NEW YORK, Jan 10, 2026, 16:18 EST — Market closed
McDonald’s Corp shares slipped 0.5% on Friday to $307.32, after trading between $304.62 and $309.48. Truist Securities raised its price target — an analyst estimate of where the stock could trade — to $356 from $350 and kept a buy rating, flagging “temporary tailwinds” from tax refunds and weather even as it warned of pressure from slower job growth and commodity inflation. (TipRanks)
The timing matters. U.S. investors head into a data-heavy week that could reshape how the market reads consumer demand and restaurant costs, with the December consumer price index due on Tuesday and producer prices and retail sales on Wednesday. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Truist pointed to company levers it says could support sales without waiting on the economy, including traffic gains tied to McDonald’s Extra Value Menu, potential chicken-focused innovation and a possible national beverage platform rollout after regional tests. LSEG data show 20 of 39 brokerages rate the stock “buy” or higher, with a median price target of $342.50; the shares are up about 7.3% over the past 12 months. (Sahm)
McDonald’s underperformed some fast-food peers in Friday’s risk-on session. The S&P 500 rose 0.65% and the Dow gained 0.48%, while Starbucks added 0.79%, Yum Brands climbed 1.33% and Chipotle jumped 2.37%. (MarketWatch)
Technically, traders are watching the $300 area as a near-term line in the sand. It is a round number, but it also tends to act like a magnet for short-term flows when the stock is stuck in a tight range.
But the value play can cut both ways. Heavier discounting can lift traffic, yet it can also squeeze restaurant-level margins if food and labor costs firm up, especially if consumers turn cautious again after the holiday season.
The next company catalyst is earnings. McDonald’s has not confirmed a date, but earnings calendars at Nasdaq and Zacks currently point to Feb. 9 as the expected report window. (Nasdaq)
Between now and then, investors will parse any signals on U.S. traffic, the balance between price and promotions, and whether new product pushes — especially chicken and beverages — can drive incremental visits rather than shift orders around the menu.
Rate expectations are also in the background. The Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27-28, a backdrop that can swing sentiment across consumer stocks when inflation data surprises. (Federal Reserve)
The first hard test is Tuesday’s CPI report for December 2025, due at 8:30 a.m. ET — the next major data point traders will use to gauge pressure on input costs and household budgets before the market reopens after the weekend. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
