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Quote this valuation with its source: Fair value, Potential value and the price at analysis.
FAQ
MCD — frequently asked questions
Is McDonald's Corporation overvalued?
In our latest published analysis dated 2026-09-08, MCD looks meaningfully undervalued. The price recorded at analysis is 256 USD versus our fair value of 345 USD; the high endpoint is presented separately as potential value of 488 USD. That implies roughly 34.9% upside to fair value at that date.
Our latest published report, analyzed 2026-09-08, gives MCD a fair value of 345 USD and a potential value of 488 USD. The conclusion is triangulated across multiple valuation models and weighted by reliability for McDonald's Corporation's archetype; it is a dated research output, not a live price.
Should I buy MCD now?
Our latest published rating for MCD, analyzed 2026-09-08, is Strong Buy. McDonald's Corporation looks meaningfully undervalued at the analysis-date price of 256 USD versus fair value of 345 USD; potential value is 488 USD. This is research for educational purposes, not personalized investment advice.
What are the biggest risks for MCD?
The dedicated bear-case section in our report analyzed 2026-09-08 documents McDonald's Corporation's material risks, evidence, thresholds, and thesis-invalidation conditions. Scenario-specific explanations remain in that section so the report does not repeat or decontextualize them elsewhere.
What is MCD's rating?
Our latest published rating for MCD, analyzed 2026-09-08, is Strong Buy, with a published moat assessment of 1/10 (None). It reflects our fair value of 345 USD, the potential value of 488 USD, and the price recorded at analysis (256 USD).
Este informe aún no se ha traducido. Actualice en unos minutos una vez que la cola de traducción se ponga al día.
§1 Resumen ejecutivoEN
Respuesta en 30 segundosStrong Buy
Precio frente a valor
Precio
$255.69
Valor razonable
$345.00
Valor potencial
$487.79
A fecha de
2026-09-04
Por qué puede funcionar
Both major geographic lines could outperform while FY2025 investment converts into incremental demand.
Qué cambiaría nuestra opinión
The risk test is capital spending at or above 12.52% of revenue in FY2030 without better revenue and operating cash.
Strong Buy. The $255.69 report-date price is below $345 Fair value and $487.79 Potential value. Unproductive capital spending is the main risk; broad segment growth is the clearest upside.3
Capital spending rose to $3.37 billion in FY2025. If it stays high without better sales and cash, investor returns and financial flexibility would weaken.3,5
FY2027 forecasts average $29.67 billion of revenue and $13.98 of diluted . FY2025 was $10.55 billion.
A favorable demand cycle would let both major geographic lines sustain mid-single-digit growth while capital spending produces incremental sales and cash.
Evidence-backed thesis
Strong Buy because the valuation gap and cash generation outweigh the conditional capital-spending risk.4
Cycle upside
A favorable demand cycle would let both major geographic lines sustain mid-single-digit growth while capital spending produces incremental sales and cash.
Recomendación de la casa
Strong Buy because the valuation gap and cash generation outweigh the conditional capital-spending risk.4
Descripción general de la empresa
The Company has determined that it is the principal in these arrangements. The Company’s revenues consist of sales by Company-owned and operated restaurants and fees from franchised restaurants operated by conventional franchisees, developmental licensees and affiliates. Fees vary by type of site, amount of Company investment, if any, and local business conditions. These fees, along with occupancy and operating rights, are stipulated in franchise/license agreements that generally have 20-year terms. McDonald's creates opportunities that encourage Company employees, franchisees and their employees, suppliers, and customers to get involved in philanthropic and volunteering opportunities.
The Company is guided by five core values that define who it is and how it runs the business across the three-legged stool of McDonald’s franchisees, suppliers, and employees:
§2 Caso bajistaEN
The central stress is weaker demand while capital spending stays high. Sales, profit and cash would fall as the debt balance limits financial flexibility.
A broad segment slowdown would reduce consolidated sales, weaken fixed-cost absorption, and force lower earnings and free-cash-flow assumptions across valuation methods.
Actual:FY2026 and FY2027 forecasts imply 4.92% and 5.2% growth.
Alerta siBelow 3% for two consecutive issuer fiscal years.
