McDonald's Corporation (MCD)
McDonald's operates and franchises one of the world's largest fast-food restaurant systems across more than 100 countries. Its heavily franchised model produces steady royalty and rent income from global operators.
Consumer Discretionary stock comparison
MCD vs SBUX: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare McDonald's Corporation with Starbucks Corporation using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Consumer
- Industry
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-02-24
MCD vs SBUX: quick comparison
| Company fact | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Company | McDonald's Corporation | Starbucks Corporation |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois | Seattle, Washington |
| Founded | 1955 | 1971 |
| SEC industry | Retail-Eating Places | Retail-Eating & Drinking Places |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | September 28 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-24 | 10-K · 2025-11-14 |
MCD vs SBUX: audited financials
SBUX reported about 1.4× the revenue of MCD in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, MCD converted a larger share of revenue into net income (31.9% versus 5.0%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | MCD | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $26.9B | $37.2B |
| Net income | $8.6B | $1.9B |
| Operating cash flow | $10.6B | $4.7B |
| Diluted EPS | $11.95 | $1.63 |
| Net margin | 31.9% | 5.0% |
MCD: FY ending 2025-12-31 · SBUX: FY ending 2025-09-28. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
MCD and SBUX have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained International markets research theme inside the Consumer Discretionary sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)
Starbucks operates and licenses the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world, with China as a key growth and competitive battleground. Its rewards program and mobile ordering drive a large share of US transactions.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. MCD is classified by the SEC as Retail-Eating Places, while SBUX is classified as Retail-Eating & Drinking Places. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study MCD when…
- Real wage growth and consumer confidence
- Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
- Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
- The trade-down between premium and value
Study SBUX when…
- Real wage growth and consumer confidence
- Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
- Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
- The trade-down between premium and value
Shared research themes
International markets
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.MCD's fiscal year ends December 31, while SBUX's ends September 28. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 30matched transaction rows for MCDand 28 for SBUX. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
MCD primary filings
SBUX primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
MCD vs SBUX FAQs
Are MCD and SBUX direct competitors?
McDonald's Corporation and Starbucks Corporation sit in the same Consumer Discretionary sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, MCD or SBUX?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this MCD vs SBUX comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers McDonald's Corporation and Starbucks Corporation tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
MCD vs SBUX shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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