Chipotle Mexican Grill vs McDonald's: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026
Chipotle Mexican Grill · Consumer Cyclical / Restaurants·McDonald's · Consumer Cyclical / Restaurants
Financial Comparison
| Metric | CMGChipotle Mexican Grill | MCDMcDonald's |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $44.15B | $232.78B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.93B | $26.88B |
| Revenue Growth | 4.9% | 9.7% |
| Gross Margin | 40.1% | 57.4% |
| Operating Margin | 15.2% | 45.1% |
| Net Margin | 12.9% | 31.9% |
| Return on Equity | 47.4% | N/A |
| P/E (Trailing) | 29.3x | 27.3x |
| P/E (Forward) | 24.4x | 22.8x |
| Free Cash Flow | $1.01B | $6.30B |
| Cash | $1.05B | $774.0M |
| Total Debt | $5.08B | $54.83B |
Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Green highlights indicate better performance for that metric. Use the interactive tool for real-time data.
Business Model Comparison
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a leading company in the fast casual restaurants industry. Chipotle Mexican Grill operates approximately 3,700 restaurants in the United States and internationally, generating approximately $11.3 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2024. The Newport Beach-based chain has become the defining success story of fast-casual dining — a category that sits between fa
Full Chipotle Mexican Grill analysis →McDonald's
McDonald's stands as the world's most valuable restaurant brand, serving 70 million customers daily in 100+ countries. Generating $26.88 billion in annual revenue (growing 9.7% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $233.67 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Restaurants landscape. Under the leadership of Chris Kempczyk, McDonald's continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vi…
Full McDonald's analysis →SWOT Analysis Comparison
- See full analysis
- With a market capitalization of $233.67B, McDonald's is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access that smal
- McDonald's's gross margin of 57.4% is well above industry averages, reflecting pricing power, operational efficiency, or a high-value product mix. The operating margin of 45.1% demonstrates discipline
- McDonald's generated $6.30B in free cash flow, providing financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives, return capital to shareholders, or strengthen the balance sheet.
- See full analysis
- With 150,000 employees globally, McDonald's faces inherent challenges in agility, decision-making speed, and maintaining a consistent culture across geographies — advantages that smaller, nimbler comp
- Menu price inflation (20%+ since 2019) has pushed customers toward value-oriented competitors and grocery
- E. coli outbreak (October 2024, Quarter Pounder slivered onions) caused significant traffic and reputational damage
- See full analysis
- McDonald's operates in the Restaurants segment of the broader Consumer Cyclical sector, which represents a $28 trillion global consumer spending market. Even modest share gains in this environment tra
- Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for McDonal
- With $774.00M in cash and strong free cash flow generation, McDonald's is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.
- See full analysis
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. McDonald's's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession scena
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on McDonald's's busine
- Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri
Compare any 2–4 companies with live data
The interactive comparison tool lets you select any companies, see real-time metrics, and export a side-by-side report.
Open Comparison ToolChipotle Mexican Grill vs McDonald's: FAQ
- Is Chipotle Mexican Grill bigger than McDonald's?
- By market capitalization, McDonald's is larger at $232.78B vs Chipotle Mexican Grill's $44.15B.
- Which has better profit margins — Chipotle Mexican Grill or McDonald's?
- McDonald's has higher net profit margins (31.9%) compared to Chipotle Mexican Grill (12.9%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
- What sectors do Chipotle Mexican Grill and McDonald's operate in?
- Chipotle Mexican Grill operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector (Restaurants). McDonald's operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector (Restaurants).
- How does Chipotle Mexican Grill's revenue compare to McDonald's's?
- Chipotle Mexican Grill generates $11.93B in annual revenue (TTM) while McDonald's generates $26.88B. McDonald's is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.