Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc
NYSE: ARCO · CONSUMER CYCLICAL · RESTAURANTS
Updated 2026-04-29
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc (ARCO) Stock Valuation Analysis
Fair value estimate, historical valuation range, and quality signals for ARCO.
Valued
Valuation reasonably reflects current fundamentals. Limited margin of safety at these levels.
ARCO historical valuation range
Where current P/E sits in ARCO's own 5Y range.
ARCO intrinsic value (DCF)
DCF-based fair value estimate vs current market price.
Intrinsic value calculated using discounted cash flow (DCF) model based on projected free cash flows, discount rate, and terminal growth assumptions. A positive margin of safety indicates the current price is below estimated fair value, providing a cushion against estimation error.
ARCO valuation signals
Quick-read green flags, caution flags, and risks based on current metrics.
P/E Ratio — History
Current: 8.57x
P/S Ratio — History
Current: 0.39x
Is ARCO overvalued in 2026?
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc (ARCO) currently trades at $8.66 per share with a market capitalization of $1,824,342,000.00. Based on our multi-factor framework, the stock trades at a fair valuation with a Smart Value Score of 60/100. This score blends growth quality, financial health, and price attractiveness into a single institutional-grade read.
The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 8.6x, below its 5-year median of 11.4x. The PEG ratio of 0.54 suggests earnings growth is outpacing the multiple, a classic sign of undervaluation.
Looking at its own history, ARCO is currently trading cheaper than 79% of the last 5Y on P/E. This places it in the 21th percentile of its historical range, a level that has historically coincided with attractive entry points.
Our discounted cash flow model estimates ARCO's intrinsic value at $18.39 per share, against the current market price of $8.66. This implies a margin of safety of +54.27%. A meaningful cushion exists against model error, making this a reasonable risk-adjusted entry.
Financial quality is a concern. The Piotroski F-Score of 3/9 flags weakening fundamentals that deserve closer scrutiny before the valuation case can be fully trusted.
Bottom line: ARCO trades at a fair valuation on our framework, with a Smart Value Score of 60/100. The valuation is defensible but offers no obvious bargain. Patience or a better entry price may reward disciplined buyers.
Frequently asked questions
Is ARCO overvalued in 2026?
Based on a Smart Value Score of 60/100, ARCO is fairly valued. Price reasonably reflects current fundamentals with limited cushion in either direction.
What is ARCO's fair value?
Our DCF model estimates ARCO's intrinsic value at $18.39 per share, versus the current price of $8.66. This produces a margin of safety of +54.27%.
What P/E ratio does ARCO trade at?
ARCO trades at a P/E of 8.6x on trailing twelve-month earnings, compared to its 5-year median of 11.4x.
Is ARCO a buy based on valuation?
WallStSmart does not issue buy or sell recommendations. Our Smart Value Score of 60/100 reflects the combined read on growth, quality, and price. The profile is balanced. Best suited for investors with an existing thesis.
How does ARCO's valuation compare to its history?
On P/E, ARCO currently sits in the 21th percentile of its own 5Y range. That is historically cheap relative to where it has traded over the period.
What is ARCO's Smart Value Score?
ARCO's Smart Value Score is 60/100. The Smart Value Score is a proprietary WallStSmart metric blending growth quality, financial health, and valuation attractiveness into a single 0-100 read. Scores above 75 are rare and indicate strong multi-factor alignment.