FCPT vs MCD

For growth investors, Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

(FCPT) is the stronger pick with 9. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for McDonald's Corporation (MCD). Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. (FCPT) offers the better valuation at 23. 3x trailing P/E (21. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate McDonald's Corporation (MCD) a "Buy" — based on 62 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, Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

(FCPT) is the cheapest at 23. 3x versus McDonald's Corporation at 24. 9x. On forward P/E, McDonald's Corporation is actually cheaper at 21. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: McDonald's Corporation wins at 2. 82x versus Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. 's 117. 93x.

Over the past 5 years, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) delivered a total return of +34.

4%, compared to +16. 2% for Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. (FCPT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCD returned +158. 5% versus FCPT's +98. 9%. 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), McDonald's Corporation (MCD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

11β versus Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. 's 0. 14β — meaning FCPT is approximately 28% more volatile than MCD relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

(FCPT) is pulling ahead at 9. 7% versus 1. 7% for McDonald's Corporation (MCD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. grew EPS 1. 9% year-over-year, compared to -1. 5% for McDonald's Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, FCPT leads at 9. 6% 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.

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.

(FCPT) is the more profitable company, earning 38. 2% net margin versus 31. 7% for McDonald's Corporation — meaning it keeps 38. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FCPT leads at 55. 7% versus 45. 2% for MCD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FCPT leads at 95. 4%, 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, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 82x versus Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. 's 117. 93x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) trades at 21. 5x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. — 0. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MCD: 24. 0% to $352. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. (FCPT) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 2. 4% for McDonald's Corporation (MCD).

For long-horizon retirement investors, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

11), 2. 4% yield, +158. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MCD: +158. 5%, FCPT: +98. 9%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (FCPT (Real Estate) and MCD (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FCPT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MCD is a large-cap quality compounder 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.