MCD vs. RCL: McDonald's vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Comparison

September 7, 2026

How do McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) 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 Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) both belong to the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, though MCD is classified under Restaurants while RCL falls under Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines.

Company profile comparison for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Profile Item	MCD	RCL
Name	McDonald's Corp.	Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
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	Restaurants	Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines
Market Capitalization	180.94 billion USD	70.93 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	July 5, 1966	April 28, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MCD

RCL

GSPC

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL), 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 McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
Total Return (1Y)	-17.26%	-25.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-0.72%	40.80%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	3.76%	27.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MCD

RCL

GSPC

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL), 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 McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has an aggressive beta of 1.82, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while McDonald's (MCD) is defensive at 0.43 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.50%	46.83%
Beta (5Y)	0.43	1.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-23.56%	-67.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.59M	2.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MCD and RCL 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 Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-1.16	-0.62
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.57	-0.97

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) earns 44.67% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; McDonald's (MCD) has no ROE this period.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 59.09%
Q3: 31.70%
Median: 14.44%
Q1: 2.11%
Min: -37.58%
MCD: --

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

44.67%

Max: 59.09%
RCL: 44.67%
Q3: 31.70%
Median: 14.44%
Q1: 2.11%
Min: -37.58%

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): MCD does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; RCL is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 31.72% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 23.54% also retains a top-quartile share.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

31.72%

MCD: 31.72%
Max: 28.43%
Q3: 13.02%
Median: 5.92%
Q1: 1.17%
Min: -15.39%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

23.54%

Max: 28.43%
RCL: 23.54%
Q3: 13.02%
Median: 5.92%
Q1: 1.17%
Min: -15.39%

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 46.49% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 27.07% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

46.49%

MCD: 46.49%
Max: 46.49%
Q3: 22.12%
Median: 13.10%
Q1: 5.81%
Min: -12.94%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

27.07%

Max: 46.49%
RCL: 27.07%
Q3: 22.12%
Median: 13.10%
Q1: 5.81%
Min: -12.94%

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
ROE (TTM)	--	44.67%
ROA (TTM)	13.25%	7.68%
Net Margin (TTM)	31.72%	23.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)	46.49%	27.07%
Gross Margin (TTM)	57.38%	50.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 3.72% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 8.79% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 4.92% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 41.91% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.72%	8.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.06%	26.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	4.92%	41.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.78%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

McDonald's (MCD) at 1.08 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 0.21 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RCL.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

1.08

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.83
MCD: 1.08
Median: 1.03
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.20

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

0.21

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.83
Median: 1.03
Q1: 0.69
RCL: 0.21
Min: 0.20

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25 against its industry range, while McDonald's (MCD) reports no figure this period.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 7.30
Q3: 3.36
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.38
Min: 0.01
MCD: --

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

2.25

Max: 7.30
Q3: 3.36
RCL: 2.25
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.38
Min: 0.01

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): MCD does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; RCL is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.08	0.21
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	2.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.60	3.27

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 2.83% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.88% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

2.83%

Max: 3.85%
MCD: 2.83%
Q3: 1.76%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.88%

Max: 3.85%
RCL: 1.88%
Q3: 1.76%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 30.88% 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.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

59.71%

Max: 86.96%
MCD: 59.71%
Q3: 36.18%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

30.88%

Max: 86.96%
Q3: 36.18%
RCL: 30.88%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.83%	1.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	59.71%	30.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 20.79 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 16.37 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

20.79

Max: 60.39
Q3: 34.17
Median: 21.32
MCD: 20.79
Q1: 16.01
Min: 3.46

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

16.37

Max: 60.39
Q3: 34.17
Median: 21.32
RCL: 16.37
Q1: 16.01
Min: 3.46

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 6.53 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 3.80 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

6.53

MCD: 6.53
Max: 6.53
Q3: 3.09
Median: 1.69
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.08

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

3.80

Max: 6.53
RCL: 3.80
Q3: 3.09
Median: 1.69
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.08

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): 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 -176.83, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports 6.93, ranking against industry peers normally.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

-176.83

Max: 11.22
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.11
Min: -3.99
MCD: -176.83

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

6.93

Max: 11.22
RCL: 6.93
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.11
Min: -3.99

McDonald's (MCD) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MCD	RCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.79	16.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.53	3.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-176.83	6.93
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.46%	-2.14%