ARCO vs QSR vs YUMC Stock Comparison

Arcos Dorados Holdings, Restaurant Brands International and Yum China Holdings Prices as of Oct 29, 2026 Peers: Industry group
ARCO Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.
$6.89 -3.1% 1M -6.6% 1Y
Market cap
$1.45B
P/E
5.9x
Revenue (TTM)
$4.98B
Div. yield
3.92%
Quick-Service Restaurants Consumer Discretionary
6 wins
YUMC Yum China Holdings, Inc.
$45.19 +10.7% 1M +3.1% 1Y
Market cap
$15.59B
P/E
16.1x
Revenue (TTM)
$12.44B
Div. yield
2.46%
Quick-Service Restaurants Consumer Discretionary
2 wins

Head to Head

12 decided of 12

Arcos Dorados Holdings leads on 6 of the 12 questions below (Arcos Dorados Holdings 6, Restaurant Brands International 4, Yum China Holdings 2). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionARCOQSRYUMCLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $1.45B $25.46B $15.59B QSR
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 5.9x 17.0x 16.1x ARCO
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 8.3x 18.4x 14.9x ARCO
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months +10.8% +5.5% +8.8% ARCO
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 4.9% 15.3% 7.8% QSR
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 18.1% 13.7% 16.5% ARCO
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA 1.3x 4.1x -0.7x YUMC
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 3.92% 3.52% 2.46% ARCO
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months -6.6% +10.6% +3.1% QSR
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years +7.6%/yr +5.2%/yr -4.6%/yr ARCO
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 38.6% 25.0% 25.6% QSR
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 72/100 58/100 75/100 YUMC

Percentile Scorecard

ARCOQSRYUMC

Each axis is the mean percentile of its metrics against the company's industry group. 100 is the best in the group, 50 the middle.

Scores by Axis

AxisARCOQSRYUMC
Valuation 96 #3 of 50 45 #28 of 50 74 #14 of 50
Growth 85 #8 of 47 67 #16 of 47 50 #24 of 47
Profitability 62 #18 of 46 71 #14 of 46 69 #15 of 46
Financial Health 48 #27 of 51 32 #35 of 51 88 #7 of 51
Shareholder Returns 71 #10 of 32 74 #9 of 32 94 #3 of 32
Overall 72 58 75
  • ARCO ranked among 53 companies in Restaurants
  • QSR ranked among 53 companies in Restaurants
  • YUMC ranked among 53 companies in Restaurants

Price Performance

Price return, split-adjusted, before dividends. Click a name to hide or show it.

Returns

PeriodARCOQSRYUMCSPY
1 month -3.1%+2.2%+10.7% +0.7%
3 months -15.8%-1.7%-2.7% +3.7%
6 months -22.8%-9.5%-6.7% +7.1%
Year to date -6.1%+7.0%-5.3% +12.8%
1 year -6.6%+10.6%+3.1% +11.9%
3 years -25.5%+10.0%-14.9% +85.2%
3 years, per year -9.4%+3.2%-5.3% +22.8%
5 years +44.4%+29.0%-20.8% +67.6%
5 years, per year +7.6%+5.2%-4.6% +10.9%
10 years +14.2%+67.6%+85.5% +262.0%
10 years, per year +1.3%+5.3%+6.4% +13.7%

Risk

MeasureARCOQSRYUMCSPY
Volatility, 1Y 38.6%25.0%25.6% 12.7%
Downside volatility, 1Y 36.1%25.9%24.2% 12.6%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 0.920.050.27 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y -0.170.430.12 0.94
Max drawdown, 5Y -50.0%-27.5%-54.6% -25.4%
From 52-week high -27.5%-10.6%-22.0% -1.2%
52-week high $9.50$81.67$57.95 $779.14
52-week low $6.89$65.69$39.98 $631.97

Valuation History

Weekly multiples on trailing twelve-month fundamentals. Negative or extreme readings (a loss year, a collapsed denominator) are left out so the chart stays readable.

