McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) is scheduled to release its most recent quarterly results before the markets open on Wednesday. Thomson Reuters consensus estimates call for $1.89 in earnings per share (EPS) and $5.17 billion in revenue. In the fourth quarter of last year, the company said it had $1.71 in EPS and $5.34 billion in revenue.
The burger chain announced back in December that it plans to reduce the use of antibiotics in its beef. Specifically, McDonald’s is implementing a policy to reduce the use of antibiotics important to human health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Overall, McDonald’s will measure the use of antibiotics in its 10 biggest markets, including the United States, and set targets to curb their use by the end of 2020. The markets cover 85% of the company’s global beef supply chain.
Back in 2016, McDonald’s USA reached its commitment to serve only chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine, nearly one year ahead of schedule. Further, in 2017, McDonald’s announced an expanded antibiotics policy for chicken in markets around the world.
According to the WHO, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today. With its new policy, McDonald’s is doing its part to help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for human and animal health in the future.
McDonald’s has kept more or less in pace with the broad markets, with its stock up about 3% year to date. In the past 52 weeks, the stock is up 4.5%.
A few analysts weighed in on McDonald’s ahead of the report:
- Wells Fargo rates it as Outperform with a $203 price target.
- Jefferies has a Buy rating with a $200 price target.
- Morgan Stanley has an Overweight rating and a $210 target.
- Piper Jaffray has an Overweight rating and a$194 target price.
- RBC has a Buy rating with a $190 price target.
- Barclays has a Buy rating with a $198 target.
Shares of McDonald’s were last seen at $182.60, in a 52-week range of $146.84 to $190.88. The consensus price target is $195.77.
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