Relative Intelligence · Restaurants
How McDonald's (MCD) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on MCD alone. It places MCD (McDonald's Corporation) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where MCD stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: MCD's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 22, 2026.
Data as of October 22, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
This page answers the following questions about MCD
Key findings
Not AI-generatedThese key findings are generated by our proprietary relative intelligence engine, directly from the data on this page.
- Right nowMCD has gone against the market, falling 14.6% over the past 6 months while the S&P 500 rose 8.0%. MCD is 24.5% below its high, bear-market territory, while the S&P 500 sits 1.9% below a record. At a glance ↓
- Stock or market?MCD fell 3.5% over the past 3 months, 4.6 points behind the consumer discretionary sector ETF XLY (State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF), which rose 1.1%. The S&P 500 rose 2.5%. Its restaurant peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: QSR (Restaurant Brands International) rose 5.3%, while BROS (Dutch Bros) fell 35.7%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsOver the past year, MCD fell 16.4% while the S&P 500 rose 15.6%. The same gap shows up over 3 years (6.6% against 88.4%). That said, MCD lagged its restaurant peers in 2023, then moved up the pack in 2025. By year ↓
- Long termMCD turned $10,000 into $28,100 over the past decade, against $41,600 in the S&P 500. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashMCD fell less than the S&P 500 in five of seven sell-offs, but the Covid crash broke the pattern: it fell 36.1%, more than the S&P 500's 33.7%. Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationAgainst the S&P 500, MCD has a correlation of 0.38 over 5 years, less closely than 53% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Next to an index fund it is some diversification, but not a hedge. Over 10 years, MCD's beta versus the S&P 500 was 0.52: 58% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 52% of its losses in falling ones. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- KO (Coca-Cola) earned more than MCD with less volatility over the past 5 years: 15.2% a year at 16.8% volatility, against 3.5% a year at 18.0%.
- Nearby categories and themes
- MNST (Monster Beverage, nonalcoholic beverages) earned more for the risk it took than MCD over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 30.4%, against 36.9% for MCD.
- Whole market
- 302 of the 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than MCD with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF), IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) and VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF).
How much would $10,000 in MCD have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in MCD over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of MCD over the same span and MCD's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
- $10,000 invested in MCD at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $187,146 by September 2026, more than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of MCD, and DRI finished highest, at $533,910.
Choose a period
From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 315 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of MCD; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- DRI$533,910+5,239% total · +14.7% a year
- SBUX$491,988+4,820% total · +14.4% a year
- EAT$361,765+3,518% total · +13.2% a year
- YUM$352,310+3,423% total · +13.1% a year
- CAKE$251,736+2,417% total · +11.8% a year
- MCD$187,146+1,771% total · +10.6% a year
- SYY$172,022+1,620% total · +10.3% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
- PEP$64,589+546% total · +6.6% a year
- KO$60,026+500% total · +6.4% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,373 of the 3,630 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of MCD; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- EAT$39,456+295% total · +31.6% a year
- USFD$26,605+166% total · +21.6% a year
- CAKE$25,176+152% total · +20.3% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
- KO$18,994+89.9% total · +13.7% a year
- TXRH$18,725+87.3% total · +13.4% a year
- DRI$15,039+50.4% total · +8.5% a year
- QSR$13,848+38.5% total · +6.7% a year
- YUM$12,260+22.6% total · +4.2% a year
- MCD$10,761+7.6% total · +1.5% a year
MCD at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
- MCD is still 24.5% below its all-time high.
- MCD's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 73.7%, from November 1999 to March 2003. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, MCD's best was 1998, when it returned 61.7%, and its worst was 2002, when it lost 38.4%. It lost money in five of those years.
The company
- Market value
- $179B
- Industry
- Restaurants
- Price history from
- October 1986
Returns
- Past 1 year
- −16.4%total return
- Past 3 years
- +6.6%+2.2% a year
- Past 5 years
- +19.0%+3.5% a year
- Past 10 years
- +181%+10.9% a year
- Best calendar year
- +61.7%1998
- Worst calendar year
- −38.4%2002
- Losing years
- 5 of 29full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 18.0%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.28return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −73.7%Nov 1999 to Mar 2003
- From its all-time high
- −24.5%below the peak
MCD against the whole market
Where MCD ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does MCD rank among all stocks?
This section ranks MCD on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how MCD stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- MCD is among the steadier stocks: its price swings rank in the top 2% of the 2,897 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top is the calmest.
- MCD's 1-year return ranks in the bottom 21% of the 3,282 stocks worth at least $300 million with 1 year of history.
Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | MCD | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | −16.4% | 2,579 of 3,282 | bottom 22% |
| 3-year return | +6.6% | 2,253 of 3,016 | bottom 26% |
| 5-year return | +19.0% | 1,484 of 2,897 | bottom 50% |
| 10-year return | +181% | 939 of 2,201 | top 43% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 18.0% | 44 of 2,897 | top 2% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.28 | 1,624 of 2,897 | bottom 45% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −36.9% | 84 of 2,184 | top 4% |
What has beaten MCD on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). MCD sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than MCD with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- Seven stocks and 295 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than MCD over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 8% of the 3,641 screened.
- Among those with at least half MCD's swings, LVHI has the best return for its risk: 16.9% a year at 11.1% volatility, 38% less than MCD's 18.0%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.48 against 0.28 for MCD.
- Among MCD's popular alternatives, KO is in the region. KO earned 15.2% a year against 3.5% a year for MCD, at 16.8% volatility, 6% less than MCD's 18.0%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to MCD; faint dots are 93 more of the 302 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
- 3 with more than 1.6× MCD's volatility are in the table only
Is there a better investment than MCD?
Investments that beat MCD over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among MCD's popular alternatives, KO earned more than MCD with less volatility over the past 5 years: 15.2% a year at 16.8% volatility, against 3.5% a year at 18.0%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, MNST (nonalcoholic beverages) earned more for the risk it took than MCD over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 30.4%, against 36.9% for MCD.
