McDonald's Corp vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? McDonald's Corp trades at $236.4 (market cap $167.64B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $570.9 (market cap $24.12B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 7× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays a 3.26% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold McDonald's Corp for 164 Days and Ulta Beauty Inc for 92 Days on average.
| MCD | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $167.64B | $24.12B |
Volume | 11,320,306 | 457,598 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $341.06 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $230.88 | $450.75 |
Typical Hold Time | 164 Days | 92 Days |
Enterprise Value | $221.41B | $26.43B |
Dividend Yield | 3.26% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $230.88, down 0.68% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company shows steady revenue growth, reaching $26.89B in 2025, and has consistently beaten EPS estimates in recent quarters. Recent news highlights a new global growth strategy, 'McDonald's NEXT', focusing on automation and improved customer experience to counter competitive pressures and attract diners.
The outlook is mixed: strong fundamentals and a 58.7% analyst buy rating support upside to the $284.70 consensus target, but technical weakness and inflation-driven cost pressures pose near-term risks. The stock offers value through its dividend and defensive profile, yet investors must weigh execution risks of the new strategy against its long-term growth potential.
ULTA Beauty trades at $570.02, up 4.5% today, showing strong momentum with a bullish technical setup and positive analyst sentiment. The company delivered Q2 2026 earnings beat ($6.55 actual vs. $6.22 expected) and raised 2026 guidance, supported by robust e-commerce growth. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 20.55 and P/S of 1.92, while profitability remains solid with 39.3% gross margins and 46.1% ROE. Recent news highlights expansion into wellness categories and omnichannel strength.
Outlook remains positive with consensus price target of $624.93 (9.6% upside), though margin pressure and flat store traffic pose execution risks. The stock's current price near resistance at $572 suggests potential near-term consolidation before further gains. Institutional ownership trends show mixed activity with recent CEO share sales offset by pension fund accumulation.
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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 →With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →