MetaCap

Arcos Dorados (ARCO) vs BJ's Restaurants (BJRI)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.

Summary

BJ's Restaurants (BJRI) has outperformed Arcos Dorados (ARCO) over the past year, gaining 92.7% versus a gain of 17.9%. Over five years, ARCO leads with a +66.0% price change compared with +58.3% for BJRI. Arcos Dorados is the larger company by market cap ($1.66 billion vs $1.26 billion), about 1.3 times the size.

On valuation, Arcos Dorados trades at a lower forward P/E (9.1x vs 21.8x for BJ's Restaurants). Arcos Dorados pays a dividend yielding 3.54%, while BJ's Restaurants does not currently pay one.

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

ARCO+17.91%BJRI+92.66%
+149%+67%-14%
Oct 7, 20251 yearOct 7, 2026
ARCO+58.32%BJRI+48.82%
+169%+55%-58%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

ARCO versus BJRI key metrics
MetricARCOBJRI
Share price$7.90$59.32
Market cap$1.66B$1.26B
1-day change-2.71%-3.28%
YTD return+7.63%+50.56%
1-year return+17.91%+92.66%
5-year return+65.97%+58.27%
P/E ratio (TTM)6.4832.77
Forward P/E9.1421.79
EPS (TTM)$1.22$1.81
Dividend yield3.54%0.00%
Annual dividend$0.28$0.00
52-week high$9.75$74.60
52-week low$6.67$28.46
Distance from 52-week high-18.97%-20.48%
Analyst consensusbuybuy
Avg. price target upside+42.91%+27.16%
Average volume1.38M467.49K
Shares outstanding130.66M21.27M
Employees—22,230
SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Cyclical
IndustryRestaurantsRestaurants

Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.

Key differences

  • BJRI has outperformed ARCO by 74.7 percentage points over the past year.
  • BJ's Restaurants trades at a higher earnings multiple (32.8x vs 6.5x trailing P/E).
  • Arcos Dorados offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.54% vs 0.00%).
  • The two companies sit in different sectors: Arcos Dorados in Consumer Discretionary and BJ's Restaurants in Consumer Cyclical.

About Arcos Dorados

ARCO stock →

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. operates as a franchisee of McDonald's restaurants.

Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants

About BJ's Restaurants

BJRI stock →

BJ's Restaurants, Inc. operates full-service restaurants in the United States.

Consumer Cyclical · Restaurants · 22,230 employees

ARCO vs BJRI FAQ

Which is bigger, Arcos Dorados or BJ's Restaurants?

Arcos Dorados (ARCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.66B compared with $1.26B for BJ's Restaurants (BJRI).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARCO or BJRI?

BJRI returned +92.66% over the past 12 months, compared with +17.91% for ARCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARCO or BJRI?

ARCO has the lower trailing P/E at 6.5, versus 32.8 for BJRI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.

Which pays a higher dividend, Arcos Dorados or BJ's Restaurants?

Arcos Dorados pays a dividend yielding 3.54%, while BJ's Restaurants does not currently pay a regular dividend.

Are Arcos Dorados and BJ's Restaurants in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.

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