Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $82.59 (market cap $29.78B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $268.77 (market cap $188.25B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 6.3× Estee Lauder Companies Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays the higher dividend (2.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EL | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $29.78B | $188.25B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $264.54 |
Enterprise Value | $35.95B | $241.96B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 2.81% |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Estée Lauder (EL) trades at $80.86, down 0.36% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and recent earnings beats. The stock shows a high P/E of 147.8 and negative net income margin of -1.67%, though revenue remains substantial at $14.33 billion for 2025. Recent news highlights innovation in beauty trends, but cash flow trends show net outflows over recent years.
Outlook is mixed: analyst consensus targets $90.60 with 44% buy ratings, but high valuation and profitability challenges pose risks. Recovery depends on margin improvement and sustained revenue growth amid competitive pressures.
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $268.94, down 1.35% on the day, with a bearish technical signal driven by moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals, including a 31.62% net income margin and consistent revenue growth, reaching $26.89B in 2025. Recent news highlights the company's 'McDonald's NEXT' strategy focusing on automation and menu innovation to counter competition and inflation pressures.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $326.36, implying 21% upside, supported by 59.68% analyst buy ratings. Key risks include inflationary cost pressures on franchisee margins and high long-term debt of $38.42B. Earnings momentum is mixed, with a Q2 2026 estimate of $3.33 EPS to watch.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Estee Lauder is the world leader in the global prestige beauty market, participating across skincare (56% of fiscal 2022 sales), makeup (26%), fragrance (14%), and haircare (4%) categories, with popular brands such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, La Mer, Jo Malone, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Origins, Dr. Jart+, and The Ordinary. The firm operates in 150 countries, with 26% of fiscal 2022 revenue stemming from the Americas, 43% from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and 31% from Asia-Pacific. The company sells its products through department stores, travel retail, multi-brand specialty beauty stores, brand-dedicated freestanding stores, e-commerce, salons/spas, and perfumeries.
Read more on EL →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 →