McDonald's vs Starbucks
MCDMcDonald's Corporationvs
SBUXStarbucks Corporation- McDonald's: Iconic fast-food chain. Largely franchised - earns fees from operators.
- Starbucks: World's biggest coffee chain. In turnaround mode after weak China + slow US transactions.
- Over the past five years McDonald's stock returned +29% versus +2% for Starbucks, in USD. Past performance is not a guide to the future.
- They compete in the same space (Retail & consumer), so many investors simply own both through a broad index fund instead of picking a winner.
Shown in USD. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future results.
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Industry
- Retail & consumer
- Retail & consumer
- 1Y return (USD)
- -8.6%
- +15.7%
- 3Y return (USD)
- -3.7%
- +10.6%
- 5Y return (USD)
- +29.1%
- +1.8%
- Trades in
- USD
- USD
McDonald'sMCDIconic fast-food chain. Largely franchised - earns fees from operators. Steady dividend.
See full McDonald's details →StarbucksSBUXWorld's biggest coffee chain. In turnaround mode after weak China + slow US transactions.
See full Starbucks details →
Available on Interactive Brokers
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Frequently asked questions
Which performed better, McDonald's or Starbucks?
Over the past five years McDonald's stock returned +29% and Starbucks returned +2% in US dollars, so McDonald's has been the stronger performer in that window. Past performance says little about the future, which is why the chart on this page lets you check other periods too.
Can I buy both McDonald's and Starbucks shares?
Yes. Nothing stops you owning both companies, and many investors do exactly that instead of trying to pick the winner. Both are available to investors worldwide through a broker such as Interactive Brokers.
Is it safer to buy an ETF instead?
A broad index fund holds hundreds of companies at once, usually including both of these, so a single bad year at one business barely dents it. Owning individual shares concentrates that risk, which is why many beginners keep single stocks to a small slice of a mostly fund-based portfolio.