02
§3 Foso competitivoEN
None
McDonald's reports revenue across International Operated Markets, the Usmarket, and its smaller licensed-markets-and-corporate line. Those figures show geographic breadth, but they do not establish switching costs, protected assets, network effects, cost advantage, or efficient scale; each structural factor remains unknown from the cited segment data.
SBUX is the closest restaurant-demand comparison. TJX represents value spending, while BKNG and ABNB represent travel-related discretionary spending; their different economics make them indirect checks rather than interchangeable peers.
Beneficio económico
FY2025 operating income was $12.39 billion, yet no structural moat source is credited from that result alone.5
1/ 10
None
Amenazas conocidas al foso
Amenaza
Severidad
Cronograma
Mitigación
Direct restaurant competition could weaken traffic or require more promotional value.
medium
Through FY2027 and beyond
Treat the threat as confirmed if operating margin falls below 43% while major-segment growth weakens. That combination would show traffic or pricing pressure reaching profit.5
The highlighted cell is Fair value when every assumption sits at its base level ($345.00). Each row and column shows what Fair value becomes when one assumption moves.
Free cash flow to the firm stays positive in the first projected year at $7.9B after modeled reinvestment of $2.5B, with terminal value at 73.4% of enterprise value. A sudden drop in free cash flow is not projected unless capital spending relative to revenue, reinvestment, or gross margin resets materially.
Consolidated FY2027 revenue reaches the published annual forecast, then the house revenue path slows gradually; the two major geographic lines remain the key operating test.1,6
Margins ease modestly while investment spending begins to produce incremental revenue.
This path supports steady earnings growth without further margin expansion. It fails if annual revenue growth stays below 3% for two consecutive fiscal years, or if capital spending does not lift revenue and operating cash.5
FY2027 revenue and earnings approach the upper ends of their forecast ranges.1
§7 Árbol de decisión de resultadosEN
Superado
Add within the planned allocation if both major geographic lines strengthen.
Disparador: Revenue and earnings exceed the annual forecasts while margin remains near the reported level.
Broad growth with steady margins would show that investment spending is producing demand and operating leverage.
En línea
Keep the planned allocation and require continued progress.
Disparador: Revenue, earnings and margins remain close to the FY2027 forecast path.
Results near the forecast path would support the base case without proving the later growth runway.
Fallo
Pause new buying and re-underwrite the growth duration.
Disparador: Both major lines weaken, margin compresses, or capital spending fails to produce better cash.
Weak segment growth or lower margins would reduce earnings and cash while leaving the investment burden in place.
Calidad de los beneficios
FY2025 operating cash exceeded reported profit, and free cash flow remained positive. Elevated capital spending means less cash may remain for investors, so weaker operating cash alongside persistent spending would be the warning.4,5
Free cash flow means cash left after capital spending. It remained $7.19 billion in FY2025 despite elevated investment, supporting distributions while leaving future spending productivity unresolved.4,5
Asignación de capital
Capital allocation must balance investment, shareholder distributions and $54.60 billion of debt. Future repurchases should not be treated as a permanent earnings-growth source.
The earnings case has cash support, provided capital spending does not become a permanent burden.
Capital intensity remains the main financial tension.
FY2025 capital spending reached $3.37 billion, while total debt was $54.60 billion on 2026-09-08.
Weak investment returns could reduce cash available for debt reduction and repurchases.
Ingresos más recientes26,9 mil M US$CAGR de ingresos +1,0 %
Margen operativo46,1 %10 periodos fiscales
Flujo de caja libre más reciente7186 M US$FY2025
Deuda neta39,2 mil M US$FY2025
Desglose de la cuenta de resultadosCómo la escala del negocio se convierte en beneficio declarado.
StockMarketAgent.AI
Ingresos26,9 mil M US$Coste de ventas−11,5 mil M US$Beneficio bruto15,4 mil M US$Gastos operativos−3042 M US$Beneficio operativo12,4 mil M US$Partidas no operativas e impuestos−3830 M US$Beneficio neto8563 M US$
Datos del historial financiero
Ingresos
26.885.000.000 US$
Coste de ventas
11.450.000.000 US$
Beneficio bruto
15.435.000.000 US$
Gastos operativos
3.042.000.000 US$
Beneficio operativo
12.393.000.000 US$
Partidas no operativas e impuestos
-3.830.000.000 US$
Beneficio neto
8.563.000.000 US$
Resumen del balanceCómo se mantienen y financian los activos declarados en el período seleccionado.
