Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) vs McDonald's Corporation (MCD)
LOW leads on 8 of 15 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Lowe's Companies, Inc. and McDonald's Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
LOW
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
$220.78Consumer Cyclical
MCD
McDonald's Corporation
$284.81Consumer Cyclical
Total return — LOW vs MCD
growth of $100 · last 30yLOW +4668.5%MCD +1092.7%LOW compounded faster
LOW MCD
LOW vs MCD: by the numbers
- •MCD is the larger company ($202.36B vs $123.79B market cap).
- •LOW trades at the lower earnings multiple (18.66 vs 23.48 P/E).
- •MCD converts more revenue to profit (31.62% vs 7.51% net margin).
- •MCD grew revenue faster over the past five years (6.95% vs -1.28% CAGR).
- •MCD pays the higher dividend yield (2.58% vs 2.17%).
Which is better, LOW or MCD?
Metric tally: LOW 8 · MCD 7It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueLOW(lower P/E)
GrowthMCD(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeMCD(higher dividend yield)
QualityLOW(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | LOW | MCD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 18.66● | 23.48 |
| Forward P/E | 16.43● | 20.06 |
| P/S ratio | 1.40● | 7.40 |
| PEG ratio | 1.36● | 5.30 |
| EV / EBITDA | 14.38● | 17.22 |
| FCF yield | 6.16%● | 3.46% |
Profitability
| Metric | LOW | MCD |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 33.80% | 57.35%● |
| Operating margin | 11.55% | 46.01%● |
| Net margin | 7.51% | 31.62%● |
| ROE | -67.10%● | -478.38% |
| ROIC | 20.42%● | 17.44% |
Dividends
| Metric | LOW | MCD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.17% | 2.58%● |
| Payout ratio | 40.44% | 61.25% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | LOW | MCD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -1.28% | 6.95%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 13.72% | 13.58% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -3.63% | 5.78%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 4.93% | 6.16%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, LOW or MCD?
- It depends on your goal. value: LOW (lower P/E); growth: MCD (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: MCD (higher dividend yield); quality: LOW (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, LOW leads 8 to 7.
- Is LOW or MCD cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, LOW is cheaper: LOW trades at a 18.66 P/E and MCD at 23.48.
- Which has grown faster, LOW or MCD?
- Over the past five years, MCD grew revenue faster — LOW at a -1.28% CAGR versus MCD at 6.95%.
- Does LOW or MCD pay a bigger dividend?
- LOW yields 2.17% and MCD yields 2.58% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is LOW or MCD more profitable?
- MCD runs the higher net margin — LOW at 7.51% versus MCD at 31.62%.
- Which has been the better investment, LOW or MCD?
- Over the past 10-year, LOW delivered the higher annualized total return — LOW at 12.99% versus MCD at 11.47%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Lowe's Companies P/E ratioMcDonald's P/E ratioLowe's Companies dividend yieldMcDonald's dividend yieldLowe's Companies ROEMcDonald's ROELowe's Companies operating marginMcDonald's operating marginLowe's Companies revenue growthMcDonald's revenue growthLowe's Companies free cash flowMcDonald's free cash flow
Lowe's Companies & McDonald's appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.