- Across the whole market, 302 of the 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than MCD with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VOO, IVV and VXUS.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat MCD over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks MCD's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than MCD follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than MCD's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× MCD's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than MCD's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with MCD?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| MCDMcDonald's Corporation · this page | +3.5% | 18.0% | 0.28 | −36.9% | +181% | 1.00 | — | ||
 SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500 | +12.5% | 17.2% | 0.78 | −33.7% | +316% | 0.38 | 0.09% | ||
| Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against MCD. 9 of 23 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Nonalcoholic Beverages | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +15.2% | 16.8% | 0.93 | −37.0% | +205% | 0.60 | — | |
USFDUS Foods Holding Corp. · Food Distribution | Higher return in most periods | +23.3% | 29.8% | 0.85 | −77.3% | +353% | 0.42 | — | |
EATBrinker International, Inc. · Casual Dining | Higher return in most periods | +33.6% | 48.8% | 0.84 | −84.9% | +315% | 0.19 | — | |
DRIDarden Restaurants, Inc. · Casual Dining | Higher return in most periods | +12.0% | 27.2% | 0.56 | −72.8% | +357% | 0.57 | — | |
 YUMYum! Brands, Inc. · Restaurants | Higher return in most periods | +6.1% | 21.2% | 0.39 | −52.2% | +192% | 0.68 | — | |
TXRHTexas Roadhouse, Inc. · Casual Dining | Higher return in most periods | +16.1% | 30.5% | 0.64 | −58.0% | +408% | 0.40 | — | |
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 4 shownEverything else in Restaurants and the categories next to it (Casual Dining, Food Distribution, Packaged Foods, Nonalcoholic Beverages), plus MCD's specific themes. 4 of 49 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 MNSTMonster Beverage Corporation · Nonalcoholic Beverages | Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +17.4% | 24.9% | 0.77 | −30.4% | +278% | 0.48 | — | |
 MDLZMondelez International, Inc. · Packaged Foods | Higher return in most periods | +4.3% | 20.3% | 0.31 | −29.8% | +94.6% | 0.65 | — | |
 KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc. · Nonalcoholic Beverages | Higher return in most periods | +3.0% | 22.1% | 0.25 | −36.9% | +282% | 0.38 | — | |
SJMThe J. M. Smucker Company · Packaged Foods | Higher return in most periods | +5.2% | 25.1% | 0.33 | −38.1% | +41.0% | 0.51 | — | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 1,019 of 3,579 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · AAA CLO Debt | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +5.1% | 1.7% | 2.98 | −2.6% | — | -0.08 | 0.20% | |
VRIGInvesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +4.7% | 1.3% | 3.52 | −13.1% | +40.7% | -0.01 | 0.30% | |
BALTInnovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF · US Equity Buffer | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +6.2% | 3.3% | 1.84 | −4.9% | — | 0.35 | 0.69% | |
FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Bank Loans | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +6.0% | 2.3% | 2.55 | −20.9% | +58.7% | 0.13 | 0.60% | |
 SGOViShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF · Treasury Bills | On the frontierSimilar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +3.8% | 0.3% | 13.25 | −0.3% | — | 0.04 | 0.09% | |
 VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · Dividend Growth | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +10.4% | 14.1% | 0.77 | −31.7% | +258% | 0.58 | 0.04% | |
 EP-PCEl Paso Energy Capital Trust I PFD CV TR SECS · Preferred Stocks | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +5.2% | 8.9% | 0.62 | −25.4% | +38.1% | 0.09 | — | |
 BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +13.5% | 17.2% | 0.83 | −30.4% | +281% | 0.53 | — | |
What these numbers mean for MCD
- Annual return
- MCD returned 3.5% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.5% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $11,900. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- MCD's volatility over the past 5 years was 18.0%, 1.0 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, MCD's return lands within 18.0% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- MCD's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.28, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so MCD earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- MCD's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 36.9%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 36.9% fall takes a 58.5% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, MCD's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.38 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against MCD instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a MCD holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 302 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than MCD with less volatility
Out of 3,641 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with MCD | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · AAA CLO Debt | Whole market | +5.1% | 1.7% | 2.98 | −2.6% | — | -0.08 | 0.20% |
| 2 | VRIGInvesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | Whole market | +4.7% | 1.3% | 3.52 | −13.1% | +40.7% | -0.01 | 0.30% |
| 3 | BALTInnovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF · US Equity Buffer | Whole market | +6.2% | 3.3% | 1.84 | −4.9% | — | 0.35 | 0.69% |
| 4 | FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Bank Loans | Whole market | +6.0% | 2.3% | 2.55 | −20.9% | +58.7% | 0.13 | 0.60% |
| 5 | VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · Dividend Growth | Whole market | +10.4% | 14.1% | 0.77 | −31.7% | +258% | 0.58 | 0.04% |
| 6 | EP-PCEl Paso Energy Capital Trust I PFD CV TR SECS · Preferred Stocks | Whole market | +5.2% | 8.9% | 0.62 | −25.4% | +38.1% | 0.09 | — |
| 7 |  DFACDimensional - US Core Equity 2 ETF · US Total Market | Whole market | +11.3% | 17.0% | 0.72 | −23.1% | — | 0.43 | 0.21% |
| 8 | FJANFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January · US Equity Buffer | Whole market | +11.0% | 10.5% | 1.04 | −13.6% | — | 0.36 | 0.85% |
| 9 | POCTInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF · Moderate Buffer | Whole market | +9.9% | 8.0% | 1.22 | −18.8% | — | 0.30 | 0.79% |
| 10 |  JEPIJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF · Covered Call Income | Whole market | +7.3% | 11.0% | 0.70 | −13.7% | — | 0.64 | 0.35% |