MultipleARCOQSRYUMC
P/E now vs peer median 5.9xmedian 21.0x 17.0xmedian 21.0x 16.1xmedian 21.0x
P/S now vs peer median 0.3xmedian 1.1x 2.6xmedian 1.1x 1.3xmedian 1.1x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median 4.0xmedian 12.8x 12.7xmedian 12.8x 7.7xmedian 12.8x
P/FCF now vs peer median 23.2xmedian 17.6x 16.1xmedian 17.6x 16.6xmedian 17.6x
P/B now vs peer median 1.7xmedian 3.4x 4.6xmedian 3.4x 2.6xmedian 3.4x
PEG now vs peer median 0.43median 0.93 0.93median 0.93 0.98median 0.93

Financial History

Reported figures by fiscal period, placed on the calendar year (or quarter) each period ended in, so companies with different fiscal years line up.

Trailing twelve monthsARCOQSRYUMC
Revenue $4.98B $9.78B $12.44B
Gross profit $4.89B $5.30B $2.14B
Operating income $327.73M $2.64B $1.38B
Net income $256.75M $1.97B $1.05B
Free cash flow $62.51M $1.58B $940.00M
EPS (diluted) $1.17 $3.28 $2.79
Cash & equivalents $259.99M $974.00M $485.00M
Total debt $4.13B $13.27B $66.00M
Shares (diluted) 210.66M 457.00M 349.00M
Enterprise value $237.79M $22.84B $9.95B

All Metrics

58 metrics · best in bold

Bold marks the best reading: the lowest positive value for multiples, leverage and payout, the highest for everything else. The bar under each value is its percentile against that company's own peers. Hover a value for its rank and the peer median.

Valuation

12 metrics
MetricARCOQSRYUMC
P/E 5.9x 17.0x 16.1x
P/FCF 23.2x 16.1x 16.6x
P/Operating cash flow 4.0x 13.7x 9.9x
P/S 0.3x 2.6x 1.3x
P/B 1.7x 4.6x 2.6x
P/Tangible book 1.7x -4.8x 2.6x
EV/EBITDA 4.0x 12.7x 7.7x
EV/EBIT 6.6x 14.3x 10.3x
EV/Revenue 0.4x 3.9x 1.1x
EV/FCF 34.8x 23.9x 15.2x
EV/Operating cash flow 6.0x 20.3x 9.0x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) 0.43 0.93 0.98

Growth

14 metrics
MetricARCOQSRYUMC
Revenue growth (1Y) 10.8% 5.5% 8.8%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) 7.8% 12.4% 6.3%
Gross profit growth (1Y) 10.7% 4.9% 9.7%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) 7.8% 5.8% 5.6%
Operating income growth (1Y) 12.9% 19.1% 12.8%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) 3.4% 11.0% 10.3%
Net income growth (1Y) 97.3% 53.7% 6.3%
Net income CAGR (3Y) 15.4% 14.0% 9.0%
EPS growth (1Y) 88.7% 62.7% 13.7%
EPS CAGR (3Y) 13.7% 18.3% 16.5%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) 38.8% 13.6% 9.6%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) 5.6% 11.5% -3.0%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) 156.0% 12.9% 12.7%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) -24.4% 8.9% -4.0%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricARCOQSRYUMC
Gross margin 98.1% 54.2% 17.2%
EBITDA margin 10.8% 30.4% 14.9%
Operating margin 6.6% 27.0% 11.1%
Pretax margin 6.7% 21.9% 11.5%
Net margin 4.9% 15.3% 7.8%
FCF margin 1.3% 16.2% 7.6%
Operating cash flow margin 7.3% 19.1% 12.7%
Return on equity 30.6% 36.1% 17.3%
Return on assets 6.4% 7.8% 9.7%
Return on invested capital 18.1% 13.7% 16.5%
Return on capital employed 10.9% 11.6% 16.4%
Asset turnover 1.3x 0.4x 1.1x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 1.4x 0.9x 1.5x
Stock comp / revenue – 1.5% 0.3%

