General Motors vs McDonald's: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
General Motors reported $185B of revenue in FY2025 and $2.7B of net income. McDonald's reported $26.9B of revenue in FY2025 and $8.6B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
General Motors
- Latest revenue
- $185B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $2.7B
- Net margin
- 1.5%
- Revenue growth
- +2.4% a year, FY2016–FY2025
McDonald's
- Latest revenue
- $26.9B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $8.6B
- Net margin
- 31.9%
- Revenue growth
- +1.0% a year, FY2016–FY2025
Financial summary
General Motors
GM's finances are funded by internal-combustion trucks and SUVs. In 2025 it generated $185.0 billion of revenue, $12.7 billion of EBIT-adjusted, and $10.6 billion of adjusted automotive free cash flow, but EV write-downs cut net income attributable to stockholders 55% to $2.7 billion. Q1 2026 revenue was $43.6 billion with $2.6 billion of net income; Q2 2026 revenue was $48.0 billion with $1.3 billion of net income, $3.9 billion of EBIT-adjusted, and North America margins back inside GM's 8-10% target. GM returns large amounts of cash to shareholders and approved a new $6.0 billion buyback alongside a 20% higher quarterly dividend in January 2026.
McDonald's
McDonald's corporate revenue ($26.885 billion in 2025, up 3.7%) is a fraction of the roughly $139 billion that customers spend across the system, because franchised restaurant sales are not booked as company revenue. What the company does book is mostly franchise rent and royalties, which explains net income of $8.563 billion in 2025 and operating margins well above typical restaurant operators. In Q2 2026, revenue rose 4% (2% in constant currency) to about $7.1 billion, diluted EPS was $3.32 ($3.38 adjusted), and systemwide sales grew 5% to $37 billion. The company returns most free cash flow through dividends, which it has raised every year since 1976, and share buybacks.
Revenue and profit by year
General Motors
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $185B | $2.7B | 1.5% | -1.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | $187.4B | $6B | 3.2% | +9.1% | Source |
| FY2023 | $171.8B | $10.1B | 5.9% | +9.6% | Source |
| FY2022 | $156.7B | $9.9B | 6.3% | +23.4% | Source |
| FY2021 | $127B | $10B | 7.9% | +3.7% | Source |
| FY2020 | $122.5B | $6.4B | 5.2% | -10.7% | Source |
| FY2019 | $137.2B | $6.7B | 4.9% | -6.7% | Source |
| FY2018 | $147B | $8B | 5.4% | +1.0% | Source |
| FY2017 | $145.6B | -$3.9B | -2.7% | -2.4% | Source |
| FY2016 | $149.2B | $9.4B | 6.3% | — | Source |
McDonald's
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $26.9B | $8.6B | 31.9% | +3.7% | Source |
| FY2024 | $25.9B | $8.2B | 31.7% | +1.7% | Source |
| FY2023 | $25.5B | $8.5B | 33.2% | +10.0% | Source |
| FY2022 | $23.2B | $6.2B | 26.6% | -0.2% | Source |
| FY2021 | $23.2B | $7.5B | 32.5% | +20.9% | Source |
| FY2020 | $19.2B | $4.7B | 24.6% | -10.1% | Source |
| FY2019 | $21.4B | $6B | 28.2% | +0.5% | Source |
| FY2018 | $21.3B | $5.9B | 27.9% | -6.8% | Source |
| FY2017 | $22.8B | $5.2B | 22.8% | -7.3% | Source |
| FY2016 | $24.6B | $4.7B | 19.0% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
General Motors
- North America Vehicle Sales
Largest profit pool
Revenue comes from wholesale sales of Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick vehicles, with trucks and large SUVs driving a disproportionate share of profit.
- GM Financial
Captive finance
Revenue comes from retail loans, leases, dealer floorplan financing, commercial lending, and related finance products that support GM vehicle sales.
- International Vehicle Sales
International operations
Revenue comes from vehicle sales and operations outside North America, including South America and select global markets.
- China Joint Ventures
Equity-method exposure
GM participates in China through joint ventures, making performance visible through equity income rather than fully consolidated vehicle revenue.
- Software, Services, and Parts
Recurring and aftermarket
Revenue comes from OnStar, Super Cruise, connected services, parts, accessories, fleet services, and other software-enabled vehicle products.
McDonald's
- Franchise rent and royalties~45%
Franchise rent and royalties
- Company-operated restaurants~25%
Company-operated restaurants
- Licensing and delivery economics~15%
Licensing and delivery economics
Business model and strategy
General Motors
How it makes money
GM makes money mainly by building and wholesaling vehicles to its dealer network, then earning a second layer of profit through GM Financial, its captive lender. GM North America (GMNA) is the profit engine: full-size pickups such as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra and large SUVs such as the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade carry far higher margins than small cars or current EVs.
Growth strategy
GM's growth strategy has shifted from an all-EV push to flexibility. It still sells EVs on its Ultium-based platforms, such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Cadillac Lyriq, but after 2025 it cut EV capacity, kept investing in gas trucks and SUVs, and plans lower-cost lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cells with LG Energy Solution.
Competitive advantage
GM's clearest advantage is scale in U.S. full-size pickups and SUVs: it has led the full-size pickup segment for six straight years, selling about 940,000 in 2025. That franchise, a national Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac dealer network, and GM Financial's captive lending give it cash flow and pricing power that newer EV-only rivals do not have.
McDonald's
How it makes money
About 95% of McDonald's restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees or developmental licensees. The corporation makes money in three main ways: (1) rent, because it owns or leases the land and buildings at many franchised sites and charges franchisees rent, often tied to a percentage of sales; (2) royalties, a percentage of each restaurant's monthly sales;
Growth strategy
McDonald's growth plan, branded Accelerating the Arches, rests on marketing, core menu (burgers, chicken, coffee), and the 3 D's: digital, delivery, and drive-thru. The company targets roughly 50,000 restaurants worldwide by the end of 2027, with China, other developmental licensed markets, and the U.S. contributing the largest number of openings.
Competitive advantage
McDonald's advantage is scale that rivals cannot easily copy: more than 45,000 restaurants, control of prime real estate at many franchised sites, a long-tenured franchisee base that funds most store capital, and a supply chain that buys beef, potatoes, chicken, and packaging at volumes few chains match.
Questions about General Motors vs McDonald's
Which company has higher revenue — General Motors Company or McDonald's Corporation?
General Motors Company reported $185.0B (FY2025), while McDonald's Corporation reported $26.9B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, General Motors Company is the larger business, with McDonald's Corporation reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of General Motors Company vs McDonald's Corporation?
General Motors Company's market capitalisation stands at $74.9B, while McDonald's Corporation's is $175.7B. McDonald's Corporation carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to General Motors Company.
Which is more financially efficient — General Motors Company or McDonald's Corporation?
General Motors Company generates $1.19M / employee in revenue per employee, while McDonald's Corporation generates $179k / employee. General Motors Company shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do General Motors Company and McDonald's Corporation make money?
General Motors Company and McDonald's Corporation generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. General Motors Company: GM makes money mainly by building and wholesaling vehicles to its dealer network, then earning a second layer of profit through GM Financial, its captive lender. McDonald's Corporation: About 95% of McDonald's restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees or developmental licensees.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — General Motors Company or McDonald's Corporation?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, General Motors Company trades at 0.4x P/S and McDonald's Corporation at 6.5x P/S. McDonald's Corporation commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to General Motors Company. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is General Motors Company bigger than McDonald's Corporation?
By last reported revenue, General Motors Company ($185.0B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to McDonald's Corporation ($26.9B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the General Motors vs McDonald's overview