HLT vs. MCD: Hilton Worldwide vs. McDonald's Stock Comparison

July 7, 2026

How do Hilton Worldwide (HLT) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Profile Item	HLT	MCD
Name	Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.	McDonald's Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Services	Consumer Services
GICS Industry	Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure	Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-Industry	Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines	Restaurants
Market Capitalization	77.27 billion USD	198.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 12, 2013	July 5, 1966
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HLT

MCD

GSPC

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) 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 Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
Total Return (1Y)	24.39%	-3.31%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	32.91%	0.34%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	22.28%	6.00%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HLT

MCD

GSPC

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) 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 Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.91%	17.59%
Beta (5Y)	1.05	0.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-32.65%	-22.00%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.88M	4.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

HLT 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 Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.89	-0.41
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.40	-0.58

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Neither Hilton Worldwide (HLT) nor McDonald's (MCD) reports a ROE value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 53.72%
Q3: 29.23%
Median: 12.95%
Q1: 3.49%
Min: -26.11%
HLT: --

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 53.72%
Q3: 29.23%
Median: 12.95%
Q1: 3.49%
Min: -26.11%
MCD: --

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): Neither stock reports ROE, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 30.41% and McDonald's (MCD) at 31.62% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

30.41%

HLT: 30.41%
Max: 24.36%
Q3: 12.26%
Median: 5.97%
Q1: 1.16%
Min: -13.54%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

31.62%

MCD: 31.62%
Max: 24.36%
Q3: 12.26%
Median: 5.97%
Q1: 1.16%
Min: -13.54%

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 57.36% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and McDonald's (MCD) at 44.25% also operates in the top quartile.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

57.36%

HLT: 57.36%
Max: 44.25%
Q3: 20.10%
Median: 11.41%
Q1: 3.45%
Min: -20.31%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

44.25%

MCD: 44.25%
Max: 44.25%
Q3: 20.10%
Median: 11.41%
Q1: 3.45%
Min: -20.31%

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
ROE (TTM)	--	--
ROA (TTM)	10.86%	13.56%
Net Margin (TTM)	30.41%	31.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)	57.36%	44.25%
Gross Margin (TTM)	78.51%	57.35%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.74%	3.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.13%	5.06%

EPS Growth

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
EPS Growth (YoY)	-0.33%	4.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.55%	12.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

McDonald's (MCD) at 1.14 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 0.61 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for HLT.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

0.61

Max: 3.42
Q3: 1.78
Median: 0.99
Q1: 0.68
HLT: 0.61
Min: 0.20

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

1.14

Max: 3.42
Q3: 1.78
MCD: 1.14
Median: 0.99
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.20

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Neither Hilton Worldwide (HLT) nor McDonald's (MCD) reports a debt-to-equity ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 7.23
Q3: 3.20
Median: 1.27
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.01
HLT: --

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 7.23
Q3: 3.20
Median: 1.27
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.01
MCD: --

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): Neither stock reports debt-to-equity ratio, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.61	1.14
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.16	3.61

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 2.59% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 0.18% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MCD the richer one.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

0.18%

Max: 3.45%
Q3: 1.44%
HLT: 0.18%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

2.59%

Max: 3.45%
MCD: 2.59%
Q3: 1.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 9.16% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while McDonald's (MCD) at 59.85% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

9.16%

Max: 81.13%
Q3: 33.58%
HLT: 9.16%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

59.85%

Max: 81.13%
MCD: 59.85%
Q3: 33.58%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.18%	2.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	9.16%	59.85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 23.06 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 51.74 sits in the richer quartile — HLT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

51.74

Max: 77.95
HLT: 51.74
Q3: 41.78
Median: 23.57
Q1: 17.27
Min: 3.93

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

23.06

Max: 77.95
Q3: 41.78
Median: 23.57
MCD: 23.06
Q1: 17.27
Min: 3.93

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 15.24 and McDonald's (MCD) at 7.24 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

15.24

HLT: 15.24
Max: 6.93
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.67
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.07

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

7.24

MCD: 7.24
Max: 6.93
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.67
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.07

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at -13.12 and McDonald's (MCD) at -154.42 report negative P/B ratio values, meaning both companies have negative book equity — neither multiple is meaningful for valuation.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

-13.12

Max: 12.45
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.57
Q1: 1.08
Min: -5.81
HLT: -13.12

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

-154.42

Max: 12.45
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.57
Q1: 1.08
Min: -5.81
MCD: -154.42

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
Metric	HLT	MCD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	51.74	23.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)	15.24	7.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-13.12	-154.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.18%	3.00%