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McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) Stock Still on the Value Menu

By U.S. News & World Report

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) has been a top performer for investors so far in 2017, gaining 33.8 percent and more than doubling the return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

But with the restaurant sector gearing up for what could be a challenging finish to 2017, Stephens Inc. analyst Will Slabaugh says long-term investors should continue to place their trust in the Golden Arches.

According to Slabaugh, McDonald’s is pulling all the right levers to impress Wall Street when it reports its third quarter earnings on Oct. 24. Stephens is expecting McDonald’s to deliver another earnings beat and report same-restaurant sales growth of 3.5 percent, topping consensus analyst estimates of 3.4 percent.

[See: 8 Ways to Satisfy a Craving for Restaurant Stocks.]

“We remain positive on MCD as 3Q approaches for what we believe has been sustained sales momentum, visible catalysts into [fiscal 2018], a more aggressive improvement of an already-string franchisee base, and a relatively conservative balance sheet that makes its near-historically high valuation more reasonable versus some peers,” Slabaugh says in a report.

After speaking with industry experts, Slabaugh believes several key McDonald’s menu promotions have performed extremely well. He has heard positive feedback related to the $1 soft drink, $1 small coffee and $2 espresso beverage promotions. In addition, Slabaugh says bundle value deals, such as the McPick 2 Menu, are helping McDonald’s win back fickle value-oriented customers from Restaurant Brands International Inc ( QSR) and Wendy’s Co. ( WEN).

Slabaugh says McDonald’s will likely continue to target value offerings in the $2 to $3 range. In terms of long-term growth catalysts, he says expansion of McCafe offerings and a shift to kiosk ordering are major profit drivers. Stephens estimates that McDonald’s generates roughly 10 percent more sales per kiosk order than it does per traditional order, mostly due to additional dessert items.

For restaurant investors looking for other stock ideas, Slabaugh says fast food is the group of choice headed into third-quarter earnings season.

[See: 8 Stocks to Profit From America’s Love of Burgers.]

“Given a solid year-to-date performance and the ongoing volatility and negative sentiment around casual dining, we believe that quick-service restaurants continue to be viewed as the safer place to be, which is supported by current valuations at 15 percent above the group’s five-year average,” he says.

Stephens has “outperform” ratings on the stocks of McDonald’s, Restaurant Brands International, Wendy’s, Dominos Pizza ( DPZ) and Carrols Restaurant Group ( TAST).

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McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) Stock Still on the Value Menu originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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