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CCL vs. MCD: Carnival vs. McDonald's Stock Comparison

How do Carnival (CCL) 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

Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD) both belong to the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, though CCL is classified under Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines while MCD falls under Restaurants.

Company profile comparison for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
Profile ItemCCLMCD
NameCarnival Corporation Ltd.McDonald's Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & LeisureHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-IndustryHotels, Resorts & Cruise LinesRestaurants
Market Capitalization39.77 billion USD195.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 24, 1987July 5, 1966
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CCL
MCD
GSPC
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Carnival (CCL) 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

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Trailing total returns for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
Total Return (1Y)17.32%-3.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)36.57%4.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.35%4.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CCL
MCD
GSPC
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Carnival (CCL) 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Carnival (CCL) has a highly aggressive beta of 2.42, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while McDonald's (MCD) is defensive at 0.39 and tends to be less market-sensitive — a wide gap in beta profiles.

Risk profile metrics for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)49.89%20.82%
Beta (5Y)2.420.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-73.60%-30.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)21.48M5.39M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CCL 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 Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.26-0.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.43-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Carnival (CCL) earns 24.00% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McDonald's (MCD) has no ROE this period.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

24.00%

Max
76.75%
Q3
34.07%
CCL
24.00%
Median
15.90%
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
--
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CCL 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 Carnival (CCL) at 11.37% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

11.37%

Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
CCL
11.37%
Median
6.63%
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%
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Carnival (CCL) at 26.43% and McDonald's (MCD) at 48.29% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

26.43%

Max
49.05%
CCL
26.43%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
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%
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
ROE (TTM)24.00%--
ROA (TTM)5.40%--
Net Margin (TTM)11.37%32.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)26.43%48.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.38%57.62%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Carnival (CCL) at 6.39% 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.

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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Carnival (CCL) at 40.28% 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.

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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.39%3.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)29.81%5.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)40.28%4.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--12.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Carnival (CCL) shows current ratio of 0.27 against its industry benchmark, while McDonald's (MCD) has no reading this period.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

0.27

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
CCL
0.27
Min
0.22

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Carnival (CCL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77 against its industry range, while McDonald's (MCD) reports no figure this period.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.77

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
CCL
1.77
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
--
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; CCL is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.27--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.77--
Net Debt / EBITDA3.283.57

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 2.68% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Carnival (CCL) at 1.53% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MCD the richer one.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.53%

Max
4.10%
Q3
1.82%
CCL
1.53%
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%
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Carnival (CCL) at 19.82% 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.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

19.82%

Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
CCL
19.82%
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%
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.53%2.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)19.82%58.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Carnival (CCL) at 13.03 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.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

13.03

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
Median
21.88
CCL
13.03
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
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Carnival (CCL) at 1.44 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while McDonald's (MCD) at 7.02 clears its benchmark range — MCD looks notably rich on sales.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.44

Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
CCL
1.44
Q1
0.74
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
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Carnival (CCL) 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 Carnival (CCL) reports 2.82, ranking against industry peers normally.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

2.82

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
CCL
2.82
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
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Carnival (CCL) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Carnival (CCL) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricCCLMCD
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.0321.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.447.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.82-191.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.54%--