McDonald's (MCD) vs Yum! Brands (YUM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Yum! Brands (YUM) has outperformed McDonald's (MCD) over the past year, losing 4.3% versus a loss of 22.1%. Over five years, YUM leads with a +12.1% price change compared with -4.7% for MCD. McDonald's is the larger company by market cap ($166.17 billion vs $38.61 billion), about 4.3 times the size, while Yum! Brands is growing revenue faster (+8.8% vs +3.7%).
On valuation, McDonald's trades at a lower forward P/E (17.0x vs 20.3x for Yum! Brands). McDonald's offers the higher dividend yield (3.13% vs 1.03%). McDonald's converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 31.9% versus 19.0%.
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 | MCD | YUM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $234.82 | $141.47 |
| Market cap | $166.17B | $38.61B |
| 1-day change | +1.71% | +0.80% |
| YTD return | -24.46% | -7.23% |
| 1-year return | -22.08% | -4.34% |
| 5-year return | -4.69% | +12.09% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.08 | 17.82 |
| Forward P/E | 17.03 | 20.30 |
| EPS (TTM) | $12.31 | $7.94 |
| Dividend yield | 3.13% | 1.03% |
| Annual dividend | $7.35 | $1.46 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $26.89B | $8.21B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.72% | +8.81% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $8.56B | $1.56B |
| Gross margin | — | 69.77% |
| Operating margin | 46.10% | 31.34% |
| Net margin | 31.85% | 18.98% |
| 52-week high | $341.75 | $170.14 |
| 52-week low | $229.20 | $134.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -31.29% | -16.85% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.10% | +21.02% |
| Average volume | 4.99M | 2.51M |
| Shares outstanding | 707.64M | 272.90M |
| Employees | 150,000 | 49,000 |
| 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 4.3 times larger than Yum! Brands by market value ($166.17B vs $38.61B).
- YUM has outperformed MCD by 17.7 percentage points over the past year.
- McDonald's offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.13% vs 1.03%).
- McDonald's is more profitable, keeping 31.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 19.0 cents for Yum! Brands.
- Yum! Brands grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+8.81% vs +3.72%).
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
About Yum! Brands
YUM stock →Yum! Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises traditional and non-traditional quick service restaurants in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: KFC Division, Taco Bell Division, Pizza Hut Division, and Habit Burger & Grill Division.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 49,000 employees
MCD vs YUM FAQ
Which is bigger, McDonald's or Yum! Brands?
McDonald's (MCD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $166.17B compared with $38.61B for Yum! Brands (YUM).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MCD or YUM?
YUM returned -4.34% 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, MCD or YUM?
YUM has the lower trailing P/E at 17.8, versus 19.1 for MCD. 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, McDonald's or Yum! Brands?
McDonald's has the higher yield at 3.13%, compared with 1.03% for Yum! Brands.
Are McDonald's and Yum! Brands in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.