Compare McDonald's Corp (MCD) vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock (WTRG) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
McDonald's Corp vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock — how do they compare? McDonald's Corp trades at $240.5 (market cap $166.87B), while Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock trades at $39.82 (market cap $11.15B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 15× Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock's market cap, and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock pays the higher dividend (3.67%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold McDonald's Corp for 165 Days and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock for 0 Days on average.
| MCD | WTRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $166.87B | $11.15B |
Volume | 4,543,119 | 1,760,234 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Utilities |
52-Week High | $341.06 | $42.00 |
52-Week Low | $230.88 | $36.25 |
Typical Hold Time | 165 Days | 0 Days |
Enterprise Value | $220.64B | $19.66B |
Dividend Yield | 3.27% | 3.67% |
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 $235.81, up 0.07% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $3.38 exceeding the $3.32 estimate. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $26.89B in 2025, while net income margin remains robust at 31.72%. Recent news highlights the launch of the 'McDonald's NEXT' strategy focusing on automation and menu innovation to drive growth.
The outlook is supported by analyst optimism with a consensus price target of $284.70, implying significant upside. However, risks include inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and high long-term debt of $38.42B. The stock presents a value opportunity with a P/E of 19.16, but investors should weigh execution risks against growth initiatives.
WTRG trades at $39.29, up 0.36% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows mixed earnings performance with two beats and one miss in recent quarters, while maintaining strong profitability margins (21.6% net income margin). Analyst consensus is bullish with a $44.50 price target, supported by ongoing acquisitions and pending merger developments with American Water.
The stock presents a stable utility investment with moderate growth potential through strategic acquisitions, though near-term earnings volatility and integration risks from the pending merger warrant caution. Current valuation at 20.15 P/E appears reasonable given the company's consistent cash flow generation and defensive sector positioning.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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 Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock
Essential Utilities Inc. is a holding company for regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities, operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands. It serves customers across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Read more on WTRG →
