McDonald's (MCD) held down by currency concerns

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD - option chain) shares opened higher today, but have dropped into the red after the company announced November same-store sales growth of 7.7%, with US sales growing 4.5%. However, total sales only grew 1.9% when currency factors were included. Without currency fluctuations, total sales would have been up just under 10%. I for one like this company a tremendous amount in a weak economy, and even though the strong dollar is messing with the numbers, I think MCD is on solid ground. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on MCD.

MCD opened this morning at $63.35. So far today the stock has hit a low of $60.86 and a high of $63.99. As of 12:15, MCD is trading at $61.37, down $1.35 (-2.1%). The chart for MCD looks bullish and S&P gives MCD a positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a January bull-put credit spread below the $50 range. A bull-put credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of put options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make an 8.7% return in just six weeks as long as MCD is above $50 at January expiration. McDonald's would have to fall by more than 18% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

MCD hasn't been below $50 at all except for one day in the past year and has shown support around $55 recently.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent owns and controls bullish hedged positions in MCD.