Better Buy: McDonald's vs. BJ's Restaurants

When I first decided to compare fast-food giant McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) to the smaller and more beaten-up casual eatery BJ's Restaurants (NASDAQ: BJRI), my initial assumption was that the Golden Arches would win, hands-down. I mean, how could BJ's, with its old-school sit-down restaurants barely generating any business in the current environment, compete against a McDonald's that's already built to serve people to-go style? 

And that's before acknowledging the fact that casual chains have lost appeal -- and market share -- to fast-casual and newer restaurant concepts over the past decade. But when you start to pull back the layers, there's actually a lot to like about BJ's, so long as you understand the risk profile. So which is the better buy? In short, both have something for investors to consider, but it boils down to what you're looking for. Keep reading to learn more. 

Image source: Getty Images.

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Source Fool.com