StockMarketAgent.AI
Composición de activosFinanciado por
Activos totales59,5 mil M US$Efectivo774 M US$Activos corrientes4163 M US$Pasivos totales61,3 mil M US$Pasivos corrientes4361 M US$Déficit patrimonial1791 M US$
Datos del desglose del balance
Activos totales
59.515.000.000 US$
Efectivo
774.000.000 US$
Activos corrientes
4.163.000.000 US$
Pasivos totales
61.306.000.000 US$
Pasivos corrientes
4.361.000.000 US$
Déficit patrimonial
1.791.000.000 US$
Puente de flujo de cajaCómo el flujo de caja operativo se convirtió en flujo de caja libre en FY2025.
StockMarketAgent.AI
Conciliación del flujo operativo
Beneficio neto8563 M US$Depreciación y amortización+457 M US$Compensación basada en acciones+165 M US$Otros ajustes operativos+1366 M US$Flujo de caja operativo10,6 mil M US$
Conciliación del efectivo inicial al final
Efectivo inicial1085 M US$Flujo de caja operativo+10,6 mil M US$Flujo de inversión−3822 M US$Flujo de financiación−7125 M US$Efecto del tipo de cambio+86 M US$Efectivo final774 M US$
10,6 mil M US$ − 3365 M US$Flujo de caja libre 7186 M US$
Datos del puente de flujo de caja
Beneficio neto
8.563.000.000 US$
Entrada operativa
10.551.000.000 US$
Depreciación y amortización
457.000.000 US$
Compensación basada en acciones
165.000.000 US$
Otros ajustes operativos
1.366.000.000 US$
Flujo de caja operativo
10.551.000.000 US$
Efectivo disponible
11.722.000.000 US$
Efectivo inicial
1.085.000.000 US$
Efecto del tipo de cambio
86.000.000 US$
Salida de inversión
3.822.000.000 US$
Capex
3.365.000.000 US$
Otras actividades de inversión
457.000.000 US$
Salida de financiación
7.125.000.000 US$
Efectivo final
774.000.000 US$
Flujo de inversión
-3.822.000.000 US$
Flujo de financiación
-7.125.000.000 US$
Ingresos por segmento operativoProporción de los ingresos totales de 2025-12-31.
26,9 mil M US$Ingresos totales
Ingresos por segmento operativoProporción
International Operated Markets13,6 mil M US$50,7 %+8 % interanual
USMarket10,8 mil M US$40,3 %+1,8 % interanual
International Developmental Licensed Marketsand Corporate2427 M US$9 %−8,8 % interanual
Fuente: SEC EDGAR · Presentado 2026-02-24 · SEC EDGAR
Datos de composición de ingresos: Ingresos por segmento operativo
Ingresos por segmento operativo
Ingresos
Proporción
interanual
International Operated Markets
13,6 mil M US$
50,7 %
8 %
USMarket
10,8 mil M US$
40,3 %
1,8 %
International Developmental Licensed Marketsand Corporate
2427 M US$
9 %
-8,8 %
Ingresos y beneficiosCómo la escala del negocio se convierte en beneficio declarado.
Efectivo y deudaLiquidez disponible frente al endeudamiento total.
Generación de efectivoFlujo de caja operativo frente al flujo de caja libre.
RentabilidadEvolución de los márgenes bruto, operativo y neto.
Datos financieros puntuales utilizados en el análisis del 2026-09-08.
