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MCD vs SBUX

Total return with dividends reinvested · 5Y

Open chart
MCDMcDonald's CorporationSBUXStarbucks Corporation
-32%-16%0%+16%+32%+48%10-25’2108-23’2206-22’2304-19’2402-19’2512-16MCD +16.7%SBUX -2.7%lopjlb.com
MCD
SBUX

Return and risk 5Y

Ticker$10K becameTotalPer yearVolatilityWorst dropOff high nowBest yearWorst yearYears upCorr. with MCD
MCD$11,666+16.66%+3.14%17.9%-30.97%-26.38%+14.71% 2023-0.02% 202475%—
SBUX$9,734-2.66%-0.54%31.9%-39.79%-11.00%-0.04% 2024-12.95% 20220%0.31
MCD
$10K became
$11,666
Total
+16.66%
Per year
+3.14%
Volatility
17.9%
Worst drop
-30.97%
Off high now
-26.38%
Best year
+14.71% 2023
Worst year
-0.02% 2024
SBUX
$10K became
$9,734
Total
-2.66%
Per year
-0.54%
Volatility
31.9%
Worst drop
-39.79%
Off high now
-11.00%
Best year
-0.04% 2024
Worst year
-12.95% 2022

Per year is the compound annual growth rate and needs a year of history. Volatility is the yearly spread of daily returns. Best and worst years count full calendar years only.

Drawdown from peak 5Y

0%-20%-40%
2021-102026-10

Correlation of daily returns

MCDSBUXMCD1.000.31SBUX0.311.00

1 moves together, 0 unrelated, negative moves opposite. Lower correlation means more diversification.

Trailing returns up to 5 years

Ticker1Y2Y3Y5Y
MCD————
SBUX————

Calendar-year returns best each year in bold

YearMCDSBUX
No full years in this range yet.

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About this comparison

McDonald's Corporation (MCD) vs Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) total return over 5Y: MCD +16.66%, SBUX -2.66%. As of Oct 21, 2026. Research only.

Desk note, written 2026-10-19. Its figures are as of that date; the tables above are live.

McDonald’s (MCD) closed at $242.7 on 2026-10-19, trading 28.8% below its highs. The company is navigating a shift from buybacks to aggressive capital expenditure, targeting 50,000 restaurants by 2027. While U.S. comparable sales lagged at 0.8% in Q2 2026 due to execution gaps, global system-wide sales grew 4%. MCD’s profile as a Dividend Compounder is supported by a 3.07% yield and a 19.65 TTM P/E, reflecting a value-oriented stance amidst margin pressures. Starbucks (SBUX) closed at $97.87 on 2026-10-19, sitting 9.8% from its peak. The stock faces steeper valuation hurdles with a 56.25 TTM P/E and negative EPS growth of 24.69%. Although the company maintains a 2.53% dividend yield, its quality score of 24.20 contrasts sharply with MCD’s 67.42. On a total-return overlay, MCD delivered a +13.8% five-year return, while SBUX posted a -3.1% return over the same period. This divergence highlights the differing resilience of their respective business models and capital allocation strategies within the consumer cyclical sector.

What does the MCD vs SBUX overlay show?

LOPJLB overlays MCD vs SBUX as total return (dividends and splits) from the first adjusted close in the selected 5Y window. Each path starts at 0% so you can read relative holding performance, not raw tape price.

Is this holding return or tape close?

Holding return. The series uses split- and dividend-adjusted close (Yahoo-style backward adjustment) when dividend coverage is sufficient, otherwise it falls back to tape close. Candles and technical overlays on /chart stay tape.

Which windows are public?

Public visitors can share 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y, and 5Y. MAX is Research+. Direction and regime in the table follow the desk ladder: SPY25 on Free, full book on Essential+.

How do I read the drawdown, period, and annual tables?

Drawdowns are current and worst peak-to-trough on the visible range. Periods are calendar lookbacks (1Y / 2Y / 3Y / 5Y, plus 10Y on MAX) from the last bar. Annual is calendar-year holding return, with the latest year labeled YTD.

How has MCD vs SBUX performed on a normalized basis?

MCD vs SBUX holding-return overlay: 5Y MCD +16.66% · SBUX -2.66%; worst drawdown MCD -30.97% · SBUX -39.79%; YTD MCD -17.20% · SBUX +20.16%. Numbers update from the live compare-series book.

Is ticker compare investment advice?

No. The overlay is research context only — not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

Related: MCD, SBUX, methodology, chart