McDonald’s unlocks more value

Article Excerpt

MCDONALD’S CORP. $214 is a buy. The company (New York symbol MCD; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 744.1 million; Market cap: $159.2 billion; Dividend yield: 2.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.mcdonalds.com) is the world’s largest operator of fast-food restaurants, with 38,000 outlets in 120 countries. The fast-food giant has raised its dividend each year since 1976. It last raised the quarterly payment by 7.8% in December 2019, to $1.25 a share from $1.16. The new annual rate of $5.00 yields 2.3%. To boost its long-term profitability, McDonald’s plans to close about 200 stores in the U.S. (about half of those are inside Walmart stores). It will also reduce its stake in its publicly traded Japanese business, from 49% to 35%. Based on the current trading price, that sale would raise about $900 million. McDonald’s is a buy. buy…