| 11 | FLTRVanEck IG Floating Rate ETF · Floating Rate Bonds | Whole market | +4.8% | 2.1% | 2.21 | −17.8% | +42.1% | -0.07 | 0.14% |
| 12 | DOCTFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October · Deep Buffer | Whole market | +8.2% | 7.4% | 1.10 | −9.9% | — | 0.24 | 0.85% |
| 13 |  XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF · Health Care Equity | Whole market | +8.4% | 15.3% | 0.60 | −28.4% | +208% | 0.54 | 0.08% |
| 14 | CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications | Whole market | +8.2% | 13.3% | 0.66 | −23.8% | +104% | 0.09 | — |
| 15 | DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +14.8% | 16.4% | 0.93 | −25.4% | — | 0.49 | 0.27% |
| 16 | AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +13.9% | 16.9% | 0.86 | −19.5% | — | 0.46 | 0.15% |
| 17 | HYGHiShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF · High Yield Bonds | Whole market | +6.6% | 7.1% | 0.95 | −23.9% | +73.7% | 0.39 | 1.12% |
| 18 | SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +11.7% | 16.7% | 0.75 | −31.6% | +295% | 0.46 | 0.20% |
| 19 | DFAIDimensional - International Core Equity Market ETF · Developed International Equity | Whole market | +9.6% | 16.0% | 0.66 | −27.4% | — | 0.53 | 0.18% |
| 20 | BUFRFT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF · Buffered Equity | Whole market | +9.8% | 10.5% | 0.95 | −13.7% | — | 0.42 | 0.10% |
| 21 | BKLNInvesco Senior Loan ETF · Bank Loans | Whole market | +5.3% | 4.5% | 1.19 | −24.1% | +50.5% | 0.32 | 0.67% |
| 22 | XLPState Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF · Consumer Staples | Whole market | +7.6% | 13.8% | 0.60 | −24.5% | +124% | 0.76 | 0.08% |
| 23 | DIVOAmplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF · Covered Call Income | Whole market | +10.9% | 11.9% | 0.94 | −30.0% | — | 0.59 | 0.56% |
| 24 | SRLNState Street Blackstone Senior Loan ETF · Bank Loans | Whole market | +4.6% | 3.9% | 1.17 | −22.3% | +53.9% | 0.21 | 0.70% |
| 25 | DFAXDimensional World ex U.S. Core Equity 2 ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +9.6% | 16.1% | 0.65 | −28.1% | — | 0.44 | 0.28% |
| 26 | SHYGiShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF · Short-Term High Yield | Whole market | +4.6% | 5.8% | 0.81 | −19.3% | +56.5% | 0.50 | 0.30% |
| 27 | FTSLFirst Trust Senior Loan Fund · Bank Loans | Whole market | +5.0% | 3.4% | 1.49 | −22.7% | +52.0% | 0.25 | 0.70% |
| 28 | JAVAJPMorgan Active Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +11.4% | 14.5% | 0.82 | −16.5% | — | — | 0.44% |
| 29 | QYLDGlobal X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF · Covered Call Income | Whole market | +8.2% | 15.0% | 0.60 | −24.7% | +151% | 0.25 | 0.60% |
| 30 | DBMFiMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF · Managed Futures | Whole market | +9.5% | 12.4% | 0.80 | −20.4% | — | -0.23 | 0.85% |
| 31 | USMCPrincipal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +13.8% | 16.5% | 0.87 | −30.0% | — | 0.36 | 0.12% |
| 32 | VIGIVanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +5.1% | 14.5% | 0.42 | −31.0% | +127% | 0.55 | 0.07% |
| 33 | EFAViShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +7.7% | 11.9% | 0.69 | −27.6% | +100% | 0.59 | 0.20% |
| 34 | FTLSFirst Trust Long/Short Equity ETF · Long-Short Equity | Whole market | +10.1% | 10.5% | 0.97 | −20.6% | +155% | 0.34 | 0.95% |
| 35 | PTLCPacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF · Tactical Equity | Whole market | +9.3% | 11.9% | 0.81 | −26.6% | +185% | 0.20 | 0.60% |
| 36 | AORiShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF · Balanced Allocation | Whole market | +6.4% | 10.7% | 0.64 | −23.0% | +117% | 0.45 | 0.20% |
| 37 | DIVIFranklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +13.3% | 15.5% | 0.89 | −27.7% | +182% | 0.53 | 0.09% |
| 38 | ACWViShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +6.4% | 10.3% | 0.66 | −28.8% | +119% | 0.66 | 0.20% |
| 39 | ACIOAptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF · Hedged Equity | Whole market | +9.1% | 11.2% | 0.84 | −14.2% | — | 0.37 | 0.79% |
| 40 | SCHYSchwab International Dividend Equity ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +9.5% | 13.3% | 0.76 | −24.0% | — | 0.60 | 0.08% |
| 41 | FJUNFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - June · S&P 500 Buffer | Whole market | +10.4% | 10.6% | 0.99 | −13.3% | — | 0.44 | 0.85% |
| 42 | EEMViShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF · Emerging Markets Equity | Whole market | +5.0% | 12.9% | 0.45 | −31.6% | +71.9% | 0.26 | 0.25% |
| 43 | FLBLFranklin Senior Loan ETF · Bank Loans | Whole market | +5.2% | 3.9% | 1.35 | −19.5% | — | 0.18 | 0.45% |
| 44 | QDPLPacer Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +11.6% | 15.0% | 0.81 | −22.6% | — | 0.36 | 0.60% |
| 45 | QVMLInvesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF · US Multifactor Equity | Whole market | +12.8% | 16.6% | 0.81 | −23.5% | — | 0.39 | 0.11% |
| 46 | IHDGWisdomTree International Hedged Quality Dividend Growth Fund · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +7.4% | 14.9% | 0.56 | −29.2% | +163% | 0.47 | 0.58% |
| 47 | IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +12.9% | 16.8% | 0.81 | −29.6% | +157% | 0.51 | 0.37% |
| 48 | FFLCFidelity Fundamental Large Cap Core ETF · Active Core Equity | Whole market | +15.5% | 16.8% | 0.94 | −19.7% | — | 0.38 | 0.38% |
| 49 | LQDHiShares Interest Rate Hedged Corporate Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | Whole market | +5.2% | 4.4% | 1.20 | −24.6% | +55.7% | 0.23 | 0.44% |
| 50 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +11.6% | 15.8% | 0.78 | −29.7% | +158% | 0.56 | 0.36% |
| 51 | PTNQPacer Trendpilot 100 ETF · Tactical Asset Allocation | Whole market | +9.4% | 14.2% | 0.70 | −28.1% | +292% | 0.09 | 0.65% |
| 52 | FTQIFirst Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF · Nasdaq Options Income | Whole market | +11.4% | 14.8% | 0.81 | −19.5% | +118% | 0.24 | 0.75% |
| 53 | PJUNInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - June · S&P 500 Buffer | Whole market | +6.8% | 8.3% | 0.83 | −16.3% | — | 0.43 | 0.79% |
| 54 | FLSPFranklin Systematic Style Premia ETF · Liquid Alternatives | Whole market | +8.6% | 13.4% | 0.69 | −22.9% | — | 0.12 | 0.65% |
| 55 | SIXHETC 6 Meridian Hedged Equity Index Option ETF · Hedged Equity | Whole market | +10.3% | 10.3% | 1.01 | −11.7% | — | 0.63 | 0.31% |
| 56 | SMIGBahl & Gaynor Small/Mid Cap Income Growth ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +6.5% | 16.0% | 0.48 | −19.7% | — | 0.58 | 0.60% |
| 57 | SIXAETC 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +12.9% | 12.7% | 1.02 | −18.4% | — | 0.63 | 0.31% |
| 58 | QEFAState Street SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF · International Multifactor Equity | Whole market | +8.5% | 14.8% | 0.63 | −30.8% | +143% | 0.55 | 0.30% |
