Trader's Alert - McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD), Sotheby's (NYSE:BID), Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)

McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) said global comparable sales decreased 0.5% in October, with the U.S. off 1.0%; Europe down 0.7%; and Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) off 4.2%. "Today's consumers increasingly prefer customizable food options, dining in a contemporary, inviting atmosphere and using more convenient ways to order and pay for their meals," said McDonald's President and Chief Executive Officer Don Thompson. "At McDonald's, we are diligently working to bring these elements of the customer experience to life through McDonald's Experience of the Future. Although October results reflect our current business challenges, we are moving with a sense of urgency to improve the trajectory of our financial performance while taking the actions necessary to pursue the Brand's long-term potential."Click here for a free comprehensive Trend Analysis ReportMcDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) noted that the 4.2% decline in APMEA reflected the ongoing impact of the supplier issue on performance in Japan and China, partly offset by strong performance in Australia. The markets affected by the supplier issue are actively executing multi-faceted initiatives to restore customer trust in the McDonald's brand while the broader APMEA segment is pursuing long-term opportunities to drive customer traffic and loyalty with unique menu, affordability and convenience options, the company said.Sotheby's (NYSE:BID), an auction house, reported a narrower loss from the same period a year ago as revenues exceeded Street projections, buoyed by stronger performance in the company's Agency segment. Sotheby's (NYSE:BID) reported a Q3 loss of $0.40, narrower than the loss of $0.44 reported for the same period a year ago but wider than the loss of $0.37 expected by analysts, if comparable. Total revenues of $94.20 million were down from $107.86 million in Q3 2013 but topped analyst projections of $92.73 million. The improvement in revenues was attributed to the performance of the Agency segment, which reported an increase in gross profit of $48.9 million for the period. The improved performance of the Agency segment is principally the result of a 26% increase in Net Auction Sales. Shares of BID are up $0.82, or 2.08%, at $40.26 within a 52-week range of $34.74 - $54.00.Click here for a free comprehensive Trend Analysis ReportRetail chain Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) has been upgraded by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus to a buy rating from a hold. The firm set its price target on the stock at $76 a share, which marks a potential upside of 18% from its Friday closing price. Shares of Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) edged up 0.17% to $64.28 in Monday's morning activity, moving within a 52-week trading range of $54.66 - $67.25.Click here for a free comprehensive Trend Analysis Report