MCD vs. YUMC: McDonald's vs. Yum China Stock Comparison
How do McDonald's (MCD) and Yum China (YUMC) 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 Yum China (YUMC) are both classified in the Restaurants sub-industry within the broader Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | McDonald's Corporation | Yum China Holdings, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | China |
| 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 | 195.16 billion USD | 16.79 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 5, 1966 | October 17, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -3.33% | 17.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 4.39% | 6.80% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 4.66% | -0.60% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.82% | 25.40% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.39 | 0.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -30.98% | -53.84% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.39M | 1.59M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.37 | 0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.54 | 0.77 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Yum China (YUMC) earns 17.35% 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
- --
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
17.35%
- Max
- 76.75%
- Q3
- 34.07%
- YUMC
- 17.35%
- Median
- 15.90%
- Q1
- 3.23%
- Min
- -40.61%
Net Margin (TTM)
McDonald's (MCD) at 32.38% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Yum China (YUMC) at 7.90% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
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%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
7.90%
- Max
- 25.52%
- Q3
- 12.95%
- YUMC
- 7.90%
- Median
- 6.63%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -14.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)
McDonald's (MCD) at 48.29% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Yum China (YUMC) at 13.09%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
13.09%
- Max
- 49.05%
- Q3
- 24.35%
- Median
- 14.23%
- YUMC
- 13.09%
- Q1
- 5.67%
- Min
- -16.47%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 17.35% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 7.81% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 32.38% | 7.90% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 48.29% | 13.09% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 57.62% | 20.45% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 3.72% and Yum China (YUMC) at 4.37% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 4.92% and Yum China (YUMC) at 7.73% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.72% | 4.37% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.06% | 7.23% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 4.92% | 7.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.78% | 34.14% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Yum China (YUMC) shows current ratio of 0.67 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
- --
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
0.67
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 1.85
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.72
- YUMC
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Yum China (YUMC) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54 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
- --
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
0.54
- Max
- 6.12
- Q3
- 2.93
- Median
- 1.29
- YUMC
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | 0.67 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.54 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.57 | 0.85 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 2.68% and Yum China (YUMC) at 2.23% 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%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
2.23%
- Max
- 4.10%
- YUMC
- 2.23%
- Q3
- 1.82%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 58.86% and Yum China (YUMC) at 38.54% 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%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
38.54%
- Max
- 89.80%
- YUMC
- 38.54%
- Q3
- 36.83%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.68% | 2.23% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.86% | 38.54% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both McDonald's (MCD) at 21.88 and Yum China (YUMC) at 17.34 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
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
17.34
- Max
- 71.70
- Q3
- 37.12
- Median
- 21.88
- YUMC
- 17.34
- Q1
- 13.00
- Min
- 5.72
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Yum China (YUMC) at 1.32 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while McDonald's (MCD) at 7.02 clears its benchmark range — MCD looks notably rich on sales.
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
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
1.32
- Max
- 6.40
- Q3
- 3.01
- Median
- 1.54
- YUMC
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.08
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 Yum China (YUMC) reports 3.19, 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
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
3.19
- Max
- 12.02
- Q3
- 5.58
- YUMC
- 3.19
- Median
- 2.37
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- -4.51
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MCD | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.88 | 17.34 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.02 | 1.32 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -191.23 | 3.19 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -2.30% |