VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Diageo plc vs McDonald's Corporation

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Diageo plc

DGE · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$48B
SectorConsumer
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
77/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Diageo plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View DGE analysis

McDonald's Corporation

MCD · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$221.3B
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
80/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into McDonald's Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MCD analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: McDonald's Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 77 / 100 for Diageo plc).
  • Segment focus: Diageo plc has 3 segments (76% in Spirits); McDonald's Corporation has 3 segments (48.7% in International Operated Markets).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Diageo plc has 3 moat types across 2 domains; McDonald's Corporation has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

Diageo plc

Spirits

Market

Branded premium spirits (whisky, tequila, vodka, gin, rum, liqueurs)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers via off-trade retailers and on-trade outlets; distributors/wholesalers and key accounts

Role

Brand owner and producer with route-to-market execution

Revenue share

76%

McDonald's Corporation

International Operated Markets

Market

Quick-service restaurants and informal eating out (IEO)

Geography

International operated markets (e.g., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, U.K.)

Customer

Consumers (end customers) and franchisees (B2B system partners)

Role

Franchisor / restaurant operator

Revenue share

48.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Diageo plc
McDonald's Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
DGE - London Stock Exchange
MCD - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$48B
$221.3B
Sector
Consumer
Consumer
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Spirits
International Operated Markets
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
77 / 100
80 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-30
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustDistribution Control

Diageo plc strengths

Capacity Moat

McDonald's Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityOperational ExcellenceLong Term Contracts

Segment mix

Diageo plc segments

Full profile >

Spirits

Oligopoly

76%

Beer (Guinness and other beers)

Oligopoly

18%

Ready-to-Drink (RTDs)

Competitive

4%

McDonald's Corporation segments

Full profile >

U.S.

Competitive

41%

International Operated Markets

Competitive

48.7%

International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate

Competitive

10.3%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.