Form 4: McDonald's Director Amy Weaver Reports Acquisition of Phantom Stock as Deferred Compensation

McDonald's Corporation Director Amy Weaver reported the acquisition of 102.68 shares of phantom stock as deferred compensation, increasing her total beneficial ownership to 1,707.25 shares.

Summary

• Amy E. Weaver, a Director at McDonald's Corporation (MCD), acquired 102.68 shares of phantom stock on June 30, 2025.
• This acquisition was part of the Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and is exempt under SEC Rule 16b-3(d)(1).
• Each phantom stock share is economically equivalent to one share of McDonald's common stock and will be settled in cash upon the Director's retirement or termination from the Board.
• The phantom stock was valued at $292.17 per share at the time of acquisition.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Weaver beneficially owns a total of 1,707.25 shares of phantom stock, which includes shares acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The filing reports a routine, pre-planned acquisition of phantom stock by a director as deferred compensation, which is a standard practice aligning director interests with the company's long-term performance. It does not contain any negative or surprising information.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock as deferred compensation aligns the director's long-term interests with shareholder value.
• This is a routine transaction under a pre-existing compensation plan, indicating stable corporate governance practices.

Future Outlook

Payment for the phantom stock will occur following the Director's retirement date or other termination from the Board.

Industry Context

This filing represents a routine insider transaction, common across publicly traded companies, reflecting standard executive and director compensation practices. It does not directly relate to broader industry trends within the fast-food sector but rather to corporate governance and compensation structures.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Deferred compensation plans, particularly those involving phantom stock or restricted stock units for directors, are standard practice in large, publicly traded companies across various industries.
• Companies like Starbucks (SBUX), Yum! Brands (YUM), and Chipotle (CMG) also utilize similar compensation structures to align director interests with long-term shareholder value.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• Acquisition of phantom stock by Director Amy E. Weaver from McDonald's Corporation as part of her deferred compensation plan.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Minor positive impact due to increased alignment of director's long-term interests with company performance.
• Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Creditors: No direct impact.

Next Steps

• Payment of phantom stock will occur following the Director's retirement date or other termination from the Board.

Key Dates

Keywords

McDonald's, MCD, SEC Form 4, Insider Transaction, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Director Compensation, Beneficial Ownership