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

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 ItemHLTMCD
NameHilton Worldwide Holdings 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-IndustryHotels, Resorts & Cruise LinesRestaurants
Market Capitalization78.69 billion USD175.82 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 12, 2013July 5, 1966
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HLT
MCD
GSPC
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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)
MetricHLTMCD
Total Return (1Y)30.90%-16.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)33.55%1.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)20.14%3.20%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HLT
MCD
GSPC
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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)
MetricHLTMCD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.83%19.56%
Beta (5Y)1.090.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)-32.65%-30.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.82M5.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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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)
MetricHLTMCD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.11-1.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.77-1.48

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
59.09%
Q3
34.14%
Median
15.61%
Q1
2.85%
Min
-37.58%
HLT
--

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
59.09%
Q3
34.14%
Median
15.61%
Q1
2.85%
Min
-37.58%
MCD
--
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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 31.03% and McDonald's (MCD) at 31.72% 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

31.03%

HLT
31.03%
Max
28.43%
Q3
13.00%
Median
6.84%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-15.39%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

31.72%

MCD
31.72%
Max
28.43%
Q3
13.00%
Median
6.84%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-15.39%
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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 62.99% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and McDonald's (MCD) at 46.49% also operates in the top quartile.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

62.99%

HLT
62.99%
Max
46.49%
Q3
22.09%
Median
13.03%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.94%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

46.49%

MCD
46.49%
Max
46.49%
Q3
22.09%
Median
13.03%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.94%
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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)
MetricHLTMCD
ROE (TTM)----
ROA (TTM)11.03%13.25%
Net Margin (TTM)31.03%31.72%
Operating Margin (TTM)62.99%46.49%
Gross Margin (TTM)79.04%57.38%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 7.74% 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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Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at -0.33% 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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Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. McDonald's (MCD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and McDonald's (MCD)
MetricHLTMCD
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.74%3.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.13%5.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)-0.33%4.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.55%12.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

McDonald's (MCD) at 1.08 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 0.65 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for HLT.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

0.65

Max
3.37
Q3
1.85
Median
1.05
Q1
0.68
HLT
0.65
Min
0.20

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

1.08

Max
3.37
Q3
1.85
MCD
1.08
Median
1.05
Q1
0.68
Min
0.20
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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
6.24
Q3
2.79
Median
1.24
Q1
0.38
Min
0.01
HLT
--

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
6.24
Q3
2.79
Median
1.24
Q1
0.38
Min
0.01
MCD
--
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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)
MetricHLTMCD
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.651.08
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA4.213.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 2.91% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 0.17% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MCD the richer one.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

0.17%

Max
3.49%
Q3
1.70%
HLT
0.17%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

2.91%

Max
3.49%
MCD
2.91%
Q3
1.70%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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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 8.80% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while McDonald's (MCD) at 59.71% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

8.80%

Max
96.55%
Q3
39.02%
HLT
8.80%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

59.71%

Max
96.55%
MCD
59.71%
Q3
39.02%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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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)
MetricHLTMCD
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.17%2.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)8.80%59.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 20.18 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 51.27 sits in the richer quartile — HLT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

51.27

Max
58.27
HLT
51.27
Q3
34.48
Median
19.95
Q1
14.96
Min
6.32

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

20.18

Max
58.27
Q3
34.48
MCD
20.18
Median
19.95
Q1
14.96
Min
6.32
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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)

Both look expensive on sales: McDonald's (MCD) at 6.35 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 15.42 prices even higher, above its industry range.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

15.42

HLT
15.42
Max
6.35
Q3
3.04
Median
1.70
Q1
0.70
Min
0.09

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

6.35

MCD
6.35
Max
6.35
Q3
3.04
Median
1.70
Q1
0.70
Min
0.09
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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 -12.52 and McDonald's (MCD) at -171.83 report negative P/B ratio values, meaning both companies have negative book equity — neither multiple is meaningful for valuation.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

-12.52

Max
11.63
Q3
5.68
Median
2.51
Q1
1.06
Min
-5.75
HLT
-12.52

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

-171.83

Max
11.63
Q3
5.68
Median
2.51
Q1
1.06
Min
-5.75
MCD
-171.83
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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)
MetricHLTMCD
P/E Ratio (TTM)51.2720.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)15.426.35
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-12.52-171.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.77%3.56%