16 Best Dividend Stocks with Rising Payouts

5. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 83

Payout Ratio (TTM): 59.4%

On February 13, Argus analyst John Staszak upgraded McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) to Buy from Hold and set a $380 price target. In a research note, he said the company is in a strong position to attract budget-conscious customers through its value menus and promotional offers. He also pointed to McDonald’s investments in its digital platform and new product launches, which he believes could support comparable sales growth above peers.

Following the company’s Q4 2025 earnings report, analysts across Wall Street responded positively. Many maintained a bullish view and see further upside in the stock.”What else could you want?” Bernstein analyst Danilo Gargiulo wrote in response to the results. JPMorgan analyst John Ivankoe said McDonald’s is “making efforts to recapture attention lost to specialists.” He added that the value strategy is gaining traction and expects stronger franchisee profitability to drive alignment around new initiatives in 2026 and beyond, including beverages, chicken offerings, and restaurant remodels.

JPMorgan kept an Overweight rating on the shares. Morgan Stanley maintained an Equal Weight rating, while Deutsche Bank reiterated its Buy rating.

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) operates as a global foodservice retailer. Its business is organized into the U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate segments.