McDonald’s price target raised to $290 from $270 at Stifel

Stifel analyst Chris O’Cull raised the firm’s price target on McDonald’s to $290 from $270 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares ahead of the company’s report due on April 25. The firm predicts McDonald’s to report better than expected Q1 results, driven by continued broad-based momentum in top-line sales. The firm contends that the three high-profile reports coming next week to kick off Q1 restaurant earnings next week will "influence the tenor for the 15+ companies reporting the following week," adding that it believes many investors’ Q1 sales expectations are above sell-side estimates for most restaurant companies.