MCD

247WallSt.com brings us the Corporate Power Rankings of the thirty-two most important companies in America.  Topping the list this week are heavy weights Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO), Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) and McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD).

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) might secretly wish that the recession would never end. The Dow component posted some more impressive quarterly results Thursday, which easily beat Wall Street's forecasts. Perhaps most impressive, global same-store sales, a key figure measuring sales at restaurants open more than a year, jumped more than five percent.

Both Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) and McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) are set to report Q3 earnings tomorrow morning, banking and burgers have never sounded so good together.

The fast-food restaurant behemoth McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) reported same-store year-over-year sales growth of 2.2% yesterday.  This news caused the shares to move lower as it didn't match up well to last year's numbers.  MCD has not really participated in the market rally since March ... on the other hand, it didn't get crushed in the market selloff from September 2008 to March 2009.

Wondering what President Obama selects for investing in equities?  CNNMoney asked that same question and did some research back in May 2009, despite the article being a few months old, the companies still hold up quite well and are worth reviewing.

As I read the McDonalds (MCD) earnings call transcript, it stood out like a Yankee fan at Fenway.

As I read the McDonalds (NYSE:MCD) earnings call transcript, it stood out like a Yankee fan at Fenway.

Now, If you are a shareholder, where are you going to go. Think about it. Target (NYSE:TGT) management has already said they do not feel any changes are necessary and they "just need to manage through the downturn". OR, will you go see what the guy who has successfully implemented changes at McDonalds (NYSE:MCD), Wendy's (NYSE:WEN), Longs Drug (NYSE:LDG)etc.. and, oh yeah, also happens to be the largest shareholder of Target?

Let's put aside the fact Ackman seems to know Target's bylaws better than they do (or at least pretend to). In the revised 13D/ a just filed, Ackman states: