MAR vs MCD: Which Is the Better Buy?
Side-by-side comparison of Marriott International, Inc. and McDonald's Corporation — fair value, conviction, valuation metrics, and QuantHub research signals.
Updated 2026-05-09.
Marriott International, Inc. · Consumer Cyclical
$359.06
-45.0% upside to fair value
Grade D
VS
McDonald's Corporation · Consumer Cyclical
$275.75
+18.8% upside to fair value
Grade C
High Quality
QuantHub Verdict
MCD has more upside to fair value
(+18.8%).
MCD trades at a lower forward P/E
(22.6x).
These are model outputs — not personalized investment advice.
See all research →
Valuation & Fundamentals
| Metric |
MAR |
MCD |
| Current Price |
$359.06 |
$275.75 |
| Fair Value Estimate |
$197.48 |
$327.62 |
| Upside to Fair Value |
-45.0%
|
+18.8%
|
| Market Cap |
$95.2B |
$196.0B |
| Forward P/E |
37.7x
|
22.6x
|
| EV / EBITDA |
29.5x
|
16.7x
|
| Price / Sales |
4.4x
|
7.1x
|
| Price / FCF |
29.3x
|
27.9x
|
| Revenue Growth YoY |
-71.1%
|
+9.4%
|
| Gross Margin |
6.0%
|
57.4%
|
| Operating Margin |
19.6%
|
46.0%
|
| Return on Equity |
-78.5%
|
-434.0%
|
| Dividend Yield |
0% |
0% |
| FCF Yield |
3.41%
|
3.59%
|
| Analyst Consensus |
Hold
|
Buy
|
Investment Thesis
Marriott International operates a global fee-driven, asset-light hotel business with a portfolio of over 30 brands and a strong competitive position in the travel lodging industry. The company benefits from a durable competitive moat supported by its brand strength, extensive network, and recurring franchise and management fees. However, recent financials show significant headwinds with a 71.1% y…
McDonald's Corporation operates a global quick-service restaurant business with a strong competitive moat driven by brand recognition, extensive franchising, and digital innovation. The company reported $26.9 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025, growing 4% year-over-year, with significant contributions from its International Operated Markets segment growing nearly 8%. Despite a high valuation regi…
Accumulation Zones
| Metric |
MAR |
MCD |
| Zone Low |
$148.11 |
$245.72 |
| Zone High |
$167.86 |
$278.48 |
| In Buy Zone? |
No
|
Yes
|