ARCO
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
Restaurants
Market Cap$1.17B
5Y Perf.+133.9%
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Stock Comparison
ARCO vs JACK
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
JACK
Jack in the Box Inc.
Restaurants
Market Cap$266M
5Y Perf.-79.3%
ARCO vs JACK — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ARCO | JACK |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
| Market Cap | $1.17B | $266M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.68B | $1.35B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $212M | $-69M |
| Gross Margin | 12.3% | 27.6% |
| Operating Margin | 7.5% | -2.8% |
| Forward P/E | 12.9x | 4.0x |
| Total Debt | $2.25B | $3.12B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $373M | $52M |
ARCO vs JACK — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ARCO
JACK
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcos Dorados Holdi… (ARCO) | 100 | 233.9 | +133.9% |
| Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) | 100 | 20.7 | -79.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ARCO vs JACK
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ARCO leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Jack in the Box Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ARCO
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
The Income Pick
ARCO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.98, yield 2.7%
- Rev growth 4.7%, EPS growth 42.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.9%
- 130.5% 10Y total return vs JACK's -59.5%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
JACK
Jack in the Box Inc.
The Value Play
JACK is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (4.0x vs 12.9x)
Best for: value
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ARCO | 4.7% revenue growth vs JACK's -6.7% |
| Value | JACK | Lower P/E (4.0x vs 12.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | ARCO | 4.5% margin vs JACK's -5.2% |
| Stability / Safety | ARCO | Beta 0.98 vs JACK's 1.69 |
| Dividends | ARCO | 2.7% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs JACK's 6.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ARCO | +15.4% vs JACK's -47.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ARCO | 5.9% ROA vs JACK's -2.7%, ROIC 11.1% vs -0.6% |
ARCO vs JACK — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
ARCO vs JACK — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLARCOLAGGINGJACK
JACKJack in the Box Inc.
1leads
ARCOArcos Dorados Holding…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs JACKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ARCO4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
JACK3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ARCO7/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ARCO6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ARCO2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARCO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARCO is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.7B annually — 3.5x JACK's $1.3B. ARCO is the more profitable business, keeping 4.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to JACK's -5.2%. On growth, ARCO holds the edge at +10.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ARCOArcos Dorados Hol… | JACKJack in the Box I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.7B | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $547M | $16M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $212M | -$69M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $11M | -$10M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.3% | +27.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.5% | -2.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.5% | -5.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.2% | -0.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.7% | -25.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -57.1% | +33.7% |
ARCO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
JACK leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ARCO's 5.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than JACK's 82.9x.
| Metric | ARCOArcos Dorados Hol… | JACKJack in the Box I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $266M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.0B | $3.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.87x | -3.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.94x | 4.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.56x | 82.92x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.25x | 0.18x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.44x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 3.58x |
JACK leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ARCO leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ARCO scores 5/9 vs JACK's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ARCOArcos Dorados Hol… | JACKJack in the Box I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +32.4% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.9% | -2.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.1% | -0.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.5% | -0.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.91x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.9B | $3.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $373M | $52M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.2B | $3.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.64x | -0.51x |
ARCO leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ARCO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ARCO five years ago would be worth $15,811 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,723 for JACK. Over the past 12 months, ARCO leads with a +15.4% total return vs JACK's -47.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ARCO at 4.9% vs JACK's -42.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ARCOArcos Dorados Hol… | JACKJack in the Box I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.9% | -25.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.4% | -47.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.6% | -81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.1% | -82.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +130.5% | -59.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.9% | -42.7% |
ARCO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ARCO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ARCO is the less volatile stock with a 0.98 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than JACK's 1.69 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ARCO currently trades 91.9% from its 52-week high vs JACK's 47.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ARCOArcos Dorados Hol… | JACKJack in the Box I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 1.69x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.75 | $29.40 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.51 | $8.91 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.9% | +47.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.1 | 58.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 837K |
ARCO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ARCO and JACK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ARCO as "Buy" and JACK as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 43.6% upside for JACK (target: $20) vs 28.7% for ARCO (target: $12). For income investors, JACK offers the higher dividend yield at 6.25% vs ARCO's 2.68%.
| Metric | ARCOArcos Dorados Hol… | JACKJack in the Box I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.53 | $19.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | +6.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.24 | $0.87 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.9% |
Evenly matched — ARCO and JACK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ARCO leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). JACK leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallArcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ARCO vs JACK: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ARCO or JACK a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
(ARCO) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 7% for Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK). Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO) offers the better valuation at 8. 9x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO) a "Buy" — based on 12 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ARCO or JACK?
On forward P/E, Jack in the Box Inc.
is actually cheaper at 4. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ARCO or JACK?
Over the past 5 years, Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
(ARCO) delivered a total return of +58. 1%, compared to -82. 8% for Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARCO returned +130. 5% versus JACK's -59. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ARCO or JACK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
(ARCO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 98β versus Jack in the Box Inc. 's 1. 69β — meaning JACK is approximately 73% more volatile than ARCO relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — ARCO or JACK?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
(ARCO) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus -6. 7% for Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. grew EPS 42. 3% year-over-year, compared to -127. 6% for Jack in the Box Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARCO leads at 8. 9% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ARCO or JACK?
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
(ARCO) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 5% net margin versus -5. 5% for Jack in the Box Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ARCO leads at 7. 5% versus -1. 2% for JACK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JACK leads at 28. 7%, 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.
07Is ARCO or JACK more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Jack in the Box Inc.
(JACK) trades at 4. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 9x for Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. — 8. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JACK: 43. 6% to $19. 92.
08Which pays a better dividend — ARCO or JACK?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 2. 7% for Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO).
09Is ARCO or JACK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
(ARCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 98), 2. 7% yield, +130. 5% 10Y return). Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) carries a higher beta of 1. 69 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARCO: +130. 5%, JACK: -59. 5%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ARCO and JACK?
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: ARCO is a small-cap deep-value stock; JACK is a small-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.
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