Check Out What Whales Are Doing With MCD

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on McDonald's MCD.

And retail traders should know.

We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.

Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MCD, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.

So how do we know what these investors just did?

Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 18 uncommon options trades for McDonald's.

This isn't normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 38% bullish and 38%, bearish.

Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 8 are puts, for a total amount of $362,592, and 10 are calls, for a total amount of $564,277.

Predicted Price Range

Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $230.0 to $310.0 for McDonald's during the past quarter.

Volume & Open Interest Development

Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. 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 trades within a strike price range from $230.0 to $310.0 in the last 30 days.

McDonald's Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview

Biggest Options Spotted:

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.

After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding McDonald's, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.

Present Market Standing of McDonald's

• With a volume of 1,354,123, the price of MCD is up 0.32% at $297.79.
• RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.
• Next earnings are expected to be released in 35 days.

Expert Opinions on McDonald's

5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $324.6.

Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?

20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Neutral rating for McDonald's, targeting a price of $301. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from JP Morgan keeps a Overweight rating on McDonald's with a target price of $290. * An analyst from Tigress Financial has decided to maintain their Buy rating on McDonald's, which currently sits at a price target of $360. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Loop Capital keeps a Buy rating on McDonald's with a target price of $342. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Jefferies keeps a Buy rating on McDonald's with a target price of $330.

Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest McDonald's options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.