McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX)
This page compares McDonald's (MCD) with Starbucks (SBUX) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.
Company Profile
McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX) are both classified in the Restaurants sub-industry within the broader Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | McDonald's Corporation | Starbucks 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 | Restaurants | Restaurants |
| Market Capitalization | 199.51 billion USD | 121.24 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | July 5, 1966 | June 26, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.85% | 0.41% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -14.29% | 11.52% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -8.48% | 23.10% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -12.59% | 25.73% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -4.36% | 1.00% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -8.12% | 26.33% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 4.65M | 7.21M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 3.44M | 8.54M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 17.91% | 30.88% |
| Beta | 0.44 | 1.02 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 95.13% and Starbucks (SBUX) at 115.68% post Return on Equity (TTM) above their industry benchmark ranges, pointing to unusually strong headline returns on shareholders’ equity.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
95.13%
- Max
- 79.85%
- Q3
- 40.64%
- Median
- 17.21%
- Q1
- 6.20%
- Min
- -44.47%
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
115.68%
- Max
- 79.85%
- Q3
- 40.64%
- Median
- 17.21%
- Q1
- 6.20%
- Min
- -44.47%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
McDonald's (MCD) posts Net Profit Margin (TTM) of 31.61%, above its industry benchmark range, while Starbucks (SBUX) at 3.89% sits closer to the industry mid-range.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
31.61%
- Max
- 24.36%
- Q3
- 13.35%
- Median
- 7.83%
- Q1
- 2.52%
- Min
- -13.54%
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
3.89%
- Max
- 24.36%
- Q3
- 13.35%
- Median
- 7.83%
- Q1
- 2.52%
- Min
- -13.54%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
McDonald's (MCD) at 46.26% ranks in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Starbucks (SBUX) at 7.62%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
46.26%
- Max
- 46.26%
- Q3
- 21.61%
- Median
- 13.20%
- Q1
- 4.65%
- Min
- -14.74%
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
7.62%
- Max
- 46.26%
- Q3
- 21.61%
- Median
- 13.20%
- Q1
- 4.65%
- Min
- -14.74%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 95.13% | 115.68% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 14.48% | 4.66% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 31.61% | 3.89% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 46.26% | 7.62% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 57.35% | 21.90% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 1.14 and Starbucks (SBUX) at 0.92 carry Current Ratio (MRQ) within their industry mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
1.14
- Max
- 3.11
- Q3
- 1.74
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.20
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
0.92
- Max
- 3.11
- Q3
- 1.74
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.20
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Starbucks (SBUX) at 8.07 sits in the higher-leverage quartile relative to peers, but McDonald's (MCD) at 40.64 is higher still, above its industry benchmark range.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
40.64
- Max
- 14.58
- Q3
- 6.17
- Median
- 1.37
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
8.07
- Max
- 14.58
- Q3
- 6.17
- Median
- 1.37
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
Starbucks (SBUX) at 14.81 ranks in the top quartile for Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM), ahead of McDonald's (MCD) at 9.07, which sits around the industry mid-range.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
9.07
- Max
- 18.81
- Q3
- 9.55
- Median
- 4.02
- Q1
- 1.29
- Min
- -10.52
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
14.81
- Max
- 18.81
- Q3
- 9.55
- Median
- 4.02
- Q1
- 1.29
- Min
- -10.52
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.14 | 0.92 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.87 | 0.70 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 40.64 | 8.07 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 9.07 | 14.81 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY) | 9.42% | 8.79% |
| Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY) | 6.77% | 5.84% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 5.06% | 4.86% |
| 5-Year Revenue CAGR | 6.96% | 9.60% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY) | 6.80% | 32.61% |
| EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY) | 6.98% | -52.37% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 12.78% | -16.85% |
| 5-Year EPS CAGR | 13.64% | 15.70% |
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 2.57% and Starbucks (SBUX) at 2.29% report Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, indicating higher cash yield relative to share price than typical competitors.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
2.57%
- Max
- 4.46%
- Q3
- 2.10%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
2.29%
- Max
- 4.46%
- Q3
- 2.10%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Starbucks (SBUX) reports an unusual Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) of 187.06% — outside the typical 0–100% range, indicating either negative earnings (negative ratio) or dividends above current-period earnings (above 100%), both signaling sustainability concerns. Meanwhile McDonald's (MCD) reports 59.61%, ranking against industry peers normally.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
59.61%
- Max
- 85.34%
- Q3
- 36.00%
- Median
- 0.25%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
187.06%
- Max
- 85.34%
- Q3
- 36.00%
- Median
- 0.25%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.57% | 2.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.61% | 187.06% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
McDonald's (MCD) at 23.19 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Starbucks (SBUX) at 81.73 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated trailing earnings multiple for SBUX relative to peers.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
23.19
- Max
- 51.18
- Q3
- 32.21
- Median
- 20.10
- Q1
- 15.97
- Min
- 1.24
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
81.73
- Max
- 51.18
- Q3
- 32.21
- Median
- 20.10
- Q1
- 15.97
- Min
- 1.24
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Starbucks (SBUX) at 3.18 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while McDonald's (MCD) at 7.33 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated trailing revenue multiple for MCD relative to peers.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
7.33
- Max
- 6.57
- Q3
- 3.44
- Median
- 2.06
- Q1
- 0.97
- Min
- 0.16
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
3.18
- Max
- 6.57
- Q3
- 3.44
- Median
- 2.06
- Q1
- 0.97
- Min
- 0.16
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 160.46 and Starbucks (SBUX) at 64.12 sit above their industries’ benchmark ranges for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), pointing to unusually high book-value multiples relative to peers.
MCD
Consumer Services industry group
160.46
- Max
- 34.46
- Q3
- 15.70
- Median
- 5.78
- Q1
- 2.24
- Min
- 0.82
SBUX
Consumer Services industry group
64.12
- Max
- 34.46
- Q3
- 15.70
- Median
- 5.78
- Q1
- 2.24
- Min
- 0.82
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 23.19 | 81.73 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 7.33 | 3.18 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 160.46 | 64.12 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 28.58 | 53.45 |