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DRI vs. MCD: Darden Restaurants vs. McDonald's Stock Comparison

How do Darden Restaurants (DRI) 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

Darden Restaurants (DRI) 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 Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
Profile ItemDRIMCD
NameDarden Restaurants, Inc.McDonald'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 Capitalization25.61 billion USD195.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 9, 1995July 5, 1966
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DRI
MCD
GSPC
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Darden Restaurants (DRI) 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 Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
Total Return (1Y)33.36%-3.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.59%4.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.78%4.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DRI
MCD
GSPC
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Darden Restaurants (DRI) 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 Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.88%20.82%
Beta (5Y)0.630.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-26.96%-30.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.09M5.39M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DRI 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 Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.04-0.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.57-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Darden Restaurants (DRI) earns 55.43% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McDonald's (MCD) has no ROE this period.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

55.43%

Max
76.75%
DRI
55.43%
Q3
34.07%
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; DRI 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 Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 8.85% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

8.85%

Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
DRI
8.85%
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) 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% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 9.86%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

9.86%

Max
49.05%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
DRI
9.86%
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
ROE (TTM)55.43%--
ROA (TTM)7.65%--
Net Margin (TTM)8.85%32.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.86%48.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.66%57.62%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 9.39% 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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 17.16% 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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.39%3.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.00%5.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)17.16%4.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)9.11%12.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Darden Restaurants (DRI) shows current ratio of 0.30 against its industry benchmark, while McDonald's (MCD) has no reading this period.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

0.30

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
DRI
0.30
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; DRI is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Darden Restaurants (DRI) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 4.15 against its industry range, while McDonald's (MCD) reports no figure this period.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

4.15

Max
6.12
DRI
4.15
Q3
2.93
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): MCD does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; DRI is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.30--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)4.15--
Net Debt / EBITDA3.913.57

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 2.68% and McDonald's (MCD) at 2.68% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

2.68%

Max
4.10%
DRI
2.68%
Q3
1.82%
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 59.42% and McDonald's (MCD) at 58.86% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

59.42%

Max
89.80%
DRI
59.42%
Q3
36.83%
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.68%2.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.42%58.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 21.98 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.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

21.98

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
DRI
21.98
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
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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 1.92 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.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

1.92

Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
DRI
1.92
Median
1.54
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) 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 Darden Restaurants (DRI) reports 12.40, ranking against industry peers normally.

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

12.40

DRI
12.40
Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
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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Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Darden Restaurants (DRI) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricDRIMCD
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.9821.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.927.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)12.40-191.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.10%--