Is MCD a good stock to buy?
McDonald's Corporation · end-of-day data as of Nov 13, 2026
- PT$301.04 +10.7%
- ConsensusBuy · 36
- News
- MAs3 of 4
- MA20×50Golden 7d ago
- MACD0.93
- Earnings in89d
- P/E21.5x
- RSI62
- Support-4.0%
- Resistance+0.3%
- Off 52w high-20.4%
- Volume0.8x
- Bollingerupper half
- FCF yield+3.9%
- P/E vs own-5.9%
- P/E vs sector+5.7%
- Trendsideways
- Sector→ -0.7%
- 52w range$229–$342
- ATR+2.3%
- Off ATH-20.4%
- Insiders-$209K
Updates with the 15-min delayed price. Not a forecast or investment advice.
Is McDonald's a good stock to buy?
McDonald's is strong on 3 of the 5 questions about the business. The price is low: 21.5 times its earnings, below its 3-year median of 25.5 (Nov 13, 2026). pretickt does not say whether to buy or sell.
- Demand steady
- Advantage hard to copy
- Economics very profitable
- Execution mixed
- Fragility sturdy
- Price below its usual
MCD sales growth revenue growth
+5%a year, for the last 3 yearsMcDonald's sales grew 5% a year for 3 years, to $26.89B in fiscal 2025.
MCD analysts' forecast revenue estimates
+4%the sales they expect next fiscal year, on the lastAnalysts expect McDonald's sales to grow 4% to $28.01B in fiscal 2026 (17 analysts).
MCD competitors
pretickt analysis+6%its sales in 12 months, on a year before
McDonald's sales grew 6% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than Starbucks (+2%), slower than Yum! Brands (+9%) and Chipotle (+8%).
MCD sales by business revenue by segment
51%of its sales from High-Growth MarketsHigh-Growth Markets brought McDonald's 51% of its sales in fiscal 2025; UNITED STATES 40%.
MCD return on capital ROIC
pretickt analysis24%earned before tax on the money invested in itMcDonald's earned 24% before tax on the capital invested in it in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; Yum! Brands 131%, Starbucks 33% and Chipotle 25%.
MCD margin on each sale gross margin
57%left after making the productMcDonald's kept 57% of each sale after making the product in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; its competitors' median is 42%.
MCD margin after costs profit margin
46%of sales left after running the businessMcDonald's operating margin was 46% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 40% in fiscal 2022.
MCD cash generated free cash flow
$7.49Bcash left after investing, last 12 monthsMcDonald's generated $7.49B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, less than its reported profit.
MCD earnings vs estimates
6 of 8quarters above the analysts' estimateMcDonald's beat the analysts' profit estimate in 6 of its last 8 quarters, the latest on Nov 4, 2026.
MCD insider selling
-$36.79Msold, net, by its executives in 12 monthsMcDonald's executives and directors sold a net $36.79M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
MCD number of employees
0%about as many people as a year beforeMcDonald's had 150,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, about as many as a year before.
MCD CEO pay
$20.57Mfor fiscal 2025, 78% of it in stock and optionsMcDonald's paid its CEO $20.57M for fiscal 2025, 78% of it in stock and options.
MCD financial health Altman Z-score
4.8Altman Z-score, safe above 3McDonald's Altman Z-score is 4.8 (Nov 13, 2026), above 3, where the safe zone starts.
MCD quality checks Piotroski score
7 of 9checks passedMcDonald's passes 7 of the 9 Piotroski checks in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; it misses on long-term debt and gross margin.
MCD in past recessions
pretickt analysis-9%its sales in the worst oneMcDonald's sales fell in each of the last 2 US recessions, by as much as 9% in fiscal 2020.
MCD price vs profit P/E ratio
21.5×a year's earningsMcDonald's P/E ratio is 21.5 (Nov 13, 2026), below its 3-year median of 25.5.
MCD price vs competitors
pretickt analysis21.5×a year's earnings, against its competitors
Investors pay 21.5 times McDonald's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Yum! Brands (12.9), less than for Starbucks (48.2) and Chipotle (33.0).
MCD analysts' target price target
+11%to their average targetAnalysts' average price target for McDonald's is $301, 11% above the Nov 13, 2026 close of $271.97.
MCD analyst ratings, 90 days
pretickt analysisFreedom Brokerdowngrade
In the 90 days to Nov 13, 2026, Freedom Broker downgraded McDonald's.
MCD growth priced in fair value
pretickt analysis+10%a year, for ten years, to be worth the priceAt $271.97 a share, McDonald's free cash flow must grow about 10% a year for ten years to be worth the price (Nov 13, 2026).
What is McDonald's P/E ratio?
McDonald's P/E ratio is 21.5 (Nov 13, 2026), below its 3-year median of 25.5. Investors pay 21.5 times McDonald's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Yum! Brands (12.9), less than for Starbucks (48.2) and Chipotle (33.0).
Who are McDonald's biggest competitors?
pretickt compares McDonald's with Starbucks, Chipotle, Yum! Brands and Darden. McDonald's sales grew 6% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than Starbucks (+2%), slower than Yum! Brands (+9%) and Chipotle (+8%).
Is McDonald's profitable?
McDonald's operating margin was 46% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 40% in fiscal 2022. McDonald's generated $7.49B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, less than its reported profit.
Are insiders selling McDonald's stock?
McDonald's executives and directors sold a net $36.79M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
How does McDonald's make money?
High-Growth Markets brought McDonald's 51% of its sales in fiscal 2025; UNITED STATES 40%.
Who owns McDonald's stock?
3,588 institutions hold 75% of McDonald's shares (Jun 30, 2026); BlackRock and State Street added shares that quarter, Vanguard sold some.
How many employees does McDonald's have?
McDonald's had 150,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, about as many as a year before.
From the companies' statements (FMP), their filings read by pretickt, the analysts and the insiders, as of Nov 13, 2026. Each card says what a fact means for its question, never what to do with the stock: for information only, not investment advice.