Compare Southwest Airlines Co (LUV) vs McDonald's Corp (MCD) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Southwest Airlines Co vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.53 (market cap $23.63B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $265.05 (market cap $190.16B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 8× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays the higher dividend (2.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.63B | $190.16B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $29.06 | $264.54 |
Enterprise Value | $26.70B | $243.87B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 2.78% |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $48.28, up 0.42% today, with a neutral technical signal and mixed earnings history. Recent Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations, but Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 beat. Financials show modest revenue growth to $28.06B in 2025, but net income margin is thin at 2.83%. Analyst consensus is mixed with 42% buy, 47% hold, and 11% sell ratings, and a $52.47 price target implies potential upside. Key news highlights Q2 2026 earnings due July 23, 2026, amid fuel cost volatility and travel demand resilience.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with upside to the consensus target, supported by operational improvements and sector tailwinds, but risks from fuel price swings, execution challenges, and thin margins warrant careful monitoring. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 32.05 appears elevated relative to earnings growth, requiring strong future performance to justify current levels.
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $267.71, down 2.1% on the day, with a bearish technical signal driven by moving averages. The company reported steady revenue growth to $26.89 billion in 2025 and a net income margin of 31.62%, though Q2 2026 earnings are pending. Recent news highlights a new 'McDonald's NEXT' strategy focusing on automation and menu improvements to boost competitiveness.
The stock presents a buying opportunity with a consensus price target of $329, implying 23% upside, supported by strong analyst sentiment (58% buy ratings). Risks include inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and high long-term debt of $38.42 billion. Earnings execution and strategy rollout will be key for near-term performance.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Southwest Airlines Co
Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →About McDonald's Corp
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 →