| 59 | QSPTFT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - September · Nasdaq-100 Buffer | Whole market | +11.9% | 14.9% | 0.83 | −22.6% | — | 0.23 | 0.90% |
| 60 | VSLUApplied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +13.7% | 16.2% | 0.88 | −23.8% | — | 0.42 | 0.49% |
| 61 | CMDYiShares Bloomberg Roll Select Commodity Strategy ETF · Broad Commodities | Whole market | +9.8% | 15.6% | 0.68 | −31.2% | — | 0.04 | 0.29% |
| 62 | SSUSStrategy Shares Day Hagan Smart Sector ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +10.3% | 15.4% | 0.71 | −23.8% | — | 0.31 | 0.77% |
| 63 | WTPIWisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund · Equity Income | Whole market | +8.9% | 12.2% | 0.77 | −28.4% | +119% | 0.34 | 0.44% |
| 64 | RSPHInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF · Health Care Equity | Whole market | +6.1% | 16.8% | 0.44 | −30.4% | +181% | 0.53 | 0.40% |
| 65 | CDCVictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +6.5% | 12.6% | 0.56 | −21.4% | +174% | 0.54 | 0.38% |
| 66 | LGHHCM Defender 500 Index ETF · Tactical Asset Allocation | Whole market | +9.2% | 16.7% | 0.61 | −29.6% | — | 0.22 | 1.00% |
| 67 | IDUBAptus International Enhanced Yield ETF · Equity Income | Whole market | +5.7% | 14.9% | 0.44 | −29.2% | — | 0.41 | 0.44% |
| 68 |  SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +10.2% | 14.4% | 0.75 | −33.4% | +256% | 0.59 | 0.06% |
| 69 |  VTVanguard Total World Stock ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +10.1% | 16.2% | 0.68 | −34.2% | +220% | 0.42 | 0.06% |
| 70 |  RSPInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +8.4% | 16.1% | 0.58 | −39.0% | +214% | 0.55 | 0.20% |
| 71 | VOEVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF · Mid-Cap Value | Whole market | +9.7% | 15.8% | 0.67 | −43.2% | +185% | 0.57 | 0.05% |
| 72 | FNDFSchwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF · International Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 16.3% | 0.87 | −40.2% | +193% | 0.50 | 0.25% |
| 73 | HDViShares Core High Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield | Whole market | +13.3% | 13.0% | 1.03 | −37.0% | +177% | 0.65 | 0.08% |
| 74 | FTSFortis Inc. · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +9.5% | 16.5% | 0.63 | −34.3% | +162% | 0.64 | — |
| 75 | DGRWWisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +11.7% | 14.0% | 0.87 | −32.0% | +271% | 0.56 | 0.28% |
| 76 | USMViShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF · US Low-Volatility Equity | Whole market | +7.7% | 12.3% | 0.66 | −33.1% | +179% | 0.64 | 0.15% |
| 77 | SDYState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +8.1% | 14.0% | 0.63 | −36.7% | +163% | 0.68 | 0.35% |
| 78 | SCHVSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +10.3% | 14.4% | 0.75 | −37.1% | +196% | 0.54 | 0.04% |
| 79 | FDVVFidelity High Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield | Whole market | +13.4% | 14.6% | 0.94 | −40.2% | +255% | 0.51 | 0.15% |
| 80 | AQNBAlgonquin Power & Utilities Corp. · Junior Subordinated Debt | Whole market | +5.6% | 11.6% | 0.53 | −42.7% | — | -0.16 | — |
| 81 | DBEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +12.9% | 13.8% | 0.95 | −32.5% | +204% | 0.49 | 0.35% |
| 82 | FDLFirst Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund · High Dividend Yield | Whole market | +14.6% | 14.5% | 1.02 | −41.4% | +207% | 0.63 | 0.43% |
| 83 | JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +13.5% | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | — | 0.46 | 0.12% |
| 84 | KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Nonalcoholic Beverages | Popular alternative | +15.2% | 16.8% | 0.93 | −37.0% | +205% | 0.60 | — |
| 85 | BBCAJPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +11.5% | 16.7% | 0.74 | −42.8% | — | 0.53 | 0.19% |
| 86 | IGFiShares Global Infrastructure ETF · Infrastructure Equity | Whole market | +9.3% | 13.9% | 0.71 | −42.1% | +115% | 0.60 | 0.37% |
| 87 | IDViShares International Select Dividend ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +12.7% | 15.5% | 0.85 | −42.5% | +159% | 0.48 | 0.50% |
| 88 | FNDESchwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF · Emerging Markets Equity | Whole market | +9.8% | 17.0% | 0.64 | −39.9% | +144% | 0.29 | 0.39% |
| 89 | VSSVanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF · International Small-Cap Equity | Whole market | +4.7% | 16.7% | 0.36 | −43.5% | +103% | 0.43 | 0.06% |
| 90 | EMLPFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund · Energy Infrastructure | Whole market | +15.2% | 14.5% | 1.06 | −43.6% | +155% | 0.52 | 0.95% |
| 91 | SCZiShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF · International Small-Cap Equity | Whole market | +4.8% | 16.8% | 0.36 | −41.1% | +113% | 0.47 | 0.40% |
| 92 | GCOWPacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +14.4% | 13.6% | 1.06 | −37.6% | +170% | 0.58 | 0.60% |
| 93 | FTCSFirst Trust Capital Strength ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +6.5% | 13.3% | 0.54 | −31.9% | +191% | 0.68 | 0.53% |
| 94 | SPLVInvesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF · US Low-Volatility Equity | Whole market | +5.8% | 12.6% | 0.51 | −36.3% | +133% | 0.72 | 0.25% |
| 95 | TXNMTXNM Energy, Inc. · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +7.3% | 14.9% | 0.55 | −46.4% | +152% | 0.14 | — |
| 96 | FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Broad Commodities | Whole market | +13.1% | 15.6% | 0.87 | −35.9% | +135% | 0.02 | 0.98% |
| 97 | WTVWisdomTree U.S. Value Fund · US Value Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 17.0% | 0.84 | −42.2% | +306% | 0.49 | 0.12% |
| 98 | DEMWisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund · International Equity | Whole market | +9.6% | 15.5% | 0.67 | −37.8% | +128% | 0.20 | 0.63% |
| 99 | FTHIFirst Trust BuyWrite Income ETF · Covered Call Income | Whole market | +10.0% | 13.3% | 0.79 | −32.6% | +124% | 0.39 | 0.75% |
| 100 | PWVInvesco Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +13.7% | 14.2% | 0.98 | −37.6% | +226% | 0.52 | 0.55% |
MCD against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against MCD, compared period by period and year by year.
How do MCD's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at MCD, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- Only KO was both more rewarding and calmer than MCD over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- 14 of the 23 popular alternatives earned less than MCD over the past 5 years while swinging more, the weaker corner of the map.
- Over the past 5 years, MCD returned 3.5% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.5%, with higher volatility (18.0% against 17.2%).