Datos del historial financiero
Período
Ingresos
EBITDA
Beneficio neto
Flujo de caja operativo
Flujo de caja libre
Capex
Depreciación y amortización
Compensación basada en acciones
Recompras de acciones
Dividendos pagados
Emisión neta de deuda
Flujo de inversión
Flujo de financiación
Efectivo inicial
Efectivo final
Efectivo e inversiones
Deuda total
Margen operativo
ROIC
WACC
Diferencial ROIC−WACC
2016-12-31
24,6 mil M US$
9267,3 M US$
4686,5 M US$
6059,6 M US$
4238,5 M US$
1821,1 M US$
1516,5 M US$
131,3 M US$
11,2 mil M US$
3058,2 M US$
—
-981,6 M US$
-11,3 mil M US$
—
1223,4 M US$
1367,8 M US$
26 mil M US$
31,5 %
—
4,7 %
—
2017-12-31
22,8 mil M US$
10,9 mil M US$
5192,3 M US$
5551,2 M US$
3697,5 M US$
1853,7 M US$
1363,4 M US$
117,5 M US$
4685,7 M US$
3089,2 M US$
—
562 M US$
-5310,8 M US$
1223,4 M US$
2463,8 M US$
2463,8 M US$
29,5 mil M US$
41,9 %
—
4,6 %
—
2018-12-31
21,3 mil M US$
10,3 mil M US$
5924,3 M US$
6966,7 M US$
4225 M US$
2741,7 M US$
214,8 M US$
125,1 M US$
5207,7 M US$
3255,9 M US$
—
-2455,1 M US$
-5949,6 M US$
2463,8 M US$
866 M US$
1037,6 M US$
31,1 mil M US$
41,5 %
—
4,8 %
—
2019-12-31
21,4 mil M US$
10,8 mil M US$
6025,4 M US$
8122,1 M US$
5728,4 M US$
2393,7 M US$
262,5 M US$
109,6 M US$
4976,2 M US$
3581,9 M US$
—
-3071,1 M US$
-4994,8 M US$
866 M US$
898,5 M US$
912,5 M US$
34,2 mil M US$
42,5 %
—
3,9 %
—
2020-12-31
19,2 mil M US$
9110,2 M US$
4730,5 M US$
6265,2 M US$
4624,4 M US$
1640,8 M US$
300,6 M US$
92,4 M US$
907,8 M US$
3752,9 M US$
—
-1545,8 M US$
-2249 M US$
898,5 M US$
3449,1 M US$
4746,1 M US$
37,4 mil M US$
38,1 %
—
3,8 %
—
2021-12-31
23,2 mil M US$
12,2 mil M US$
7545,2 M US$
9141,5 M US$
7101,5 M US$
2040 M US$
329,7 M US$
139,2 M US$
845,5 M US$
3918,6 M US$
—
-2165,7 M US$
-5595,6 M US$
3449,1 M US$
4709 M US$
4709,5 M US$
35,6 mil M US$
44,6 %
—
4,5 %
—
2022-12-31
23,2 mil M US$
10,9 mil M US$
6177 M US$
7387 M US$
5488 M US$
1899 M US$
370 M US$
167 M US$
3896 M US$
4168 M US$
1198 M US$
-2678 M US$
-6580 M US$
4709 M US$
2584 M US$
2583,8 M US$
35,9 mil M US$
40,4 %
—
6,7 %
—
2023-12-31
25,5 mil M US$
13,9 mil M US$
8469 M US$
9612 M US$
7255 M US$
2357 M US$
382 M US$
175 M US$
3054 M US$
4533 M US$
2993 M US$
-3185 M US$
-4374 M US$
2584 M US$
4579 M US$
4583,3 M US$
39,3 mil M US$
45,7 %
—
6,8 %
—
2024-12-31
25,9 mil M US$
13,9 mil M US$
8223 M US$
9447 M US$
6672 M US$
2775 M US$
447 M US$
172 M US$
2824 M US$
4870 M US$
-71 M US$
-5346 M US$
-7495 M US$
4579 M US$
1085 M US$
1085 M US$
38,4 mil M US$
45,2 %
—
7,4 %
—
2025-12-31
26,9 mil M US$
14,6 mil M US$
8563 M US$
10,6 mil M US$
7186 M US$
3365 M US$
457 M US$
165 M US$
2056 M US$
5115 M US$
-72 M US$
-3822 M US$
-7125 M US$
1085 M US$
774 M US$
774 M US$
40 mil M US$
46,1 %
—
6,1 %
—
§9 Comparación de valoración con pares
Valor razonableReport-date price
McDonald's CorporationMCD
Precio / valor razonable
Valor razonable345 US$Report-date price255,69 US$
Fecha de evaluación
Ventaja competitivaNone
Cuadro de mando de inversión61 / 100
The TJX Companies, Inc.TJX
Precio / valor razonable
Valor razonable112,24 US$Report-date price130,06 US$
Fecha de evaluación
Ventaja competitivaNarrow
Cuadro de mando de inversión67 / 100
Booking Holdings Inc.BKNG
Precio / valor razonable
Valor razonable292,84 US$Report-date price193,29 US$
McDonald's Corporation (MCD) trades at 18.6x forward earnings against a peer median of 26.3x. Its EV/EBITDA of 15.7x compares with a peer median of 20.9x. The comparison uses 4 peers: The TJX Companies Inc., Booking Holdings Inc., Starbucks Corporation and Airbnb Inc., as of 2026-09-07 to 2026-09-08.
