Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on McDonald's. Our analysis of options history for McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) revealed 23 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 47% of traders were bullish, while 43% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 8 were puts, with a value of $299,307, and 15 were calls, valued at $690,746.
Expected Price Movements
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $215.0 to $310.0 for McDonald's over the recent three months.
Analyzing Volume & Open Interest
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
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 activity within a strike price range from $215.0 to $310.0 in the last 30 days.
McDonald's Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview
Largest Options Trades Observed:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCD | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 03/21/25 | $7.3 | $7.15 | $7.3 | $295.00 | $73.0K | 1.0K | 347 |
| MCD | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 02/14/25 | $8.45 | $8.4 | $8.45 | $287.50 | $69.6K | 0 | 246 |
| MCD | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $23.15 | $22.2 | $22.9 | $290.00 | $68.7K | 1.4K | 38 |
| MCD | CALL | SWEEP | BEARISH | 01/31/25 | $12.8 | $12.5 | $12.54 | $280.00 | $62.6K | 850 | 448 |
| MCD | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 03/21/25 | $5.0 | $4.95 | $4.95 | $300.00 | $61.3K | 2.0K | 474 |
About McDonald's
McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2023 system sales of $130 billion across nearly than 42,000 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.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with McDonald's, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
Present Market Standing of McDonald's With a volume of 3,009,402, the price of MCD is up 2.2% at $291.74. RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought. Next earnings are expected to be released in 14 days. Expert Opinions on McDonald's
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $333.0.
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. Click here for access. * An analyst from Loop Capital has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $342. * Showing optimism, an analyst from Citigroup upgrades its rating to Buy with a revised price target of $334. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keybanc continues to hold a Overweight rating for McDonald's, targeting a price of $320. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Overweight rating for McDonald's, targeting a price of $336.
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 Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
