10 Best Passive Income Stocks to Buy Now

3. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 75

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is one of the best dividend stocks for passive income. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.77 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.36%, as of July 10. It is just two years away from becoming a Dividend King, with a current dividend growth streak spanning 48 years.

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) reported mixed earnings in the first quarter of 2025. The company posted revenue of $5.96 billion, which fell by 3.45% from the same period last year and also missed analysts’ expectations by $170.2 million. It also saw a 1.0% drop in global comparable sales, but after accounting for the extra Leap Day in the previous year, sales were essentially flat. Over the past year, systemwide sales to loyalty program members across 60 markets surpassed $31 billion, with around $8 billion coming from the first quarter alone.

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) stands as the largest global foodservice retailer, operating more than 43,000 restaurants across over 100 countries. Roughly 95% of its locations are owned and run by independent local franchisees.