§10 Industria y cicloEN
Fase del ciclo
Expansion
Capital spending rose from $2.36 billion in FY2023 to $3.37 billion in FY2025. The industry references are 3.7% of revenue and 1.64 times depreciation.5
Ciclo alcista
A favorable demand cycle would let both major geographic lines sustain mid-single-digit growth while capital spending produces incremental sales and cash.
Ciclo bajista
A weaker demand cycle would pressure traffic and pricing. High spending would then absorb more cash while debt reduces flexibility.
Posicionamiento
The cycle view is demand-led and evidence-limited. Segment demand and capital productivity are the decisive tests.
§11 Gestión de posiciónEN
Tamaño de posición
Start smaller than the investor's usual full position. Add only while annual revenue growth stays at least 3%, margin remains above 43%, and capital spending produces better revenue and cash. The Strong Buy view has material upside, but long-run growth and capital-spending productivity still require verification.5
Riesgo
Keep position size tied to segment growth, margin and spending productivity. Do not rely on debt-funded repurchases as a lasting earnings driver.
Tramos de entrada
Nivel
Acción
Por qué
Annual revenue growth remains at least 3%.
Initiate or add within the planned allocation.
Growth above this threshold keeps both major segments and the later revenue path credible.
Not every cited input appears here: internal calculations and intermediate model outputs have no external record, and some citations could not be matched to one.
Persistent capital spending, leverage and weaker operating cash would reduce the present value of long-run cash flows.2,3
FV impact
-25.3%
Cost of capital 2 points higher
Trigger
Within 24 months
The terminal price-to-earnings multiple falls below 16x.
Investors would pay less for each dollar of future earnings unless post-FY2027 growth and reported-profit conversion remain durable.
Traffic weakness and heavier value promotions would reduce profit per sale and invalidate the high-margin growth path.5
FV impact
-2.4%
Operating margin 6 points lower throughout
Trigger
Within 24 months
Capital spending intensity
Persistent spending would leave less operating cash for investors, limit repurchases, and weaken the assumption that investment converts into durable growth.
Actual:FY2025 capital spending was $3.37 billion in the annual filing retrieved 2026-09-08.
Alerta siAt or above 12.52% of revenue in FY2030 without better revenue and cash flow.
A sustained financing-cost increase would lower the present value of long-run cash flows and intensify pressure from debt and continuing capital needs.
Actual:6.8243% as of and retrieved 2026-09-08T21:14:02+00:00.
Limitation: Terminal value is 73.7% of this model's value, above the 60% level at which the methodology flags concentration; the value leans on the years beyond the explicit forecast.
Project EPS through the explicit advantage period, fade growth as competition catches up, and discount the full stream at cost of equity.
Limitation: Terminal value is 80.7% of this model's value, above the 60% level at which the methodology flags concentration; the value leans on the years beyond the explicit forecast.
Limitation: Terminal value is 73.4% of this model's value, above the 60% level at which the methodology flags concentration; the value leans on the years beyond the explicit forecast.
Joint segment strength would raise sales, profit and cash without requiring investors to pay a higher multiple. Margin compression would disconfirm this path.
Lower profit per sale would weaken earnings leverage.