McDonald's Corp (MCD)
Fair ValueFundamental
74
Price
$231.74
Market Cap
$165.31B
Part 1 · What the company is worth
Overview
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. The company owns and operates franchised restaurants under various structures, including conventional franchise, developmental license, or affiliate. McDonald's Corporation was founded in 1940 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.
No editorial profile for this company yet
Direct competitors
Who this company fights with for the same customers
Generated on September 19, 2026 with claude-haiku-4-5 — shared with all users
Through KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut it competes for the same quick-service meal occasions and the same value-menu spending worldwide.
A direct burger-chain rival in North America, fighting for the same lunch, dinner and breakfast traffic with comparable combo pricing.
Competes with McCafé and the McDonald's breakfast menu for the same morning coffee-and-pastry customers, a daypart McDonald's counts inside its informal-eating-out market.
Its Burger King chain sells the same burger-and-fries menu at the same price points to the same drive-thru and delivery customers as McDonald's in nearly every market McDonald's operates in.
The chicken-focused chain that takes the largest share of U.S. quick-service spending after McDonald's, competing for the same drive-thru customers per restaurant.
A global franchised chain of comparable store count, competing for the same fast, low-priced lunch occasion in the same high-traffic locations.
Balance Sheet & Liquidity
Revenue
$27.70B
Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)
Net Income
$8.79B
Trailing 12 months (through 6/30/2026)
Free Cash Flow
$7.19B
Total Equity
$-1.79B
Total Liabilities
$61.31B
Current Ratio
1.08
Interest Coverage
7.88
Debt/EBITDA
4.25
Earnings Per Share
Revenue & Net Income
Free Cash Flow
Income Breakdown
Historical statement
Margins over time
Debt over time
How heavy the debt is
Growth grid
Growth — Revenue
Fair Value Estimation
Fair Value
$293.76
Current Price
$231.74
Margin of Safety
+21.1%
Fair Value Range
$229.29 - $358.23
Spread across the valuation methods used, not a statistically calibrated confidence interval.
Estimation Methods
Valuation Metrics
P/E Ratio
18.76
ROE
-478.1%
P/B Ratio
-
P/FCF
21.06
Gross Margin
-
ROIC
18.1%
Profitability Radar
Value Creation (Economic Moat)
ROIC
18.1%
WACC
6.6%
ROIC − WACC
+11.5 pp
ROIC exceeds the cost of capital — the company is creating value for shareholders.
Fundamental Analysis Criteria
Passed (19)
- EPS shows upward trend
- EPS CAGR 10.50%
- Price CAGR 7.57%
- ROIC 18.1%
- P/FCF 21.06
- Operating Margin 46.2%
- Positive Free Cash Flow
- Current Ratio
- Interest Coverage
- Debt/EBITDA
- Return on Tangible Assets
- Low reliance on intangibles
- ROE 95.1%
- Revenue Growth 5Y 7.0%
- Analyst Consensus 61% Buy
- PEG Ratio 1.39
- Earnings Quality (OCF/NI) 1.29
- Share Dilution -0.7%
- Piotroski F-Score 5/9
Failed (4)
- CapEx intensity
- DCF valuation (Overvalued)
- Earnings Surprise avg 0.1%
- Net Margin Trend 31.7% vs 32.2%
Unavailable (5)
- Gross Margin NaN%
- P/B Ratio NaN
- Dividend Payout NaN%
- Debt/Equity ratio
- Price below Graham Number
Piotroski F-Score
Mixed signals: some areas need attention
Earnings Quality
High quality: earnings backed by cash
Share Dilution
Buying back shares. Shareholder friendly
Institutional Holdings
Governance
Executive Team
| Name | Title | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Christopher J. Kempczinski | Chairman President, & CEO | 56 |
| Mr. Ian Frederick Borden CPA | Executive VP & Global CFO | 56 |
| Ms. Gillian McDonald | Executive Vice President & Global Chief Restaurant Experience Officer | 59 |
| Mr. Joseph Erlinger | Advisor | 51 |
| Mr. Manuel J.M. Steijaert | Executive VP & President of International Operated Markets | 54 |
| Ms. Lauren B. Elting CPA | VP, Chief Accounting Officer & Corporate Controller | 43 |
| Mr. Brian S. Rice | Executive VP & Global Chief Information Officer | 62 |
| Mr. Dexter P. Congbalay | Vice President of Investor Relations | - |
| Ms. Desiree A. Ralls-Morrison J.D. | Executive VP & Global Chief Legal Officer | 58 |
| Ms. E. Morgan Flatley | Executive VP and Global Chief Marketing Officer & New Business Ventures | 51 |
Audit Risk
6
Board Risk
5
Compensation Risk
2
Shareholder Rights Risk
7
Part 2 · The price and when to enter
This part won't tell you whether the company is worth owning: it helps you choose when to buy it, once the fundamentals have convinced you. Inside: technical analysis, potential, historical drawdowns, gamma exposure.