Green points earned more than MCD with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| EAT Brinker International, Inc. | +33.6% | 48.8% |
| CAKE The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated | +24.4% | 39.9% |
| USFD US Foods Holding Corp. | +23.3% | 29.8% |
| TXRH Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | +16.1% | 30.5% |
| KO The Coca-Cola Company | +15.2% | 16.8% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.5% | 17.2% |
| DRI Darden Restaurants, Inc. | +12.0% | 27.2% |
| QSR Restaurant Brands International Inc. | +8.0% | 23.1% |
| YUM Yum! Brands, Inc. | +6.1% | 21.2% |
| SYY Sysco Corporation | +4.0% | 23.7% |
| MCD This pageMcDonald's Corporation | +3.5% | 18.0% |
| LW Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | +0.6% | 38.0% |
| PEP PepsiCo, Inc. | +0.4% | 19.1% |
| SBUX Starbucks Corporation | 0.0% | 31.9% |
| SHAK Shake Shack Inc. | −0.8% | 52.2% |
| YUMC Yum China Holdings, Inc. | −4.4% | 37.3% |
| CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | −4.7% | 35.1% |
| WING Wingstop Inc. | −5.8% | 52.9% |
| DPZ Domino's Pizza, Inc. | −5.9% | 30.2% |
| BROS Dutch Bros Inc. | −9.5% | 61.5% |
| BLMN Bloomin' Brands, Inc. | −11.2% | 58.6% |
| DIN Dine Brands Global, Inc. | −13.6% | 44.3% |
| WEN The Wendy's Company | −18.1% | 36.6% |
| PZZA Papa John's International, Inc. | −29.2% | 43.1% |
| JACK Jack in the Box Inc. | −34.0% | 52.3% |
Has MCD consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares MCD with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than MCD helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Nine of the 25 popular alternatives, led by DRI, USFD and KO, outperformed MCD in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- DRI, USFD and KO outperformed MCD in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than MCD over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| MCD McDonald's Corporation (this page) | — | +0.9% | −3.5% | −14.6% | −15.1% | −16.4% | +6.6% | +19.0% | +181% | 18.0% | 0.28 | −36.9% | — | $179B | — |
| DRI QualifiedDarden Restaurants, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.7% | +13.1% | +10.7% | +19.9% | +19.8% | +69.0% | +76.6% | +357% | 27.2% | 0.56 | −72.8% | — | $25B | — |
| USFD QualifiedUS Foods Holding Corp. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.5% | +8.3% | +12.8% | +39.4% | +37.4% | +181% | +185% | +353% | 29.8% | 0.85 | −77.3% | — | $23B | — |
| KO QualifiedThe Coca-Cola Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +7.6% | +16.7% | +29.3% | +40.6% | +38.2% | +92.2% | +103% | +205% | 16.8% | 0.93 | −37.0% | — | $410B | — |
| YUM QualifiedYum! Brands, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.5% | +5.2% | −1.9% | +4.1% | +6.8% | +37.8% | +34.2% | +192% | 21.2% | 0.39 | −52.2% | — | $42B | — |
| TXRH QualifiedTexas Roadhouse, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +4.0% | −9.4% | +10.1% | +2.1% | −1.7% | +88.7% | +111% | +408% | 30.5% | 0.64 | −58.0% | — | $11B | — |
| EAT QualifiedBrinker International, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −8.1% | +1.5% | +28.7% | +25.5% | +44.0% | +484% | +326% | +315% | 48.8% | 0.84 | −84.9% | — | $8.0B | — |
| CAKE QualifiedThe Cheesecake Factory Incorporated | 5/5 short2/3 long | +9.1% | +31.6% | +79.1% | +116% | +102% | +296% | +198% | +170% | 39.9% | 0.75 | −75.6% | — | $5.6B | — |
| QSR QualifiedRestaurant Brands International Inc. | 5/5 short2/3 long | +6.3% | +5.3% | −1.5% | +15.7% | +17.0% | +29.1% | +47.0% | +135% | 23.1% | 0.45 | −63.0% | — | $27B | — |
| SYY QualifiedSysco Corporation | 5/5 short2/3 long | +7.5% | +3.0% | +12.7% | +18.1% | +9.9% | +40.3% | +22.0% | +128% | 23.7% | 0.29 | −63.4% | — | $41B | — |
| SBUX RestaurantsStarbucks Corporation | 5/5 short1/3 long | +7.1% | −1.4% | +3.6% | +23.6% | +22.2% | +16.7% | +0.2% | +133% | 31.9% | 0.16 | −43.7% | — | $116B | — |
| CAVA RestaurantsCAVA Group, Inc. | 3/5 short1/3 long | +3.8% | −12.3% | −43.5% | −9.7% | −15.0% | +64.5% | — | — | — | — | −71.1% | — | $6.4B | — |
| SHAK RestaurantsShake Shack Inc. | 2/5 short1/3 long | +16.9% | +21.3% | −31.5% | −18.7% | −25.3% | +22.1% | −4.0% | +106% | 52.2% | 0.24 | −70.9% | — | $2.7B | — |
| WING RestaurantsWingstop Inc. | 1/5 short1/3 long | +18.1% | −12.2% | −36.0% | −52.6% | −53.7% | −31.0% | −25.6% | +415% | 52.9% | 0.15 | −76.9% | — | $3.3B | — |
| BROS RestaurantsDutch Bros Inc. | 1/5 short1/3 long | +7.7% | −35.7% | −25.5% | −32.8% | −26.9% | +70.8% | −39.4% | — | 61.5% | 0.14 | −70.1% | — | $7.8B | — |
| CMG RestaurantsChipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | 0/5 short1/3 long | −13.8% | −12.6% | −19.9% | −24.9% | −32.4% | −22.7% | −21.5% | +240% | 35.1% | 0.04 | −59.0% | — | $36B | — |
| YUMC RestaurantsYum China Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +7.6% | +3.7% | −6.4% | −5.4% | +1.8% | −8.0% | −20.0% | +98.6% | 37.3% | 0.07 | −56.5% | — | $15B | — |
| PEP Beverages - Non-AlcoholicPepsiCo, Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +5.8% | +3.4% | −7.8% | +0.6% | −5.6% | −3.4% | +2.1% | +76.3% | 19.1% | 0.12 | −30.3% | — | $189B | — |
| BLMN RestaurantsBloomin' Brands, Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +20.1% | +21.9% | +55.5% | +60.9% | +33.1% | −50.1% | −44.9% | −24.9% | 58.6% | 0.08 | −80.5% | — | $879M | — |
| LW Packaged FoodsLamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +19.0% | +15.8% | +24.6% | +33.7% | −12.1% | −32.0% | +2.9% | — | 38.0% | 0.22 | −64.6% | — | $7.6B | — |
| SG RestaurantsSweetgreen, Inc. | 5/5 short0/3 long | +33.2% | +62.2% | +49.9% | +47.5% | +29.4% | −5.5% | — | — | — | — | −91.1% | — | $1.2B | — |
| DIN RestaurantsDine Brands Global, Inc. | 4/5 short0/3 long | +11.4% | −7.9% | +10.1% | −2.3% | +13.8% | −25.8% | −51.9% | −39.8% | 44.3% | -0.11 | −83.3% | — | $403M | — |
| DPZ RestaurantsDomino's Pizza, Inc. | 3/5 short0/3 long | +6.9% | −0.1% | −12.1% | −24.0% | −23.6% | −4.2% | −26.3% | +115% | 30.2% | -0.05 | −47.8% | — | $10B | — |
| WEN RestaurantsThe Wendy's Company | 1/5 short0/3 long | −3.5% | −10.5% | −5.1% | −15.9% | −24.1% | −58.8% | −63.1% | −16.9% | 36.6% | -0.37 | −73.0% | — | $1.3B | — |
| PZZA RestaurantsPapa John's International, Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −8.5% | −41.6% | −50.2% | −52.4% | −63.3% | −67.5% | −82.2% | −71.3% | 43.1% | -0.59 | −84.9% | — | $614M | — |
| JACK RestaurantsJack in the Box Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −14.9% | −19.9% | −18.0% | −39.0% | −37.4% | −81.2% | −87.4% | −85.9% | 52.3% | -0.54 | −91.5% | — | $219M | — |
How did MCD do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where MCD ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with MCD and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
- MCD finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 13 of its 29 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last three.
