Mostly Markets

McDonald'sMCD

Restaurants · Chicago, Illinois · In the S&P 500
High quality
$258.12+0.29%After hours: $258.14 (+0.01%)At the close, 30 Oct · Prices from CNBC, may be delayed
▼ 14.6% over 1 year
McDonald's over 1 yearDaily close, $, to 30 Oct 2026
$250$300Nov2026MarMayJulSep$258.12$300NovMarJul$258.12
Source: Nasdaq daily closes
Market value$183B
Price to earnings21.0x
Forward P/E19.6x
Dividend yield2.99%
Year to date−15.5%
One year−14.6%
Next earningsWed 4 Nov, before the open
52-week range (closes)
$230.88$341.06

Quality and valuation

How McDonald's compares with other consumer discretionary stocks. A description, not a recommendation.

McDonald's and 6 restaurants peers. Across: valuation (P/E) against the sector. Up: business quality against the sector. Hover or tap a logo for its numbers.

Business quality: stronger than mostValuation: in line with its sector

A stronger business than most consumer discretionary companies, priced about in line with them.

McDonald's trades at 19.6 times the next 12 months of expected earnings, against a median of 19.5x for the 66 consumer discretionary stocks we cover. The quality score blends where it ranks on revenue growth, gross margin, operating margin and free-cash-flow margin (net margin for banks and insurers) over the last 12 months, from SEC filings.

  • Revenue grew slower than the sector median: +6.3% vs +8.1%
  • More profitable (operating margin): 46.2% vs 13.8%
  • Turns more of its sales into cash: 28.0% vs 10.1%
MCD trades at 19.6x forward earnings, above the sector medianForward p/e, Restaurants peers
DPZ15.7xDRI19.2xMCD19.6xYUM23.9xCMG25.8xSBUX34.9xCAVA90.1xSector median 19.5xDPZ15.7xDRI19.2xMCD19.6xYUM23.9xCMG25.8xSBUX34.9xCAVA90.1xSector median 19.5x
Source: CNBC quotes; Mostly Markets
At 21.0x earnings, MCD is cheaper than its average since Aug 2024Price over the last 12 months of reported (GAAP) diluted EPS
P/EUsual range (±1 s.d.)
20x25xAverage 25.3x2025202621.0x20x25xAverage 25.3x2025202621.0x
Source: Nasdaq prices; SEC filings

Financials

From McDonald's's SEC filings, through the quarter ending 30 Jun 2026. Hover or tap a bar for its value.

Revenue grew 3.7% from a year earlierQuarterly revenue, $bn, latest Q2 ’26
$0bn$2bn$4bn$6bnQ3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’25$7.1bnQ2 ’26$0bn$2bn$5bnQ3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’25$7.1bnQ2 ’26
Source: SEC filings
Growth slowed to +3.7% last quarterRevenue growth, year on year, %
0%5%Q3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’253.7%Q2 ’260%5%Q3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’253.7%Q2 ’26
Source: SEC filings
Operating margin was 47.0% last quarterOperating income as a share of revenue, %
0%20%40%Q3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’2547.0%Q2 ’260%20%40%Q3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’2547.0%Q2 ’26
Source: SEC filings
Free cash flow was $7.8 billion over 12 monthsQuarterly free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capex), $bn
$0bn$1bn$2bnQ3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’25$2.0bnQ2 ’26$0bn$1bn$2bnQ3 ’24Q1 ’25Q3 ’25$2.0bnQ2 ’26
Source: SEC filings
Last 12 monthsMCDSector median
Revenue growth+6.3%+8.1%
Operating margin46.2%13.8%
Free cash flow margin28.0%10.1%
Price to earnings21.0x21.0x

Stories on McDonald's

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Similar companies

Restaurants, by market value.

CompanyPriceTodayYTDValue
SBUXStarbucks$103.67−1.74%+23.1%$118B
YUMYum! Brands$155.40+0.55%+2.7%$42.41B
CMGChipotle Mexican Grill$31.89+1.95%−13.8%$40.34B
DRIDarden Restaurants$220.17−0.14%+19.6%$24.91B
DPZDomino's$313.71+0.55%−24.7%$10.32B
CAVACava Group$58.74−0.79%+0.1%$6.86B