Documents
- View document
Annual Report (10-K)
A yearly overview of the business, its financial results, and the risks it faces.
Filed on 2026-02-24
- View document
Quarterly Report (10-Q)
A snapshot of financial performance for the most recent three-month period.
Filed on 2026-08-07
- View document
Current Report (8-K)
An announcement of a major event, such as a leadership change or big news.
Filed on 2026-09-23
via SEC EDGAR
Income History
via SEC EDGAR
Latest News
Recent headlines for MCD, sourced from Markets Gazette.
- 5d agoNEGATIVEMcDonald’s Sell-Off Hits 30% as Big Mac Inflation Spurs Pushback
McDonald's Corporation is experiencing a significant stock sell-off, with shares dropping 30%, as consumers push back against rising menu prices. The company is struggling to attract cost-conscious diners who perceive the Big Mac and other items as too expensive. This pricing challenge directly impacts customer traffic and sales volume, raising concerns about future revenue growth and market share. Investors are closely watching how McDonald's addresses this affordability issue to regain its competitive edge and reverse the negative stock performance.
- 7d agoPOSITIVEMcDonald’s bets $8.5 billion on a productivity makeover across more than 46,000 restaurants
McDonald's is investing $8.5 billion in a significant productivity and technology overhaul targeting over 46,000 global restaurants. This strategic move aims to enhance operational efficiency and drive growth by optimizing existing locations, particularly as the pace of new unit expansion moderates. The investment will focus on improving speed of service, enhancing digital customer experiences, and streamlining back-of-house operations. For investors, this initiative signals a commitment to long-term value creation through operational excellence, potentially leading to improved margins and sustained revenue growth.
- 8d agoNEGATIVEMcDonald’s is making a historic bet on chicken — and AI — to bring back customers
McDonald's is reportedly making a significant strategic shift towards chicken-based menu innovation and AI integration to revitalize customer traffic. However, investor sentiment appears cautious, with recent analyst commentary highlighting a historical struggle for the company to achieve breakthroughs in chicken product innovation. The market's lukewarm reception to new McNugget flavor introductions suggests that these initiatives may not immediately translate into increased sales or market share, posing a challenge to the company's turnaround strategy.
- 8d agoPOSITIVEMcDonald's Billion-Dollar Plan; Cracker Barrel Gains on Forecast | Stock Movers
McDonald's Corporation is investing approximately $8.5 billion to enhance its franchise operations, focusing on food quality, service improvements, and operational efficiency. This significant capital allocation signals a commitment to long-term growth and brand strengthening. The move is expected to boost franchisee profitability and customer satisfaction, potentially leading to increased same-store sales and market share. Investors will be watching for the tangible results of this investment in the coming fiscal years, as it aims to solidify McDonald's competitive advantage in the fast-food industry.
- 8/4/2026NEUTRALMcDonald’s CEO turns to a trusted lieutenant with a turnaround record to revive its biggest market
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski has appointed Skye Anderson to lead the turnaround efforts in the company's largest market. Anderson, known for successfully handling challenging assignments, will focus on revitalizing sales growth and strengthening McDonald's value proposition. This strategic move signals a proactive approach to address potential market challenges and enhance customer engagement. Investors will be watching closely to see if Anderson's proven track record translates into tangible improvements in performance and market share for McDonald's.
- 8/4/2026NEGATIVEMcDonald’s Replaces US Boss After Slowest Growth in Over a Year
McDonald's Corporation has appointed a new US president amid its slowest growth period in over a year. This leadership change aims to inject 'focus and urgency' into the domestic market. The company's recent performance indicates challenges in maintaining its growth trajectory, prompting this strategic move. Investors will be watching closely to see if the new leadership can revitalize sales and market share in the critical US segment, especially as competitors like Yum! Brands face their own issues.
via Markets Gazette