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MCD vs. SBUX: McDonald's vs. Starbucks Stock Comparison

How do McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX) 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 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.

Company profile comparison for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Profile ItemMCDSBUX
NameMcDonald's CorporationStarbucks Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & LeisureHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-IndustryRestaurantsRestaurants
Market Capitalization192.06 billion USD116.47 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJuly 5, 1966June 26, 1992
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MCD
SBUX
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): 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 Starbucks (SBUX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
Total Return (1Y)-5.24%14.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MCD
SBUX
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.18%28.67%
Beta (5Y)0.410.98
Avg. Volume (3M)4.07M7.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MCD and SBUX 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Neither McDonald's (MCD) nor Starbucks (SBUX) reports a ROE value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
53.72%
Q3
29.23%
Median
12.95%
Q1
3.49%
Min
-26.11%
MCD
--

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
53.72%
Q3
29.23%
Median
12.95%
Q1
3.49%
Min
-26.11%
SBUX
--
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): Neither stock reports ROE, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

Net Margin (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 31.62% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Starbucks (SBUX) at 3.89% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

31.62%

MCD
31.62%
Max
24.36%
Q3
12.26%
Median
5.97%
Q1
1.16%
Min
-13.54%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

3.89%

Max
24.36%
Q3
12.26%
Median
5.97%
SBUX
3.89%
Q1
1.16%
Min
-13.54%
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 44.25% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Starbucks (SBUX) at 8.42%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

44.25%

MCD
44.25%
Max
44.25%
Q3
20.10%
Median
11.41%
Q1
3.45%
Min
-20.31%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

8.42%

Max
44.25%
Q3
20.10%
Median
11.41%
SBUX
8.42%
Q1
3.45%
Min
-20.31%
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
ROE (TTM)----
ROA (TTM)13.56%7.38%
Net Margin (TTM)31.62%3.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.25%8.42%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.35%21.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.72%2.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.06%4.86%

EPS Growth

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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
EPS Growth (YoY)4.92%-50.76%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)12.78%-16.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 1.14 and Starbucks (SBUX) at 0.92 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

1.14

Max
3.42
Q3
1.78
MCD
1.14
Median
0.99
Q1
0.68
Min
0.20

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

0.92

Max
3.42
Q3
1.78
Median
0.99
SBUX
0.92
Q1
0.68
Min
0.20
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Neither McDonald's (MCD) nor Starbucks (SBUX) reports a debt-to-equity ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
7.23
Q3
3.20
Median
1.27
Q1
0.35
Min
0.01
MCD
--

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
7.23
Q3
3.20
Median
1.27
Q1
0.35
Min
0.01
SBUX
--
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): Neither stock reports debt-to-equity ratio, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.140.92
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA3.614.21

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at 2.72% and Starbucks (SBUX) at 2.37% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

2.72%

Max
3.45%
MCD
2.72%
Q3
1.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

2.37%

Max
3.45%
SBUX
2.37%
Q3
1.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Starbucks (SBUX) reports payout ratio above 100% at 187.79%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile McDonald's (MCD) reports 59.85%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

59.85%

Max
81.13%
MCD
59.85%
Q3
33.58%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

187.79%

SBUX
187.79%
Max
81.13%
Q3
33.58%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.72%2.37%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.85%187.79%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

McDonald's (MCD) at 22.27 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Starbucks (SBUX) at 78.01 sits in the richer quartile — SBUX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

22.27

Max
78.01
Q3
42.65
Median
23.32
MCD
22.27
Q1
17.01
Min
3.90

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

78.01

SBUX
78.01
Max
78.01
Q3
42.65
Median
23.32
Q1
17.01
Min
3.90
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Starbucks (SBUX) at 3.03 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while McDonald's (MCD) at 7.00 sits in the pricier quartile — MCD costs more per dollar of sales.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

7.00

Max
7.01
MCD
7.00
Q3
3.32
Median
1.67
Q1
0.82
Min
0.06

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

3.03

Max
7.01
Q3
3.32
SBUX
3.03
Median
1.67
Q1
0.82
Min
0.06
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both McDonald's (MCD) at -149.34 and Starbucks (SBUX) at -13.76 report negative P/B ratio values, meaning both companies have negative book equity — neither multiple is meaningful for valuation.

MCD

Consumer Services industry group

-149.34

Max
11.28
Q3
5.70
Median
2.55
Q1
1.04
Min
-5.91
MCD
-149.34

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

-13.76

Max
11.28
Q3
5.70
Median
2.55
Q1
1.04
Min
-5.91
SBUX
-13.76
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McDonald's (MCD) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for McDonald's (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricMCDSBUX
P/E Ratio (TTM)22.2778.01
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.003.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-149.34-13.76
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.10%-1.12%