Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. trades at $32.23 (market cap $40.67B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $273.92 (market cap $193.70B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 4.8× Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.'s market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays a 2.72% dividend while Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CMG | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $40.67B | $193.70B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $44.04 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $28.17 | $262.80 |
Enterprise Value | $45.42B | $247.47B |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.72% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) trades at $32.81, down 2.67% amid food safety concerns. The stock shows bearish technical signals with strong analyst support (70% buy ratings) and a $42.17 consensus target. Recent quarterly earnings consistently beat expectations, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.33 exceeding estimates. Revenue growth remains steady, climbing from $8.6B in 2022 to $11.9B in 2025, though net income margin compressed to 11.42% in 2026 from 13.55% in 2024.
Despite strong fundamentals and analyst optimism, CMG faces near-term headwinds from salmonella outbreaks and fraud investigations. The stock's premium valuation (P/E 29.76) requires sustained execution amid operational challenges. Long-term growth trajectory remains intact, but current sentiment is cautious due to food safety issues and legal scrutiny.
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $274.15, down slightly by 0.12% on the day, with technical indicators showing a neutral overall signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with consistent revenue growth, reaching $26.89 billion in 2025, and robust profitability with a 31.72% net income margin. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, and the company has announced a new global growth strategy focused on automation and menu innovation to drive future performance.
The outlook for MCD is positive, supported by strong analyst consensus with a $322.45 price target implying significant upside. Key opportunities include the successful execution of its new growth plan and its defensive qualities in a challenging economy. Primary risks involve inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and intense competition in the quick-service restaurant sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Chipotle Mexican Grill is the largest fast-casual chain restaurant in the United States, with systemwide sales of $7.5 billion in 2021. The Mexican concept is entirely company-owned, with a footprint of more than 3,000 stores, heavily indexed to the United States (though the firm maintains a small presence in Canada, the U.K., France, and Germany). Chipotle sells burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and beverages, with a selling proposition built around competitive prices, high-quality food sourcing, speed of service, and convenience. The company generates its revenue entirely from restaurant sales and delivery fees.
Read more on CMG →McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates fast-food restaurants in the global restaurant industry. The Company's restaurants serves a variety of value-priced menu products in countries around the world.
Read more on MCD →