- Among its popular alternatives, WING came out ahead of MCD most often, in seven of the ten years both traded.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, MCD finished in the top quarter in nine of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in eight. In 2025, it ranked 9 of 26.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of MCD; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places MCD among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of MCD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCD This pageMcDonald's Corporation | — | +7.9% | +0.1% | +15.1% | +0.5% | +27.8% | +11.3% | +14.0% | +5.8% | +44.0% | +6.2% | +30.4% | −0.1% | +13.6% | −9.3% | +34.7% | +26.9% | +4.0% | +8.6% | +36.4% | +34.6% | +7.4% | +31.5% | +56.9% | −38.4% | −21.5% | −15.1% | +5.4% | +61.7% | +6.0% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 9 of 29 | 9 of 26 | 17 of 26 | 14 of 25 | 7 of 25 | 7 of 23 | 12 of 23 | 17 of 23 | 12 of 23 | 3 of 23 | 14 of 20 | 2 of 18 | 16 of 17 | 17 of 17 | 14 of 16 | 5 of 16 | 10 of 16 | 14 of 16 | 1 of 16 | 2 of 16 | 3 of 15 | 9 of 15 | 5 of 13 | 3 of 13 | 13 of 13 | 12 of 13 | 13 of 13 | 4 of 13 | 3 of 13 | 10 of 12 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 16 of 29 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +12.0% | +1.2% | +13.5% | +32.3% | +16.0% | +1.9% | +15.1% | +26.4% | −36.8% | +5.1% | +15.9% | +4.8% | +10.7% | +28.2% | −21.6% | −11.7% | −9.8% | +20.4% | +28.7% | +33.5% |
| DRI Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +1.6% | +17.7% | +22.8% | −4.8% | +29.5% | +10.5% | +12.3% | +6.9% | +36.0% | +18.2% | +25.4% | +12.7% | +26.0% | +2.6% | +1.3% | +36.2% | +28.0% | +4.4% | −30.1% | +4.4% | +41.3% | +32.3% | +3.3% | −13.1% | +55.3% | +26.7% | +0.9% | +44.9% | +44.4% |
| USFD US Foods Holding Corp. | 4 of 9 | +11.7% | +48.6% | +33.5% | −2.3% | +4.6% | −20.5% | +32.4% | −0.9% | +16.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| KO The Coca-Cola Company | 12 of 29 | +15.6% | +8.9% | −4.4% | +10.6% | +11.4% | +2.5% | +20.6% | +6.8% | +14.3% | −0.3% | +5.2% | +5.3% | +17.2% | +6.5% | +9.5% | +19.0% | +30.4% | −24.0% | +30.4% | +23.2% | −0.8% | −16.2% | +18.2% | −5.5% | −21.9% | +6.1% | −12.2% | +1.3% | +27.9% |
| YUM Yum! Brands, Inc. | 14 of 28 | +14.9% | +4.7% | +3.9% | −6.0% | +30.1% | +9.8% | +11.4% | +14.6% | +31.1% | +23.4% | +2.5% | −1.6% | +16.2% | +14.7% | +22.8% | +43.3% | +13.8% | −16.0% | +32.3% | +26.8% | +0.2% | +37.7% | +42.2% | −1.5% | +49.0% | −14.5% | −22.9% | +72.3% | — |
| TXRH Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | 11 of 21 | −6.6% | +49.8% | +37.1% | +4.2% | +15.7% | +39.8% | −3.6% | +15.1% | +10.2% | +37.1% | +8.0% | +24.1% | +68.9% | +15.2% | −11.3% | +52.8% | +45.1% | −30.0% | −16.5% | −14.8% | +5.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EAT Brinker International, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +8.5% | +206% | +35.3% | −12.8% | −35.3% | +36.1% | −0.9% | +17.3% | −18.4% | +6.0% | −16.4% | +29.2% | +52.8% | +18.6% | +31.5% | +44.0% | +46.1% | −44.0% | −34.3% | +18.3% | +10.5% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +8.4% | +5.7% | +75.2% | −16.5% | +80.7% | 0.0% |
| CAKE The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated | 14 of 29 | +8.6% | +39.3% | +14.0% | −17.0% | +5.6% | −3.6% | −7.8% | −7.4% | −18.5% | +32.1% | −7.0% | +5.7% | +49.5% | +12.3% | −4.3% | +42.0% | +114% | −57.4% | −3.6% | −34.2% | +15.2% | +10.6% | +21.8% | +4.0% | +35.9% | +64.5% | +17.9% | +46.0% | +68.4% |
| QSR Restaurant Brands International Inc. | 5 of 11 | +8.6% | −13.8% | +24.7% | +10.7% | +2.7% | −0.3% | +25.6% | −12.1% | +30.7% | +29.4% | −3.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SYY Sysco Corporation | 12 of 29 | −1.0% | +7.4% | −1.7% | −0.3% | +8.3% | −10.4% | +39.6% | +5.5% | +12.5% | +38.8% | +5.8% | +13.4% | +18.9% | +11.9% | +3.5% | +8.0% | +26.7% | −23.5% | −13.2% | +21.0% | −17.3% | +3.7% | +26.8% | +15.6% | −11.7% | +53.5% | +45.6% | +22.1% | +41.8% |
| SBUX Starbucks Corporation | 16 of 29 | −5.3% | −2.5% | −1.2% | −13.2% | +11.1% | +24.2% | +39.1% | +14.7% | +5.4% | −6.1% | +48.1% | +6.2% | +48.1% | +18.4% | +45.3% | +41.4% | +144% | −53.7% | −42.2% | +18.1% | −3.8% | +88.1% | +62.3% | +7.2% | −13.8% | +82.4% | −13.6% | +46.0% | +34.4% |
| CAVA CAVA Group, Inc. | 1 of 2 | −48.0% | +162% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SHAK Shake Shack Inc. | 4 of 10 | −37.5% | +75.1% | +78.5% | −42.4% | −14.9% | +42.3% | +31.1% | +5.1% | +20.7% | −9.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| WING Wingstop Inc. | 7 of 10 | −15.7% | +11.1% | +87.3% | −17.0% | +30.9% | +60.4% | +35.0% | +86.1% | +32.3% | +44.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BROS Dutch Bros Inc. | 2 of 4 | +16.9% | +65.4% | +12.3% | −44.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | 11 of 19 | −38.6% | +31.8% | +64.8% | −20.6% | +26.1% | +65.6% | +93.8% | +49.5% | −23.4% | −21.4% | −29.9% | +28.4% | +79.2% | −11.8% | +58.8% | +141% | +41.9% | −57.8% | +158% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| YUMC Yum China Holdings, Inc. | 5 of 9 | +1.1% | +15.4% | −21.6% | +10.8% | −12.0% | +19.5% | +44.8% | −15.3% | +53.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PEP PepsiCo, Inc. | 12 of 29 | −1.8% | −7.6% | −3.3% | +6.8% | +20.5% | +11.7% | +27.4% | −4.8% | +17.8% | +7.8% | +8.8% | +17.3% | +24.6% | +6.4% | +4.8% | +10.7% | +14.6% | −26.0% | +23.8% | +7.9% | +15.3% | +13.8% | +12.1% | −12.2% | −0.6% | +42.6% | −12.4% | +14.3% | +25.7% |
| BLMN Bloomin' Brands, Inc. | 5 of 13 | −46.6% | −54.4% | +45.5% | −1.6% | +8.1% | −11.1% | +25.9% | −14.8% | +20.5% | +8.4% | −31.0% | +3.1% | +53.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LW Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | 5 of 9 | −35.7% | −37.0% | +22.3% | +42.9% | −18.4% | −7.2% | +18.3% | +31.8% | +51.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SG Sweetgreen, Inc. | 2 of 4 | −78.9% | +184% | +31.9% | −73.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DIN Dine Brands Global, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +14.2% | −35.7% | −20.3% | −12.3% | +31.4% | −27.3% | +28.2% | +37.3% | −28.4% | −5.0% | −15.2% | +28.6% | +29.9% | +58.7% | −14.5% | +103% | +110% | −66.3% | −29.4% | +14.7% | +14.6% | +11.8% | +64.3% | −18.1% | +35.1% | +29.8% | −16.4% | +22.9% | +37.5% |
