McDonald’s Profits May Strengthen Its Defensive Attractiveness
Stock Performance: McDonald's shares have increased by 2.7% in the past week, nearing a 52-week high, amidst a broader market decline in technology stocks.
Earnings Report Insights: The company is set to report its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings on February 11, with analysts closely watching consumer traffic trends, particularly from lower-income demographics.
Dividend Growth: McDonald's is expected to raise its dividend later this year, joining the elite group of companies that have consistently increased dividends for at least 50 consecutive years.
Market Outlook: Analysts maintain a positive long-term view on McDonald's stock, citing strong sales growth and a healthy business model, despite current economic pressures affecting consumer spending.
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Stock Market Outlook: The Super Bowl Indicator suggests a positive year for the stock market, particularly following the Seattle Seahawks' victory.
Investor Sentiment: Even skeptics of the Super Bowl Indicator can find reasons for optimism as the market approaches a significant January jobs report.
- Market Sentiment Dips: Following a strong rebound on Friday, U.S. stock futures declined on Monday, reflecting cautious market sentiment amid concerns over upcoming economic data, particularly regarding inflation and labor market changes.
- Japanese Market Surge: The Nikkei 225 index broke the 57,000-point barrier for the first time, driven by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide election victory and a high-profile endorsement from Trump, indicating a robust recovery in Japan that may attract more international investors.
- Stable Treasury Yields: The 10-year Treasury bond yield stood at 4.22%, while the two-year yield was at 3.50%, suggesting market expectations for the Federal Reserve's future interest rate policy are stabilizing, with an 84.2% likelihood of rates remaining unchanged in March.
- Stock Dynamics: FedEx shares rose 0.47% after announcing plans to acquire InPost for €7.8 billion, showcasing a proactive business expansion strategy, while ON Semiconductor fell 1.38% as analysts expect quarterly earnings to miss expectations.

- Stock Market Trends: Stock futures were declining on Monday as investors expressed concerns about the sustainability of a recent relief rally.
- Investor Sentiment: There is a prevailing uncertainty among investors regarding the market's ability to maintain upward momentum following last week's gains.
- DuPont Earnings Expectations: DuPont is expected to report earnings of $0.43 per share and revenue of $1.69 billion for Q4 2025, with analysts noting ongoing pressure in short-cycle businesses, while slight improvements in the automotive sector may influence investor sentiment.
- Cisco's AI Focus: Cisco anticipates earnings of $1.02 per share and revenue of $15.1 billion for Q2 FY2026, with CEO highlighting a major multi-year campus networking refresh, making AI infrastructure demand a critical growth driver.
- Importance of Employment Report: The January employment report is expected to show an addition of 80,000 nonfarm payrolls and an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.4%, directly impacting private consumption and U.S. GDP, making it crucial for investors to monitor.
- Consumer Price Index Insights: The January CPI is projected to increase by 2.5% year-over-year, with core CPI rising by 2.6%, providing essential inflation details despite not being the Fed's preferred measure, particularly regarding persistent shelter cost inflation.

- Market Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 2.5% and closed above 50,000 for the first time.
- Nasdaq Struggles: In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite ended the week down 1.8%, despite a strong rally on Friday.
- Labor Data Impact: The upcoming nonfarm payroll report on Wednesday is expected to show an addition of 80,000 jobs, and if the data comes in weak, it could lead the Fed to continue cutting rates, which would positively impact the stock market, reflecting concerns about economic slowdown.
- CVS Health Earnings Outlook: CVS Health is set to report quarterly results on Tuesday, and despite being affected by the Trump administration's proposed reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage, Cramer believes CEO David Joyner's management is impressive and the stock is worth owning.
- DuPont Performance Highlights: DuPont's earnings report on the same day is expected to showcase CEO Lori Koch's success in improving the company's performance, with the stock soaring 58% over the past six months, reflecting the effectiveness of its electronics business spin-off strategy.
- Robinhood Trading Risks: Robinhood will report earnings on Tuesday, and due to its close correlation with cryptocurrency markets, investors are concerned, as the stock has dropped nearly 27% year-to-date, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 1.3% gain.









