FUN vs MCD vs QSR vs SBUX

For growth investors, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) is the stronger pick with 50.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for McDonald's Corporation (MCD). McDonald's Corporation (MCD) offers the better valuation at 25. 0x trailing P/E (21. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) is the cheapest at 25.

0x versus Starbucks Corporation at 64. 4x. On forward P/E, Restaurant Brands International Inc. is actually cheaper at 20. 1x — 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. 83x versus Restaurant Brands International Inc. 's 3. 32x.

Over the past 5 years, Restaurant Brands International Inc.

(QSR) delivered a total return of +34. 9%, compared to -57. 8% for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCD returned +161. 9% versus FUN's -37. 5%. 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 Six Flags Entertainment Corporation's 1. 83β — meaning FUN is approximately 1538% more volatile than MCD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 3% for Restaurant Brands International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) is pulling ahead at 50.

6% versus 1. 7% for McDonald's Corporation (MCD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: McDonald's Corporation grew EPS -1. 5% year-over-year, compared to -195. 0% for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, FUN leads at 26. 5% 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.

McDonald's Corporation (MCD) is the more profitable company, earning 31.

7% net margin versus -8. 5% for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation — meaning it keeps 31. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MCD leads at 45. 2% versus 9. 6% for SBUX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FUN leads at 91. 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. 83x versus Restaurant Brands International Inc. 's 3. 32x. 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 20. 1x forward P/E versus 44. 9x for Starbucks Corporation — 24. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FUN: 26. 2% to $22. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 1. 7% for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN).

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, +161. 9% 10Y return). Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MCD: +161. 9%, FUN: -37. 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.

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: FUN is a small-cap high-growth stock; MCD is a large-cap quality compounder stock; QSR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; SBUX is a mid-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.