Seek Returns

ARMK vs. MCD: Aramark vs. McDonald's Stock Comparison

How do Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD) are both classified in the Restaurants sub-industry within the broader Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
Profile ItemARMKMCD
NameAramarkMcDonald's Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & LeisureHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-IndustryRestaurantsRestaurants
Market Capitalization13.85 billion USD195.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 12, 2013July 5, 1966
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ARMK
MCD
GSPC
Loading price history…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
Total Return (1Y)45.95%-3.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.55%4.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.73%4.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ARMK
MCD
GSPC
Loading price history…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.91%20.82%
Beta (5Y)1.080.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.63%-30.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.66M5.39M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ARMK and MCD are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.49-0.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.44-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Aramark (ARMK) earns 11.69% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McDonald's (MCD) has no ROE this period.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

11.69%

Max
76.75%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
ARMK
11.69%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
76.75%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%
MCD
--
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ARMK is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 32.38% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Aramark (ARMK) at 1.93% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

1.93%

Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
Median
6.63%
ARMK
1.93%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

32.38%

MCD
32.38%
Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
Median
6.63%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 48.29% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Aramark (ARMK) at 4.42% operates in the bottom quartile.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

4.42%

Max
49.05%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
ARMK
4.42%
Min
-16.47%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

48.29%

Max
49.05%
MCD
48.29%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-16.47%
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
ROE (TTM)11.69%--
ROA (TTM)4.24%--
Net Margin (TTM)1.93%32.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.42%48.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)15.29%57.62%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 6.35% and McDonald's (MCD) at 3.72% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 23.23% and McDonald's (MCD) at 4.92% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.35%3.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.58%5.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)23.23%4.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)17.09%12.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Aramark (ARMK) shows current ratio of 1.29 against its industry benchmark, while McDonald's (MCD) has no reading this period.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

1.29

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
ARMK
1.29
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22
MCD
--
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; ARMK is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Aramark (ARMK) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87 against its industry range, while McDonald's (MCD) reports no figure this period.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

1.87

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
ARMK
1.87
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
MCD
--
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; ARMK is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.29--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.87--
Net Debt / EBITDA4.123.57

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 2.68% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Aramark (ARMK) at 0.95% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MCD the richer one.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

0.95%

Max
4.10%
Q3
1.82%
ARMK
0.95%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

2.68%

Max
4.10%
MCD
2.68%
Q3
1.82%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Aramark (ARMK) at 32.52% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while McDonald's (MCD) at 58.86% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

32.52%

Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
ARMK
32.52%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

58.86%

Max
89.80%
MCD
58.86%
Q3
36.83%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.95%2.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)32.52%58.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 36.74 and McDonald's (MCD) at 21.88 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

36.74

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
ARMK
36.74
Median
21.88
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

21.88

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
MCD
21.88
Median
21.88
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Aramark (ARMK) at 0.70 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while McDonald's (MCD) at 7.02 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

0.70

Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
ARMK
0.70
Min
0.08

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

7.02

MCD
7.02
Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
Min
0.08
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

McDonald's (MCD) reports a negative P/B ratio of -191.23, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Aramark (ARMK) reports 4.08, ranking against industry peers normally.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

4.08

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
ARMK
4.08
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

-191.23

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
MCD
-191.23
Loading chart…
Aramark (ARMK) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricARMKMCD
P/E Ratio (TTM)36.7421.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.707.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.08-191.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.70%--