Investors have been happy about both (NYSE: CMG) and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) businesses for most of the past year. The companies had been satisfying Wall Street with their growth figures into early 2024, but investors now have a clear favorite fast-food specialist.

Chipotle's stock is up 40% in 2024 and is sitting near an all-time high. McDonald's is trailing the S 500, meanwhile, having shed 8% in 2024 to date.

The biggest factor driving that performance gap is Chipotle's quality of growth when compared to its larger rival. Sure, both companies are boosting comparable-store sales right now. Yet McDonald's is achieving that growth through higher prices while Chipotle is earning its revenue gains the hard way.

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Source Fool.com