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricARCOQSRYUMC
Debt / assets 25.5% 52.5% 0.6%
Debt / equity 1.2x 2.4x 0.0x
Net debt / EBITDA 1.3x 4.1x -0.7x
Debt / FCF 15.9x 8.4x 0.1x
Liabilities / assets 78.6% 78.1% 44.2%
Equity / assets 21.4% 21.9% 55.8%
Interest coverage 24.5x – –
Current ratio 0.9x 1.0x 1.0x
Quick ratio 0.6x 0.7x 0.6x
Cash ratio 0.3x 0.4x 0.6x
Altman Z-score 2.12 1.64 3.72

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricARCOQSRYUMC
Dividend yield 3.9% 3.5% 2.5%
Net buyback yield – 1.5% 8.4%
Shareholder yield 3.9% 5.0% 10.8%
Payout ratio (earnings) – – 35.7%
Payout ratio (FCF) – – 40.0%
Dividend growth (1Y) – – 24.5%
Dividend CAGR (3Y) – – 21.6%

Analyst Estimates

Solid lines are reported fiscal-year results; dashed lines are the consensus for the years ahead. Hover a year for the analysts' high and low, and how each result compared with its estimate.

ConsensusARCOQSRYUMC
Forward P/E 8.3xFY2026 18.4xFY2026 14.9xFY2026
EPS, next fiscal year $0.83FY2026 $3.96FY2026 $3.04FY2026
EPS growth, next FY -17.8%FY2026 +7.3%FY2026 +21.1%FY2026
EPS growth, the year after -4.8% +8.1% +15.5%
Revenue, next fiscal year $5.13BFY2026 $10.27BFY2026 $12.37BFY2026
Revenue growth, next FY +9.6%FY2026 +8.9%FY2026 +4.8%FY2026
Revenue growth, the year after +2.4% -10.0% +6.3%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersARCOQSRYUMC
Held by institutions 45.3% 92.2% –
Institutions holding 174 576 –
Change in shares held, QoQ +3.8% +6.5% –
Institutions buying 93 319 –
Institutions selling 45 166 –
Buyers to sellers 2.07 1.92 –

Return Correlation

Daily returns, last 12 months

1.00 means two stocks move in lockstep, 0 that they move independently. Pairs below about 0.5 diversify each other.

ARCOQSRYUMC
ARCO 1.00 0.21 0.16
QSR 0.21 1.00 0.28
YUMC 0.16 0.28 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, ARCO, QSR and YUMC?

Restaurant Brands International (QSR) is the largest by market capitalisation: Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) $1.45B, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) $25.46B, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) $15.59B.

Which stock is cheaper, ARCO, QSR and YUMC?

Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) 5.9x, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) 17.0x, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) 16.1x). On next year's consensus earnings, Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) is cheapest (Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) 8.3x, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) 18.4x, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) 14.9x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) +10.8%, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) +5.5%, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) +8.8%.

Which company is more profitable?

Restaurant Brands International (QSR) has the highest net margin (Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) 4.9%, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) 15.3%, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) 7.8%). On return on invested capital, Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) leads (Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) 18.1%, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) 13.7%, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) 16.5%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year Restaurant Brands International (QSR) returned the most: Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) -6.6%, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) +10.6%, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) +3.1%. Over five years, Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) compounded fastest (Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) +7.6%/yr, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) +5.2%/yr, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) -4.6%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) has the highest dividend yield: Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) 3.92%, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) 3.52%, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) 2.46%.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) has been the steadiest (Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) 38.6%, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) 25.0%, Yum China Holdings (YUMC) 25.6%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, ARCO, QSR and YUMC?

There is no single answer; it depends on what you are buying for. On the 12 head-to-head measures on this page, Arcos Dorados Holdings (ARCO) leads on 6. Business Quant does not give investment advice; use the comparison as a starting point for your own research.

Data from SEC filings, exchange prices and consensus estimates, via Business Quant. Percentile scores compare each company with its own peer group, so two companies' scores are each relative to different peers unless you rank against the whole market. Price returns exclude dividends. Nothing on this page is investment advice.