Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $87.54 (market cap $31.54B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $273.9 (market cap $193.70B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 6.1× Estee Lauder Companies Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays the higher dividend (2.72%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EL | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $31.54B | $193.70B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $262.80 |
Enterprise Value | $37.72B | $247.47B |
Dividend Yield | 1.61% | 2.72% |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Estée Lauder (EL) trades at $88.35, up 3.35% with a bullish technical signal and recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong institutional interest with Bank of America increasing its stake by 950.9% in Q1 2026. Despite negative net income margins, the company maintains a robust gross margin of 74.71% and has upcoming Q2 2026 earnings expected at $0.3197 per share. Recent corporate developments include a new fragrance launch and executive appointments.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $91.67 offering 3.8% upside potential. Key risks include declining revenue trends and negative profitability, while opportunities lie in product innovation and digital engagement. The stock faces resistance near $90-$93 levels with support at $86.
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
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 →