Below is a list of the most popular fast food stocks. What would our life be without delicious foods from all over the world? I would feel incomplete without my favorite hole-in-the-wall that serves the best food in town. Unfortunately, my beloved fast food joint is far from making a stock market debut. On the other hand, plenty of multinational fast-food companies are available for investors on the stock market.
Many partners with food delivery companies to offer their customers the smoothest experience. They are successful to various degrees both at home and internationally. There is fierce competition, and they all strive to capture as much market share as possible. This article will explore some of the biggest players in the restaurant industry and fast food stocks.
Best Fast Food Stocks 2026
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| CMG | Chipotle |
| DPZ | Domino’s |
| MCD | McDonald’s |
| QSR | Restaurant Brands |
| SBUX | Starbucks |
| WEN | Wendy's |
| WING | Wingstop |
| YUM | Yum China Holdings |
| CAVA | CAVA Group |
| BROS | Dutch Bros |
McDonald's (NYSE: MCD)
We begin our fast food stocks list with one of the biggest names in any industry. McDonald’s has been around for over 80 years and continues to grow year after year. Today, the company operates over 38,000 locations across more than 100 countries.
During the pandemic, most of its restaurants were equipped with drive-thru, delivery, and takeout options. This was thanks to a considerable investment in all those areas before the pandemic.
Additionally, McDonald’s and DoorDash (NYSE: DASH) have partnered in the US, Canada, and Australia to deliver from over 13,000 locations. They are now working to expand their delivery footprint to more countries.
The brand is so popular that its signature logo can always be found in cities, stadiums, on television, and in other public spaces worldwide. The logo might be unmistakable, but the food can vary from location to location.
Many travelers seek out a McDonald’s to taste the local menu when entering a new country. The brand is so popular that there is even a Big Mac Index that shows the price of a Big Mac in various countries.
In the years ahead, McDonald’s will undoubtedly continue to grow, thanks to numerous partnerships, sponsorships, and a stronger presence in major cities worldwide.
Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX)
Starbucks is another American multinational company in our fast food stocks list. It has stores in over 80 countries, totaling more than 40,000 locations. Since its creation, Starbucks has expanded its menu to include coffee, tea, and various foods for all times of the day.
Over the last decade, wealthier customers have increasingly favored the brand. Starbucks’ menu is more expensive than that of its competitors, and the brand has established a culture around its products. Many of its customers impatiently await the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte every fall.
Over the last decade, Starbucks has formed numerous partnerships with other brands to sell their products in its stores. Two are Seattle’s Best Coffee and Teavana, which Starbucks owns. Others are Nestlé (OTCMKTS: NSRGY) and Danone.
Starbucks also creates and sells original products to its customers. Furthermore, the company partnered with Uber Eats (NYSE: UBER) and DoorDash to deliver its products in the US and other locations. Many consumers prefer to avoid big brands and opt for local and sustainable products.
Starbucks is likely to continue growing, but it will face new competitors. Products and tastes can be replicated. The best branding will win, and the Starbucks cup can be recognized worldwide.
Domino’s (NYSE: DPZ)
Domino’s is the largest pizza chain in the world. It can serve customers across 90+ markets thanks to more than 21,700 stores. Before the pandemic began, Domino’s was very successful with its delivery and take-out services.
Domino’s isn’t known for its partnerships and advertisements. In the food delivery industry, it has partnerships with lesser-known companies, such as Grab and Foodpanda.
As for advertisements, they are straightforward and emphasize timely and fresh delivery, as well as the pizza tracker. However, Domino’s recently partnered with Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) on their original show Stranger Things.
Custom pizza boxes were sent, and their customers loved them. To continue growing, Domino’s may need to invest more in partnerships to enhance consumer engagement and maintain its competitive edge. We’d be remiss if we didn’t add them to our fast food stocks list.
Chipotle (NYSE: CMG)
In the last few years, Chipotle has been one of the most dynamic brands on the market. Currently, the company operates 3000+ locations in the US, the UK, Canada, France, and Germany.
Over 400 new restaurants have opened in the last three years, with more on the way. Many of them offer delivery and drive-thru options. That aspect of Chipotle’s business is part of its growth.
Consumers have many different ways of putting their hands on delicious Mexican food. They can order their favorite meals in countless cities thanks to third-party delivery services.
Yum! Holdings (NYSE: YUM)
We conclude our fast food stocks list with Yum and its Chinese Holdings company. Before writing this article, I wasn’t aware that both companies were responsible for some of the oldest names in the fast food industry.
Tickers trade on the NYSE under $YUM and $YUMC. Going back in history, Yum! Spun off from Pepsico in 1997. Two decades later, in 2016, Yum China Holdings spun off from Yum!
Recently, I learned that Yum! is in charge of some of the most popular restaurants in the US, namely Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC. Its Chinese counterpart operates the local versions of these chains.
Sales in the US and China are hard to compare, especially since many Chinese companies are getting audited due to inconsistencies in their earnings. One of Starbucks’ Chinese competitors, Luckin Coffee, faced issues with the SEC for providing false quarterly reports and artificially inflating its sales numbers.
Let’s hope it isn’t the case with Yum China Holdings. It has been performing very well recently, and its stock price is also high. Keep this stock on your watchlist if it isn’t already.
EATZ ETF Performance (2026 YTD)
| Year | Performance | 2026 (YTD) | +6.1% |
|---|---|
| 2025 | +15.8% |
| 2024 | +9.6% |
| 2023 | +12.7% |
| 2022 | -18.9% |
Final Thoughts on Fast Food Stocks
The restaurant and fast food industry has always been very competitive. With the pandemic, many chains had to adapt to the world of delivery and takeout. Many family-owned shops closed because they couldn’t compete with larger companies.
On the bright side, investors have numerous options as the industry continues to expand, and many partnerships are possible with other industries. Please do not trade any of the securities on this fast food stocks list unless you know how to trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fast-food stocks like McDonald's and Chipotle are among the best restaurant stocks to invest in.
Fast food stocks will always be a great buy. This industry is busy all the time, regardless of the circumstances, because we need to eat.
No, you can't. Chick-fil-A is a private company.
You can't buy Popeyes stock directly. But you can buy Restaurant Brands International stock, and they own Popeyes.
Dunkin Donuts doesn't trade on the stock market.
