Arcos Dorados (ARCO) vs Shake Shack (SHAK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Arcos Dorados (ARCO) has outperformed Shake Shack (SHAK) over the past year, gaining 17.9% versus a loss of 31.0%. Over five years, ARCO leads with a +66.0% price change compared with -14.9% for SHAK. Shake Shack is the larger company by market cap ($2.88 billion vs $1.71 billion), about 1.7 times the size.
On valuation, Arcos Dorados trades at a lower forward P/E (9.4x vs 47.5x for Shake Shack). Arcos Dorados pays a dividend yielding 3.45%, while Shake Shack does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ARCO | SHAK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $8.12 | $67.31 |
| Market cap | $1.71B | $2.88B |
| 1-day change | +2.78% | +4.89% |
| YTD return | +7.63% | -20.94% |
| 1-year return | +17.91% | -30.96% |
| 5-year return | +65.97% | -14.93% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.66 | 70.85 |
| Forward P/E | 9.40 | 47.46 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.22 | $0.95 |
| Dividend yield | 3.45% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.28 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $1.45B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +15.38% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $45.73M |
| Operating margin | — | 4.32% |
| Net margin | — | 3.16% |
| 52-week high | $9.75 | $107.46 |
| 52-week low | $6.67 | $51.60 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -16.72% | -37.36% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +39.04% | +19.91% |
| Average volume | 1.40M | 1.60M |
| Shares outstanding | 130.66M | 40.35M |
| Employees | — | 13,873 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
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
- ARCO has outperformed SHAK by 48.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Shake Shack trades at a higher earnings multiple (70.9x vs 6.7x trailing P/E).
- Arcos Dorados offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.45% vs 0.00%).
About Arcos Dorados
ARCO stock →Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. operates as a franchisee of McDonald's restaurants.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants
About Shake Shack
SHAK stock →Shake Shack Inc. owns, operates, and licenses Shake Shack restaurants (Shacks) in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 13,873 employees
ARCO vs SHAK FAQ
Which is bigger, Arcos Dorados or Shake Shack?
Shake Shack (SHAK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.88B compared with $1.71B for Arcos Dorados (ARCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARCO or SHAK?
ARCO returned +17.91% over the past 12 months, compared with -30.96% for SHAK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARCO or SHAK?
ARCO has the lower trailing P/E at 6.7, versus 70.9 for SHAK. 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 Shake Shack?
Arcos Dorados pays a dividend yielding 3.45%, while Shake Shack does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Arcos Dorados and Shake Shack in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.