Compare McDonald's Corp (MCD) vs NRG Energy Inc (NRG) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
McDonald's Corp vs NRG Energy Inc — how do they compare? McDonald's Corp trades at $273.92 (market cap $193.70B), while NRG Energy Inc trades at $120.38 (market cap $24.83B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 7.8× NRG Energy Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays the higher dividend (2.72%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MCD | NRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $193.70B | $24.83B |
Volume | 2,230,036 | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Utilities |
52-Week High | $341.06 | $184.03 |
52-Week Low | $262.80 | $117.04 |
Enterprise Value | $247.47B | $48.79B |
Dividend Yield | 2.72% | 1.61% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
NRG Energy trades at $118.13, down 0.77% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and recent earnings misses in Q1 and Q2 2026. The company reported Q2 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 billion, up 34% year-over-year, and is advancing a 1.2-GW Texas data-center power project to drive growth. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 30.76 and P/S of 0.72, with a net income margin of 2.56% for 2025.
The outlook is mixed: strong analyst consensus (69% buy ratings) and a $207.83 price target suggest upside, but technical weakness, rising debt, and execution risks on new projects pose challenges. Revenue growth to $33.1B in 2026 and strategic investments in data center demand support long-term potential, though interest costs and leverage require monitoring.
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 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 →About NRG Energy Inc
NRG Energy is one of the largest retail energy providers in the U.S., with 7 million customers, including its 2021 acquisition of Direct Energy. It also is one of the largest U.S. independent power producers, with 16 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power generation capacity primarily in Texas. Since 2018, NRG has divested its 47% stake in NRG Yield, among other renewable energy and conventional generation investments. NRG exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity in December 2003.
Read more on NRG →
