Here's what 5 Wall Street firms are saying about the shocking departure of McDonald's CEO - and what it means for the company's future

Price target: Cut to $195, down from $224

Rating: Downgraded to "neutral," from "overweight"

"While fundamentals are solid (nowhere more apparent than last week's earnings results), changes of this magnitude tend to be disruptive," Piper Jaffray analysts wrote in a note to clients Sunday.

The analysts continued: "Our experience leads us to take a more cautionary view noting the potential lack of momentum and time involved in formalizing a new team."

Price target: $230

Rating: Outperform

"We expect Steve Easterbrook's departure to weigh on MCD shares given his well regarded reputation gained over the past 5 years," Cowen analysts wrote in a note to clients Sunday.

They added: "We believe Chris Kempczinski represents the board's most logical choice to lead MCD, given the importance of the U.S. (45% of EBIT) to the business and the U.S.'s broadly impressive performance over the last 11 quarters."

Price target: $212

Rating: Neutral

"The leadership transitions come at a pivotal point in US franchisee-franchisor relations," Dennis Geiger, an analysts at UBS, said in a note to clients Monday.

Geiger continued: "Today's news likely adds uncertainty to investors' list of concerns, which already include: decelerating US comps, negative EPS revisions, & US breakfast competition, against the backdrop of valuation re-ratings across QSR."

Price target: $240

Rating: Buy

"We are unsure how McDonald's strategy might change under Mr. Kempczinski's leadership as most major initiatives are already well underway. We also note that much of the success in the U.S. in recent years has been under his leadership," BTIG analysts wrote in a note to clients Sunday.

They added: "While the executive ranks might be seeing more transition than normal, we still believe the turnaround efforts can continue largely unimpeded and the concept's current momentum can be sustained."