| DPZ Domino's Pizza, Inc. | 14 of 21 | +0.9% | +3.2% | +20.7% | −37.9% | +48.4% | +31.6% | +19.6% | +32.4% | +19.8% | +44.7% | +19.5% | +36.9% | +62.1% | +38.6% | +113% | +90.4% | +78.0% | −64.5% | −18.9% | +17.9% | +38.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| WEN The Wendy's Company | 10 of 29 | −45.8% | −11.5% | −9.6% | −2.8% | +11.0% | +0.1% | +45.4% | −3.1% | +23.7% | +28.2% | +22.0% | +6.1% | +90.3% | −10.2% | +18.2% | 0.0% | −4.0% | −40.0% | −58.9% | +34.9% | +31.4% | +12.7% | +37.2% | +7.9% | +0.2% | +31.8% | +15.8% | −41.8% | +137% |
| PZZA Papa John's International, Inc. | 12 of 29 | −2.0% | −44.2% | −5.3% | −37.3% | +58.9% | +35.9% | +61.5% | −27.8% | −33.7% | +55.0% | +1.1% | +24.4% | +66.5% | +45.8% | +36.0% | +18.6% | +26.7% | −18.8% | −21.7% | −2.3% | +72.3% | +3.1% | +19.8% | +1.5% | +23.7% | −14.8% | −40.9% | +26.4% | +3.4% |
| JACK Jack in the Box Inc. | 12 of 29 | −53.8% | −47.3% | +22.2% | −20.2% | −4.1% | +20.8% | +2.5% | −19.4% | −10.7% | +47.8% | −2.8% | +61.4% | +74.9% | +36.8% | −1.1% | +7.4% | −10.9% | −14.3% | −15.6% | +74.7% | −5.2% | +72.6% | +23.5% | −37.2% | −6.5% | +42.3% | −6.2% | +46.4% | +69.8% |
Risk and diversification
How MCD has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were MCD's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents MCD's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
- In all three of MCD's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: MCD fell 31.0% from February to October 2026, while the S&P 500 rose 14.2%.
- The slowest recovery came after MCD fell 73.7% from November 1999 to March 2003; it did not regain that peak until December 2006, four years later.
Green means MCD fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | MCD fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dot-com bust | −73.7% | −39.5% | Nov 1999 | Mar 2003 | 3.3 years | Dec 2006 | 3.8 years |
| No named crash | −40.3% | — | Aug 1987 | Oct 1987 | 2 months | May 1989 | 19 months |
| Covid crash | −36.9% | −24.0% | Sep 2019 | Mar 2020 | 6 months | Sep 2020 | 6 months |
| No named crash | −33.6% | — | Jul 1990 | Oct 1990 | 3 months | Dec 1991 | 14 months |
| No named crash | −31.0% | +14.2% | Feb 2026 | Oct 2026 | 8 months | Not yet | — |
How did MCD do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far MCD, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
- None of its popular alternatives fell less than MCD in most of the crashes they both traded through.
- MCD fell less than the S&P 500 in six of the ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when MCD fell 21.4% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than MCD.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCD This pageMcDonald's Corporation | — | −1.4% | −17.2% | −36.1% | −9.7% | −6.1% | −9.8% | −7.3% | −2.0% | −21.4% | −57.1% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 3 of 10 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| DRI Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 3 of 10 | −1.2% | −25.0% | −71.8% | −14.8% | −4.9% | −16.3% | −22.1% | −0.7% | −69.0% | −32.4% |
| USFD US Foods Holding Corp. | 0 of 5 | −6.6% | −32.8% | −75.6% | −10.6% | −6.6% | — | — | — | — | — |
| KO The Coca-Cola Company | 5 of 10 | −1.4% | −16.7% | −37.0% | −8.8% | −7.8% | −8.8% | −8.3% | 0.0% | −40.6% | −31.3% |
| YUM Yum! Brands, Inc. | 3 of 10 | −1.7% | −22.2% | −46.3% | −6.9% | −7.7% | −24.7% | −12.3% | −1.1% | −45.5% | −33.0% |
| TXRH Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | 1 of 9 | −2.7% | −25.9% | −57.2% | −19.2% | −5.2% | −13.3% | −28.6% | −2.5% | −66.1% | — |
| EAT Brinker International, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −10.0% | −49.2% | −81.0% | −19.5% | −7.4% | −21.7% | −21.9% | −0.6% | −85.6% | −30.5% |
| CAKE The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated | 1 of 10 | −7.0% | −38.5% | −62.4% | −20.7% | −9.8% | −20.3% | −22.5% | −2.7% | −78.5% | −40.0% |
| QSR Restaurant Brands International Inc. | 1 of 6 | −3.3% | −23.5% | −56.9% | −13.9% | −4.7% | −29.5% | — | — | — | — |
| SYY Sysco Corporation | 3 of 10 | −2.3% | −20.8% | −59.5% | −17.8% | −6.8% | −6.4% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −43.1% | −27.2% |
| SBUX Starbucks Corporation | 3 of 10 | −3.3% | −38.4% | −37.5% | −11.4% | −3.0% | −14.2% | −15.5% | −0.6% | −73.2% | −44.1% |
| SHAK Shake Shack Inc. | 1 of 6 | −7.8% | −51.7% | −57.6% | −34.9% | −5.6% | −54.8% | — | — | — | — |
| WING Wingstop Inc. | 1 of 6 | −3.2% | −58.1% | −50.8% | −18.8% | −2.3% | −35.2% | — | — | — | — |
| BROS Dutch Bros Inc. | 0 of 2 | −8.8% | −60.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | 1 of 9 | 0.0% | −26.9% | −50.2% | −21.4% | −18.0% | −46.4% | −18.6% | −1.9% | −74.6% | — |
| YUMC Yum China Holdings, Inc. | 1 of 5 | −3.4% | −32.0% | −14.6% | −13.3% | −11.5% | — | — | — | — | — |
| PEP PepsiCo, Inc. | 5 of 10 | −0.8% | −11.9% | −28.3% | −12.3% | −7.2% | −10.2% | −8.3% | −0.2% | −40.4% | −33.0% |
| BLMN Bloomin' Brands, Inc. | 1 of 6 | −7.7% | −34.0% | −79.2% | −21.0% | −5.4% | −28.2% | — | — | — | — |
| LW Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | 1 of 5 | −3.6% | −28.6% | −52.8% | −14.2% | −4.3% | — | — | — | — | — |
| SG Sweetgreen, Inc. | 0 of 2 | −13.0% | −70.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DIN Dine Brands Global, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −8.1% | −24.9% | −82.6% | −27.1% | −2.8% | −20.6% | −36.0% | −4.8% | −91.3% | −38.6% |
| DPZ Domino's Pizza, Inc. | 1 of 9 | −3.8% | −43.1% | −23.1% | −20.3% | −7.4% | −11.5% | −14.8% | −5.9% | −83.3% | — |
| WEN The Wendy's Company | 2 of 10 | −5.0% | −32.8% | −68.6% | −16.5% | −3.6% | −15.8% | −19.9% | −4.9% | −78.3% | −22.0% |
| PZZA Papa John's International, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −6.3% | −45.6% | −48.7% | −31.1% | −7.9% | −38.5% | −13.0% | −1.0% | −57.0% | −43.7% |
| JACK Jack in the Box Inc. | 2 of 10 | −9.2% | −41.4% | −79.1% | −14.4% | −7.5% | −20.7% | −21.3% | −1.2% | −64.4% | −40.2% |
How closely does MCD move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares MCD with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- Over the past 10 years, MCD captured 58% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 52% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.52. That is a defensive profile: it gave up some of the market's upside in exchange for smaller losses.
