Investing.com on September 22, 2026, UBS lowered its price target to USD 320 from USD 340 while maintaining a Buy rating. The same report said RBC Capital reduced its target to USD 290 from USD 295 and retained a Sector Perform rating.

Second quarter showed slower growth

McDonald's second quarter of 2026 delivered adjusted earnings per share of USD 3.38, up 6 percent from USD 3.19 in the year-earlier quarter and USD 0.06 above consensus. Revenue reached USD 7.10 billion, up 3.7 percent year over year but below the USD 7.13 billion estimate, according to MarketBeat on September 22, 2026.

A separate report on the same quarter put global systemwide sales at USD 37 billion, 5 percent above the prior year or 4 percent after currency effects. Global comparable sales rose 1.3 percent, down from 3.8 percent a year earlier, while US comparable sales increased 0.8 percent versus 2.5 percent in the prior-year quarter. The comparison points to a clear split: earnings growth remained positive, but customer traffic and sales momentum were less supportive.

Stock trades near its yearly floor

MarketBeat reported a market capitalization of USD 175.39 billion on September 22, 2026, alongside a 50-day moving average of USD 264.49 and a 200-day moving average of USD 282.91. The USD 247.85 last trade stood below both averages, while the consensus target cited by the portal was USD 317.04 and the average rating was Moderate Buy.

That gap leaves the September 23, 2026 Investor Day as the next quantified checkpoint for the shares. The market is weighing the USD 320 UBS target against the USD 290 RBC target, while the recent quarterly comparison shows why US comparable sales and traffic are central to the stock's valuation.

McDonald's stock remains near its low

McDonald's stock last traded at USD 247.85 on the NYSE on September 22, 2026, after touching USD 246.52. The prior close was USD 248.24, and the session volume was 6,193,282 shares.