McDonald's Corp vs Upstart Holdings Inc — how do they compare? McDonald's Corp trades at $273.92 (market cap $193.70B), while Upstart Holdings Inc trades at $29.9 (market cap $2.94B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 65.9× Upstart Holdings Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays a 2.72% dividend while Upstart Holdings Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MCD | UPST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $193.70B | $2.94B |
Volume | 2,230,036 | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Financials |
52-Week High | $341.06 | $73.76 |
52-Week Low | $262.80 | $24.22 |
Enterprise Value | $247.47B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.72% | — |
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.
Upstart (UPST) trades at $31.09, up 4.64% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported Q2 2026 revenue growth of 42% year-over-year and a return to GAAP profitability, with loan originations surging 50%. However, it has missed EPS expectations for three consecutive quarters. The stock is supported by a consensus analyst price target of $47.20, implying significant upside, but faces headwinds from high interest rates and competitive pressures.
The outlook is mixed: strong loan growth and AI-driven underwriting improvements offer growth potential, but recent earnings misses, a high P/E ratio of 59.79, and negative operating cash flow in 2025 pose risks. Investor sentiment is cautiously optimistic, with 45% of analysts rating it a Buy, though volatility from macroeconomic factors remains a key concern for shareholders.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Upstart Holdings Inc provides credit services. The company provides a proprietary, cloud-based, artificial intelligence lending platform. The platform aggregates consumer demand for loans and connects it to the network of Upstart AI-enabled bank partners. The revenue of the company is primarily comprised of fees paid by banks.
Read more on UPST →