Seek Returns

MCD vs. QSR: McDonald's vs. Restaurant Brands Stock Comparison

How do McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR) 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

McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR) 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 McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
Profile ItemMCDQSR
NameMcDonald's CorporationRestaurant Brands International Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & LeisureHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-IndustryRestaurantsRestaurants
Market Capitalization195.16 billion USD35.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 5, 1966December 11, 2014
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MCD
QSR
GSPC
Loading price history…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR), 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 McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
Total Return (1Y)-3.33%19.01%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.39%7.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.66%9.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MCD
QSR
GSPC
Loading price history…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR), 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 McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.82%24.79%
Beta (5Y)0.390.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.98%-24.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.39M2.91M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
MCD and QSR 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 McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.370.59
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.540.89

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Restaurant Brands (QSR) earns 39.05% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McDonald's (MCD) has no ROE this period.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

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

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

39.05%

Max
76.75%
QSR
39.05%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): MCD does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; QSR is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 32.38% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Restaurant Brands (QSR) at 15.35% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

15.35%

Max
25.52%
QSR
15.35%
Q3
12.95%
Median
6.63%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 48.29% and Restaurant Brands (QSR) at 27.92% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

27.92%

Max
49.05%
QSR
27.92%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-16.47%
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
ROE (TTM)--39.05%
ROA (TTM)--6.48%
Net Margin (TTM)32.38%15.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)48.29%27.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.62%34.33%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 3.72% and Restaurant Brands (QSR) at 12.23% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 4.92% and Restaurant Brands (QSR) at -26.10% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.72%12.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.06%13.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.92%-26.10%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)12.78%-10.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Restaurant Brands (QSR) shows current ratio of 0.96 against its industry benchmark, while McDonald's (MCD) has no reading this period.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22
MCD
--

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

0.96

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
QSR
0.96
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): MCD does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; QSR is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Restaurant Brands (QSR) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84 against its industry range, while McDonald's (MCD) reports no figure this period.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
MCD
--

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

2.84

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
QSR
2.84
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): MCD does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; QSR is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
Current Ratio (MRQ)--0.96
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--2.84
Net Debt / EBITDA3.574.98

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 2.68% and Restaurant Brands (QSR) at 3.27% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

3.27%

Max
4.10%
QSR
3.27%
Q3
1.82%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 58.86% and Restaurant Brands (QSR) at 56.48% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

56.48%

Max
89.80%
QSR
56.48%
Q3
36.83%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.68%3.27%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.86%56.48%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 21.88 and Restaurant Brands (QSR) at 17.07 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

17.07

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
Median
21.88
QSR
17.07
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Restaurant Brands (QSR) at 3.64 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and McDonald's (MCD) at 7.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

3.64

Max
6.40
QSR
3.64
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
Min
0.08
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): 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 Restaurant Brands (QSR) reports 6.87, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

QSR

Consumer Services industry group

6.87

Max
12.02
QSR
6.87
Q3
5.58
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
Loading chart…
McDonald's (MCD) vs. Restaurant Brands (QSR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands (QSR)
MetricMCDQSR
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.8817.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.023.64
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-191.236.87
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--4.48%