I love McDonald's burgers, fries, and shakes. What I don't love is its current stock price.
Don't get me wrong, the stock's been a huge gainer over the past decade. It's risen more than 230% in the past ten years while throwing off decent dividend income.
But what's hard to digest, with the stock 5% from its all-time highs, is where it goes next.
If you own McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) or are thinking about buying it, here's what I suggest: tread carefully and put in a few simple hedges – like put options. There's definitely upside here, but investors have to protect themselves. And I'll tell you how.
Getting the Recipe Right
The first thing I look at when I'm analyzing a food company is the food. Like I said, I love McDonald's, at least the same few items I always get. As far as their other menu items, there may be too many.
Although it's nice to have a lot of options, McDonald's is a fast food joint, so I don't want to be overwhelmed by too many menu items.
In fact, analysts say McDonald's has too many menu items. In order to be more things to more people the company has been adding more and more items for years. But the Wall Street pro consensus is they've diluted their core higher-margin brand items with too many cheaper options.
When the company added "Dollar Menu" items, most of their regular patrons opted for the cheaper offerings and haven't ventured back to higher-margin menu items.
That plan backfired because while they originally planned on a limited Dollar Menu run to get back cost-conscious diners, business fell off every time the company tried to phase out Dollar Menu offerings.
Now company big-wigs are talking about changing the menu again.
The last two menu changes didn't help the company's slipping sales. So an investor in the stock has to wonder if company management has a clue what to offer their customers.
They might go more "wholesome," more "organic," more "socially and calorie conscious," or more "made-to-order." The problem with those changes is, while they may make sense on paper, they'll put Mickey D's into more direct competition with a host of casual-dining and hot-trendy competitors.
That's likely to turn off more traditional customers before it brings in enough new customers to give new items a try, especially if more "organically sourced" ingredients end up costing customers more. As far as revenues, that's a slippery slope.
Join the conversation. Click here to jump to comments…
About the Author
Shah Gilani is the Event Trading Specialist for Money Map Press. In Zenith Trading Circle Shah reveals the worst companies in the markets - right from his coveted Bankruptcy Almanac - and how readers can trade them over and over again for huge gains. He also writes our most talked-about publication, Wall Street Insights & Indictments, where he reveals how Wall Street's high-stakes game is really played.
Fast food is generally not intended to be great quality, more of a convenience than anything else. McDonalds is probably the worst of the lot. What they SHOULD be doing, as well as pruning their menu, is improve the quality. Even fast food junkies complain about the food.
R. Chandler
I have not eaten junk garbage food designed for illegal aliens; welfare; medicaid; snaps, and section 8 government-dependent trash in 5 decades or more.
I had Greek Baby organic Goat on Wed; Greek Baby Organic Lamb today and Greek Beef Moussaka tomorrow.
What did Peter Lynch say all those decades ago? Go back and look!
McD's has been getting crushed in China for years. Sure, I've had it in my IRAs since the early 70's (Vanguard Total Market and Fidelity Contrafund and probably others I'm too lazy to view ).
retired expatriate
Thank you for the tip on McDonalds
How 'bout Breakfast All Day? Or at least offer the Egg McMuffin all day? When the Egg McMuffin was first introduced in 1973, it was offered from 9pm til 11pm because at that time McDonald's did not open til 11am and did not have a breakfast program.
Mr Gilani,
Excellent,excellent article offering small investors a risk free strategy supported by logical , easy to understand analysis . Many thanks.
Investigation on the 1 biljon $ Tax escape construction in Europe ?
Silence of the American media lambs ?
As a commercial real estate investor and broker, under the circumstances, I am very doubtful of the wisdom of investing in McDonald's NNN leases with a only a 3-4% cap rate. In my opinion, McDonald's does not deserve that low a cap rate based on its poor performance during recent years. Those investors that bought these NNN leased properties at 3-4% cap rates are going to regret it, because there will be no resale market that will reward these investors.
Can I Multiply
got an ad for a national periodical that touted Mcd's for their good yield. was going to buy but am going to wait and see. thx old chap.