Darden Restaurants (DRI) 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
Darden Restaurants (DRI) has outperformed McDonald's (MCD) over the past year, gaining 5.2% versus a loss of 22.1%. Over five years, DRI leads with a +35.1% price change compared with -4.7% for MCD. McDonald's is the larger company by market cap ($163.38 billion vs $22.80 billion), about 7.2 times the size, while Darden Restaurants is growing revenue faster (+9.4% vs +3.7%).
On valuation, Darden Restaurants trades at a lower forward P/E (16.2x vs 16.7x for McDonald's). McDonald's offers the higher dividend yield (3.18% vs 3.04%). McDonald's converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 31.9% versus 9.1%.
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 | DRI | MCD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $201.49 | $230.88 |
| Market cap | $22.80B | $163.38B |
| 1-day change | -0.81% | -0.68% |
| YTD return | +9.49% | -24.46% |
| 1-year return | +5.19% | -22.08% |
| 5-year return | +35.09% | -4.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.56 | 18.76 |
| Forward P/E | 16.25 | 16.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.30 | $12.31 |
| Dividend yield | 3.04% | 3.18% |
| Annual dividend | $6.12 | $7.35 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.21B | $26.89B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.39% | +3.72% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.21B | $8.56B |
| Gross margin | 20.30% | — |
| Operating margin | 11.98% | 46.10% |
| Net margin | 9.13% | 31.85% |
| 52-week high | $229.76 | $341.75 |
| 52-week low | $169.00 | $229.20 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.30% | -32.44% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.86% | +27.23% |
| Average volume | 1.22M | 4.99M |
| Shares outstanding | 113.14M | 707.64M |
| Employees | 209,931 | 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 7.2 times larger than Darden Restaurants by market value ($163.38B vs $22.80B).
- DRI has outperformed MCD by 27.3 percentage points over the past year.
- McDonald's is more profitable, keeping 31.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 9.1 cents for Darden Restaurants.
- Darden Restaurants grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+9.39% vs +3.72%).
About Darden Restaurants
DRI stock →Darden Restaurants, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates full-service restaurants in the United States and Canada. The company operates under Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chuy's, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Burger, Darden and Darden Restaurants brand names.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 209,931 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
DRI vs MCD FAQ
Which is bigger, Darden Restaurants or McDonald's?
McDonald's (MCD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $163.38B compared with $22.80B for Darden Restaurants (DRI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DRI or MCD?
DRI returned +5.19% over the past 12 months, compared with -22.08% for MCD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DRI or MCD?
MCD has the lower trailing P/E at 18.8, versus 19.6 for DRI. 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, Darden Restaurants or McDonald's?
McDonald's has the higher yield at 3.18%, compared with 3.04% for Darden Restaurants.
Are Darden Restaurants and McDonald's in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.