Fast food stocks

The best fast food stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals — while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.

How to buy fast food stocks

Sign up with an online broker or platform to invest in one of more of these fast food stocks.

1. Compare share trading platforms. If you're a beginner, look for a platform with low commissions, expert ratings and investment tools to track your portfolio. Use our comparison table to narrow down top brokers by fees and bonuses.
2. Open and fund your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details, like your ID and bank information. Fund your account with a bank transfer, credit card or debit card.
3. Search for the stock you're interested in. Find the stock by name or ticker symbol, like MCD or YUM. Research its history to confirm it's a solid investment against your financial goals.
4. Purchase now or later. Invest in the restaurant industry today with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until the stock reaches your desired price. To spread out your purchase, look into dollar-cost averaging, which smooths out buying at consistent intervals and amounts.
5. Decide on how many to buy. Weigh your budget against a diversified portfolio that can minimize risk through the market's ups and downs. You may be able to buy fractional shares, depending on your broker.
6. Check in on your investment. Congratulations, you own a part of a fast food company. Optimize your portfolio by tracking how your stock — and even the restaurant sector as a whole — performs with an eye on the long term. You may be eligible for dividends and shareholder voting rights on directors and management that can affect your stock.

Compare fast food stocks

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the farm industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap US stocks.

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1. McDonalds Corporation (MCD)

McDonalds Corporation stock opened the day at $233.12 after a previous close of $233.08. The latest price was $231.81 (25 minute delay). McDonalds Corporation is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD19.2 billion and employs 200,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $171,833,638,912
• P/E ratio: 36.6529
• PEG ratio: 2.4923

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2. Yum! Brands (YUM)

Yum! Brands stock opened the day at $118.38 after a previous close of $118.06. The latest price was $117.71 (25 minute delay). Yum! Brands is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$5.7 billion and employs 38,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $35,307,958,272
• P/E ratio: 40.2194
• PEG ratio: 2.5604

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3. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)

Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened the day at $1,525.81 after a previous close of $1,535.04. The latest price was $1,550.01 (25 minute delay). Chipotle Mexican Grill is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$6 billion and employs 88,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $43,069,468,672
• P/E ratio: 122.0639
• PEG ratio: 2.4029

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4. Restaurant Brands International (QSR)

Restaurant Brands International stock opened the day at $63.28 after a previous close of $64.12. The latest price was $63.79 (25 minute delay). Restaurant Brands International is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$5 billion and employs 5,200 staff.

• Market capitalization: $19,526,522,880
• P/E ratio: 40.0313
• PEG ratio: 1.69

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5. Dominos Pizza (DPZ)

Dominos Pizza stock opened the day at $374.20 after a previous close of $374.77. The latest price was $367.35 (25 minute delay). Dominos Pizza is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$4.1 billion and employs 6,900 staff.

• Market capitalization: $15,156,988,928
• P/E ratio: 31.5287
• PEG ratio: 2.4586

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6. Shake Shack (SHAK)

Shake Shack stock opened the day at $116.24 after a previous close of $115.00. The latest price was $110.89 (25 minute delay). Shake Shack is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$522.9 million and employs 7,429 staff.

• Market capitalization: $4,994,561,024
• P/E ratio: 101.44
• PEG ratio: 2.55

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7. The Wendys Company (WEN)

The Wendys Company stock opened the day at $20.46 after a previous close of $20.47. The latest price was $20.13 (25 minute delay). The Wendys Company is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$1.4 billion and employs 4,667 staff.

• Market capitalization: $4,946,138,112
• P/E ratio: 42.8462
• PEG ratio: 3.5247

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8. Jack in the Box (JACK)

Jack in the Box stock opened the day at $112.05 after a previous close of $112.09. The latest price was $109.09 (25 minute delay). Jack in the Box is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$1.1 billion and employs 5,200 staff.

• Market capitalization: $2,656,026,112
• P/E ratio: 20.1997
• PEG ratio: 1.1798

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9. Papa Johns International (PZZA)

Papa Johns International stock opened the day at $85.93 after a previous close of $84.33. The latest price was $87.16 (25 minute delay). Papa Johns International is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$1.8 billion and employs 16,700 staff.

• Market capitalization: $3,057,885,184
• P/E ratio: 72.5234
• PEG ratio: 2.895

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Bottom line

While it’s possible to turn a profit investing in fast food stocks, keep in mind that — like any investment — fast food stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions — both in the market and in the restaurant industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. And if you’re new to investing, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a critical look at your investing accounts, compare brokers to make sure you’re getting the best features in your trading account.