- Only KO and TXRH had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than MCD's 1.11, out of 20 popular alternatives with the same record.
- KO took just 44% of the S&P 500's losses, against 52% for MCD, while still keeping 57% of its gains.
Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than MCD's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCD This pageMcDonald's Corporation | 58% | 52% | 1.11 | 0.52 |
| KO The Coca-Cola Company | 57% | 44% | 1.29 | 0.47 |
| TXRH Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | 93% | 78% | 1.19 | 0.94 |
| DRI Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 96% | 92% | 1.05 | 1.06 |
| USFD US Foods Holding Corp. | 100% | 103% | 0.97 | 1.29 |
| YUM Yum! Brands, Inc. | 67% | 70% | 0.96 | 0.82 |
| CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | 103% | 111% | 0.92 | 1.16 |
| WING Wingstop Inc. | 123% | 137% | 0.90 | 1.57 |
| QSR Restaurant Brands International Inc. | 67% | 78% | 0.85 | 0.83 |
| EAT Brinker International, Inc. | 139% | 168% | 0.83 | 1.98 |
| CAKE The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated | 85% | 104% | 0.82 | 1.35 |
| DPZ Domino's Pizza, Inc. | 77% | 98% | 0.79 | 0.75 |
| SYY Sysco Corporation | 76% | 100% | 0.76 | 1.02 |
| SBUX Starbucks Corporation | 81% | 107% | 0.76 | 0.94 |
| PEP PepsiCo, Inc. | 48% | 65% | 0.75 | 0.48 |
| SHAK Shake Shack Inc. | 85% | 131% | 0.65 | 1.68 |
| WEN The Wendy's Company | 32% | 78% | 0.42 | 0.68 |
| BLMN Bloomin' Brands, Inc. | 70% | 173% | 0.40 | 1.70 |
| DIN Dine Brands Global, Inc. | 76% | 189% | 0.40 | 1.52 |
| JACK Jack in the Box Inc. | 49% | 214% | 0.23 | 1.61 |
| PZZA Papa John's International, Inc. | 32% | 141% | 0.22 | 1.08 |
What diversifies MCD?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with MCD's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing MCD with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in MCD into DXJ would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 15% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+1.5% for MCD alone, +6.5% for the mix).
- MCK made money in four of the five calendar years in which MCD lost money.
- Among large ETFs, DXJ, MLPX and DBEF have moved largely independently of MCD over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.49 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which MCD lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% MCD and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2014 | 2012 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCD McDonald's Corporation (this page) | 1.00 | +19.0% | 0.28 | −0.1% | −9.3% | −38.4% | −21.5% | −15.1% | 17.9% | +1.5% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.28 | +225% | 1.34 | +8.1% | +19.6% | — | — | — | 15.3% | +6.5% |
| MLPX EnergyGlobal X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF | 0.43 | +138% | 0.98 | +16.2% | — | — | — | — | 16.3% | +5.3% |
| DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.49 | +83.6% | 0.95 | +3.4% | +20.9% | — | — | — | 15.6% | +4.0% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.00 | +304% | 0.94 | +30.2% | +8.6% | −47.0% | −14.6% | — | 15.9% | +9.1% |
| XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.31 | +178% | 0.94 | −8.7% | +5.2% | −14.8% | −18.2% | +24.4% | 16.7% | +6.1% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.28 | +120% | 0.93 | −2.2% | +6.6% | — | — | — | 15.7% | +5.0% |
| DFIV InternationalDimensional - International Value ETF | 0.49 | +99.4% | 0.93 | — | — | — | — | — | 16.1% | +4.4% |
| VLUE Broad MarketiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 0.32 | +112% | 0.91 | +12.8% | — | — | — | — | 16.1% | +4.9% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2014 | 2012 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCD McDonald's Corporation (this page) | 1.00 | +19.0% | 0.28 | −0.1% | −9.3% | −38.4% | −21.5% | −15.1% | 17.9% | +1.5% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.41 | +471% | 1.54 | +23.0% | +3.8% | −8.3% | −2.5% | +108% | 17.2% | +8.5% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | -0.11 | +2,780% | 1.43 | +12.9% | +11.2% | −65.1% | −25.6% | −2.3% | 17.5% | +21.1% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | 0.33 | +397% | 1.41 | +29.3% | +25.6% | −27.2% | +4.9% | +61.2% | 16.7% | +8.0% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.26 | +1,452% | 1.41 | −10.4% | +15.7% | −9.4% | +73.7% | −71.1% | 18.8% | +16.7% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.04 | +660% | 1.39 | +0.4% | +94.3% | — | — | — | 16.0% | +10.7% |
Common questions
What was MCD's worst drawdown?
MCD's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 73.7%, from November 1999 to March 2003. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.
What were MCD's best and worst years?
Over 29 full calendar years, MCD's best year was 1998, when it returned 61.7%. Its worst was 2002, with a return of -38.4%.
Is there a better investment than MCD?
Among MCD's popular alternatives, KO earned more than MCD with less volatility over the past 5 years: 15.2% a year at 16.8% volatility, against 3.5% a year at 18.0%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, MNST (nonalcoholic beverages) earned more for the risk it took than MCD over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 30.4%, against 36.9% for MCD.
Is MCD more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. MCD's volatility over the past 5 years was 18.0%, 1.0 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, MCD's return lands within 18.0% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is MCD's Sharpe ratio?
MCD's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.28, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so MCD earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is MCD with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, MCD's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.38 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against MCD instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a MCD holding.
What are the best alternatives to MCD?
Of the 25 popular alternatives we compared, nine outperformed MCD in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: DRI, USFD and KO.
Did MCD outperform the S&P 500?
MCD finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 13 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +7.9%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did MCD do in stock market crashes?
MCD fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in six of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in three. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when MCD fell 21.4% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
What diversifies MCD?
These had a low correlation with MCD over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.28), MLPX (correlation 0.43) and DBEF (correlation 0.49); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.41), CLS (correlation -0.11) and MCK (correlation 0.33). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than MCD's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of MCD's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
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