Is MCD a good stock to buy now? We came across a bullish thesis on McDonald’s Corporation on Basement Capital’s Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on MCD. McDonald’s Corporation’s share was trading at $327.94 as of March 10th. MCD’s trailing and forward P/E were 27.68 and 24.94 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.
McDonald’s Corporation owns, operates, and franchises restaurants under the McDonald’s brand in the United States and internationally. MCD is a world-class, asset-light (~95% franchised) franchise model with durable pricing power, strong digital and loyalty tailwinds, and consistent free cash flow generation. DCF-derived fair value of $330.90, implying roughly 8% upside plus a 2.4% dividend yield, for total expected returns near 10.2%.
The company benefits from mid-single-digit revenue growth and significant EBITDA margin expansion, projected to reach 14.3% by 2029, driven by menu enhancements, operational efficiency, and global scale. Its valuation is in line with peers, with forward EV/EBITDA at 17.44x and an implied NTM EV/EBITDA of 18.2x, reflecting modest upside potential. McDonald’s competitive advantages include pricing power, digital and rewards integration, and selective international expansion, which support both margin growth and strong free cash flow conversion, underpinning dividends and buybacks.
The balance sheet is robust, reflecting an investment-grade credit profile that complements its defensive nature. Upside catalysts include stronger consumer demand, continued franchise efficiency, AI adoption, menu innovation, and emerging market penetration, while downside risks stem from prolonged consumer weakness, inflationary pressures, labor costs, health-focused competition, and potential AI integration challenges.
Market consensus shows a moderate buy rating, with average analyst targets slightly above current levels, reinforcing the notion that McDonald’s is a high-quality compounder trading at fair value. Overall, the company offers a defensive, resilient investment with modest capital appreciation potential and steady income, making it attractive for long-term investors seeking stability, growth, and total returns in the low-teens over time.
Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) by David in October 2024, which highlighted strong free cash flow, disciplined capital allocation, share repurchases, and consistent dividends driving long-term shareholder value. MCD’s stock price has appreciated by approximately 9.83% since our coverage. Basement Capital shares a similar view but emphasizes the asset-light franchise model, digital tailwinds, and DCF-based upside.
McDonald’s Corporation is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 91 hedge fund portfolios held MCD at the end of the fourth quarter which was 83 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of MCD as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MCD and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None.
