SBUX vs QSR

For growth investors, Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) is the stronger pick with 12. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 8% for Starbucks Corporation (SBUX). Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) offers the better valuation at 33. 7x trailing P/E (19. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) a "Buy" — based on 44 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) is the cheapest at 33. 7x versus Starbucks Corporation at 64. 0x. On forward P/E, Restaurant Brands International Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Restaurant Brands International Inc. wins at 2. 44x versus Starbucks Corporation's 2. 82x.

Over the past 5 years, Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) delivered a total return of +30. 3%, compared to +0. 8% for Starbucks Corporation (SBUX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QSR returned +132. 2% versus SBUX's +114. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Starbucks Corporation's 0. 99β — meaning SBUX is approximately 151% more volatile than QSR relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) is pulling ahead at 12. 2% versus 2. 8% for Starbucks Corporation (SBUX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Restaurant Brands International Inc. grew EPS -26. 1% year-over-year, compared to -50. 8% for Starbucks Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, QSR leads at 13. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 2% net margin versus 5. 0% for Starbucks Corporation — meaning it keeps 8. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QSR leads at 23. 7% versus 9. 6% for SBUX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QSR leads at 41. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 44x versus Starbucks Corporation's 2. 82x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) trades at 19. 5x forward P/E versus 44. 0x for Starbucks Corporation — 24. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QSR: 5. 8% to $83. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 2. 3% for Starbucks Corporation (SBUX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 3. 1% yield, +132. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (QSR: +132. 2%, SBUX: +114. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: SBUX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; QSR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.