McDonald's Corp vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? McDonald's Corp trades at $267.39 (market cap $190.16B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $238.64 (market cap $96.00B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays the higher dividend (2.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MCD | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $190.16B | $96.00B |
Volume | 2,230,036 | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $341.06 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $264.54 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $243.87B | $118.73B |
Dividend Yield | 2.78% | 1.48% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
McDonald's stock trades at $267.64, down slightly by 0.03% on the day, and is currently in a bearish technical trend according to moving averages. The company reported Q1 2026 earnings that beat expectations with EPS of $2.83 versus $2.74 expected, and revenue growth remains steady, reaching $26.89 billion in 2025. Recent news highlights the launch of the 'McDonald's NEXT' growth strategy focusing on automation and improved customer experience to counter competitive pressures.
The outlook for McDonald's is supported by strong fundamentals including a high net income margin of 31.62% and a consensus analyst price target of $329, implying significant upside. However, risks include inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and high long-term debt of $38.42 billion. Investor sentiment is mixed with a bearish technical signal but optimistic analyst ratings, with 58% recommending buy.
WM trades at $239.26, showing minimal daily movement with a slight 0.02% decline. The stock maintains a bullish technical outlook with strong moving average signals and trades near its pivot point of $241. Fundamentally, the company demonstrates solid revenue growth from $19.7B in 2022 to $25.2B in 2025, though recent quarters show mixed earnings performance with two misses and one beat against expectations.
WM presents a stable investment case with consistent dividend payments and strong analyst support (57% buy ratings), but faces challenges from elevated debt levels and valuation multiples. The consensus price target of $263.57 suggests 10% upside potential, though investors should monitor execution on earnings guidance and debt management in the coming quarters.
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 →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →