McDonald's vs Nestlé: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
McDonald's reported $26.9B of revenue in FY2025 and $8.6B of net income. Nestlé reported ~$107.9B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$10.8B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
McDonald's
- Latest revenue
- $26.9B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $8.6B
- Net margin
- 31.9%
- Revenue growth
- +1.0% a year, FY2016–FY2025
Nestlé
- Latest revenue
- ~$107.9B (FY2025)
- Net income
- ~$10.8B
- Net margin
- 10.0%
- Revenue growth
- +0.7% a year, FY2021–FY2025
Financial summary
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.
Nestlé
Nestlé's sales have shrunk in Swiss franc terms since 2022, from ~$113 billion (CHF 94.4 billion) to ~$107 billion (CHF 89.5 billion) in 2025, largely because of a strong franc and disposals, even as organic growth stayed positive (3.5% in 2025). Net profit fell to ~$10.8 billion (CHF 9.0 billion) in 2025 and the underlying trading operating profit (UTOP) margin was 16.1%, while free cash flow reached ~$11 billion (CHF 9.2 billion). In the first half of 2026, sales were ~$51.7 billion (CHF 43.1 billion) with 3.6% organic growth and 1.5% real internal growth (RIG). Net profit dropped 31.4% to ~$4.2 billion (CHF 3.5 billion), but the UTOP margin recovered to 16.4% and free cash flow rose to ~$4.08 billion (CHF 3.4 billion).
Revenue and profit by year
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 |
Nestlé
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$107.9B | ~$10.8B | 10.0% | -2.0% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$110.1B | ~$13.1B | 11.9% | -1.7% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$112B | ~$13.5B | 12.0% | -1.5% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$113.7B | ~$11.1B | 9.8% | +8.4% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$105B | ~$20.3B | 19.3% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
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
Nestlé
- Powdered and Liquid Beverages28.1%
Largest 2025 annual report category, including coffee and beverage brands such as Nescafé and Nespresso.
- PetCare20.6%
Purina-led pet care portfolio and one of Nestlé's key global growth engines.
- Nutrition and Health Science16.0%
Infant, medical, and health-science nutrition products.
- Prepared Dishes and Cooking Aids11.3%
Includes cooking aids, prepared meals, and brands such as Maggi.
- Milk Products and Ice Cream10.8%
Dairy and ice cream products, with portfolio changes under review.
- Confectionery9.7%
Chocolate and confectionery brands such as KitKat in most markets.
- Water3.5%
Water brands including premium and regional water products.
Business model and strategy
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.
Nestlé
How it makes money
Nestlé makes money by manufacturing and selling branded food and drinks through supermarkets, convenience stores, e-commerce, pet specialty, pharmacies, hospitals and out-of-home channels in roughly 185 countries.
Growth strategy
Under Philipp Navratil, Nestlé is pursuing what it calls RIG-led growth: driving volume rather than price increases. It is putting more money behind four core businesses (Coffee, Petcare, Nutrition, Food & Snacks) and growth platforms that it says make up about 30% of sales. It is also reshaping the portfolio.
Competitive advantage
Nestlé's edge is the combination of global brands with local manufacturing and distribution. It runs a large worldwide factory and R&D network, holds leading positions in instant coffee and pet food, and can invest more in marketing and innovation than most rivals. Its Fuel for Growth cost programme is targeting ~$2.4 billion (CHF 2 billion) of savings by end-2026 to fund that brand investment.
Questions about McDonald's vs Nestlé
Which company has higher revenue — McDonald's Corporation or Nestlé S.A.?
McDonald's Corporation reported $26.9B (FY2025), while Nestlé S.A. reported ~$107.9B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Nestlé S.A. is the larger business, with McDonald's Corporation reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of McDonald's Corporation vs Nestlé S.A.?
McDonald's Corporation's market capitalisation stands at $175.7B, while Nestlé S.A.'s is $295.1B. Nestlé S.A. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to McDonald's Corporation.
Which is more financially efficient — McDonald's Corporation or Nestlé S.A.?
McDonald's Corporation generates $179k / employee in revenue per employee, while Nestlé S.A. generates $399k / employee. Nestlé S.A. 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 McDonald's Corporation and Nestlé S.A. make money?
McDonald's Corporation and Nestlé S.A. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. McDonald's Corporation: About 95% of McDonald's restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees or developmental licensees. Nestlé S.A.: Nestlé makes money by manufacturing and selling branded food and drinks through supermarkets, convenience stores, e-commerce, pet specialty, pharmacies, hospitals and out-of-home channels in roughly 185 countries.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — McDonald's Corporation or Nestlé S.A.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, McDonald's Corporation trades at 6.5x P/S and Nestlé S.A. at 2.7x P/S. McDonald's Corporation commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Nestlé S.A.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is McDonald's Corporation bigger than Nestlé S.A.?
By last reported revenue, Nestlé S.A. (~$107.9B (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 McDonald's vs Nestlé overview