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

November 11, 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 Corporation	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	195.16 billion USD	87.51 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)	-3.33%	35.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	4.39%	55.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	4.66%	30.86%

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 0.39 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)	20.82%	47.73%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	1.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-30.98%	-65.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)	5.39M	2.35M

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)	-0.37	0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.54	1.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) earns 41.29% 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: --

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

41.29%

Max: 76.75%
RCL: 41.29%
Q3: 34.07%
Median: 15.90%
Q1: 3.23%
Min: -40.61%

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 32.38% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 23.79% 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%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

23.79%

Max: 25.52%
RCL: 23.79%
Q3: 12.95%
Median: 6.63%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -14.36%

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 48.29% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 33.61% 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%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

33.61%

Max: 49.05%
RCL: 33.61%
Q3: 24.35%
Median: 14.23%
Q1: 5.67%
Min: -16.47%

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)	--	41.29%
ROA (TTM)	--	7.78%
Net Margin (TTM)	32.38%	23.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)	48.29%	33.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)	57.62%	50.25%

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)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) shows current ratio of 0.22 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: --

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

0.22

Max: 3.41
Q3: 1.85
Median: 1.06
Q1: 0.72
RCL: 0.22
Min: 0.22

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94 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: --

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.94

Max: 6.12
Q3: 2.93
RCL: 1.94
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.37
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)	--	0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	1.94
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.57	3.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 2.68% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.70% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MCD the richer one.

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%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.70%

Max: 4.10%
Q3: 1.82%
RCL: 1.70%
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 32.54% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while McDonald's (MCD) at 58.86% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

32.54%

Max: 89.80%
Q3: 36.83%
RCL: 32.54%
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)	2.68%	1.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	58.86%	32.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 21.88 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 19.36 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

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

19.36

Max: 71.70
Q3: 37.12
Median: 21.88
RCL: 19.36
Q1: 13.00
Min: 5.72

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 look expensive on sales: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 4.57 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

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

4.57

Max: 6.40
RCL: 4.57
Q3: 3.01
Median: 1.54
Q1: 0.74
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 -191.23, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports 7.47, 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

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

7.47

Max: 12.02
RCL: 7.47
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.37
Q1: 1.09
Min: -4.51

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)	21.88	19.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)	7.02	4.57
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-191.23	7.47
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	-0.06%