Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) vs McDonald's (MCD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
McDonald's (MCD) has outperformed Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) over the past year, losing 22.1% versus a loss of 24.9%. Over five years, MCD leads with a -4.7% price change compared with -16.0% for CMG. McDonald's is the larger company by market cap ($167.54 billion vs $41.75 billion), about 4.0 times the size, while Chipotle Mexican Grill is growing revenue faster (+5.4% vs +3.7%).
On valuation, McDonald's trades at a lower forward P/E (17.2x vs 24.1x for Chipotle Mexican Grill). McDonald's pays a dividend yielding 3.10%, while Chipotle Mexican Grill does not currently pay one. McDonald's converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 31.9% versus 12.9%.
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 | CMG | MCD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $33.00 | $236.76 |
| Market cap | $41.75B | $167.54B |
| 1-day change | +7.23% | +2.55% |
| YTD return | -16.84% | -24.46% |
| 1-year return | -24.86% | -22.08% |
| 5-year return | -15.97% | -4.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 30.27 | 19.23 |
| Forward P/E | 24.11 | 17.17 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.09 | $12.31 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 3.10% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $7.35 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.93B | $26.89B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.41% | +3.72% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.54B | $8.56B |
| Operating margin | 16.23% | 46.10% |
| Net margin | 12.88% | 31.85% |
| 52-week high | $42.82 | $341.75 |
| 52-week low | $28.04 | $229.20 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.94% | -30.72% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.63% | +24.07% |
| Average volume | 16.47M | 4.99M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.27B | 707.64M |
| Employees | 140,000 | 150,000 |
| 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
- McDonald's is about 4.0 times larger than Chipotle Mexican Grill by market value ($167.54B vs $41.75B).
- Chipotle Mexican Grill trades at a higher earnings multiple (30.3x vs 19.2x trailing P/E).
- McDonald's offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.10% vs 0.00%).
- McDonald's is more profitable, keeping 31.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 12.9 cents for Chipotle Mexican Grill.
About Chipotle Mexican Grill
CMG stock →Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. The company sells food and beverages, such as burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads, as well as kids' meals, chips, and sides.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 140,000 employees
About McDonald's
MCD stock →McDonald's Corporation owns, operates, and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. It offers food and beverages, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers, various chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, frozen desserts, sundaes, soft serve cones, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages; and full or limited breakfast, as well as sells various other products during limited-time promotions.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 150,000 employees
CMG vs MCD FAQ
Which is bigger, Chipotle Mexican Grill or McDonald's?
McDonald's (MCD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $167.54B compared with $41.75B for Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CMG or MCD?
MCD returned -22.08% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.86% for CMG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CMG or MCD?
MCD has the lower trailing P/E at 19.2, versus 30.3 for CMG. 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, Chipotle Mexican Grill or McDonald's?
McDonald's pays a dividend yielding 3.10%, while Chipotle Mexican Grill does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Chipotle Mexican Grill and McDonald's in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.