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The Wendy's Company (WEN)

Consumer Cyclical | Restaurants | Dublin, United States | NasdaqGS
8.27 USD +0.46 (5.822%) ⇧ (Aug. 28, 2026, 4 p.m. EDT)
After hours: 8.22 -0.05 (-0.050%) ⇩ (Aug. 28, 2026, 7:59 p.m. EDT)
Short-term:★☆☆☆☆Long-term:★⯪☆☆☆Dividends:★★☆☆☆
Hot Take ↕ | Aug. 22, 2026, 5:03 a.m. EDT

The investment case for Wendy's is currently broken by a severe disconnect between its reported profitability and its actual operational reality. Despite a trailing P/E of 13 and a seemingly robust free cash flow, the company has slashed its dividend by half and cut guidance, admitting that U.S. sales are lagging competitors. This is not a temporary stumble; it is a structural deterioration in the core business model that the market is pricing in aggressively. The stock has already fallen 36% year-over-year, yet the recent price action remains volatile and unsupported by a recovery in same-store traffic or margins. The options market confirms this pessimism, with traders stacking massive put positions at the $7.00 level, effectively betting that the turnaround will fail again. With a payout ratio nearing 85% and a new CEO inheriting a struggling franchise, the safety margin is an illusion. Investors should avoid this name until there is concrete evidence of a sales inflection point, as the current valuation ignores the risk of permanent capital destruction.
Model Selection — Backtest MAE (log-scale, lower is better)
ModelMAE
AutoTheta ✓0.136467
AutoARIMA0.138829
AutoETS0.154167
MSTL0.175232

Forecast horizon: 45 days | Selected: AutoTheta

Forecast Reliability
Score 45%
H-stat 2.41
Ljung-Box p 0.000
Jarque-Bera p 0.511
Excess Kurtosis 0.06
Attribute Value
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Ex Dividend Date 2026-08-31
Last Dividend Date 2026-05-31
Debt to Equity Ratio 3380.615
Revenue per Share 11.572
Market Cap 1,576,584,704
Trailing P/E 11.81
Forward P/E 15.61
Beta 0.38
Profit Margins 5.72%
Website https://www.wendys.com

As of Aug. 22, 2026, 5:03 a.m. EDT: Speculators are heavily positioned for downside protection, with out-of-the-money put open interest significantly outweighing call open interest across nearly all expirations. The strike distribution shows a massive wall of put volume at the $7.00 level, suggesting a collective expectation that the stock will test or breach this floor. While there is some call activity near the current price, the overwhelming capital allocation is defensive, betting on further weakness rather than a rebound.

Dividend Data

Yield Summary
Last Yield 1yr Yield 3yr Avg 5yr Avg
1.78% 6.73% 5.98% 4.75%
Dividend History
Date Dividend Yield %
2026-06-01 0.140000 1.783440
2026-03-02 0.140000 1.881720
2025-12-01 0.140000 1.701094
2025-09-02 0.140000 1.363194
2025-06-02 0.140000 1.208981
2025-03-03 0.250000 1.674481
2024-12-02 0.250000 1.384275
2024-09-03 0.250000 1.516990
2024-06-03 0.250000 1.442585
2024-02-29 0.250000 1.380453
2023-11-30 0.250000 1.333333
2023-08-31 0.250000 1.263264
2023-05-31 0.250000 1.135847
2023-02-28 0.250000 1.138434
2022-11-30 0.125000 0.554078
2022-08-31 0.125000 0.651721
2022-05-31 0.125000 0.670601
2022-03-04 0.125000 0.580585
2021-11-30 0.120000 0.583090
2021-08-31 0.120000 0.521286
2021-05-28 0.100000 0.430663
2021-03-04 0.090000 0.464396
2020-11-30 0.070000 0.318327
2020-08-31 0.050000 0.238777
2020-05-29 0.050000 0.235183
2020-02-28 0.120000 0.635593
2019-11-29 0.120000 0.559701
2019-08-30 0.100000 0.454545
2019-05-31 0.100000 0.543774
2019-02-28 0.100000 0.577034
2018-11-30 0.085000 0.474066
2018-08-31 0.085000 0.481586
2018-05-31 0.085000 0.527623
2018-02-28 0.085000 0.532915
2017-11-30 0.070000 0.470114
2017-08-30 0.070000 0.472335
2017-05-30 0.070000 0.433437
2017-02-27 0.070000 0.505415
2016-11-29 0.065000 0.504658
2016-08-30 0.060000 0.597610
2016-05-27 0.060000 0.583090
2016-02-26 0.060000 0.639659
2015-11-27 0.060000 0.572519
2015-08-28 0.055000 0.596529
2015-05-28 0.055000 0.484581
2015-02-26 0.055000 0.486295
2014-11-26 0.055000 0.639535
2014-08-28 0.050000 0.614251
2014-05-29 0.050000 0.607533
2014-02-27 0.050000 0.503018
2013-11-27 0.050000 0.577367
2013-08-29 0.050000 0.655308
2013-05-30 0.040000 0.662252
2013-02-27 0.040000 0.727273
2012-11-29 0.040000 0.854701
2012-08-30 0.020000 0.464037
2012-05-30 0.020000 0.442478
2012-02-28 0.020000 0.386100
2011-11-29 0.020000 0.416667
2011-08-30 0.020000 0.404858
2011-05-27 0.020000 0.404040
2011-02-25 0.020000 0.411523
2010-11-29 0.020000 0.414938
2010-08-30 0.015000 0.375940
2010-05-27 0.015000 0.331858
2010-02-25 0.015000 0.313808
2009-11-27 0.015000 0.368550
2009-08-28 0.015000 0.288462
2009-05-28 0.015000 0.350467
2009-03-18 0.015000 0.279851
2008-11-26 0.015000 0.371287
2008-09-17 0.080000 1.616162
2008-05-29 0.080000 1.137980
2008-02-27 0.078431 0.863927
2007-11-29 0.078431 0.941172
2007-08-29 0.078431 0.550962
2007-05-30 0.078431 0.483381
2007-02-27 0.078431 0.408161
2006-11-29 0.078431 0.389862
2006-08-30 0.078431 0.504093
2006-05-30 0.078431 0.481925
2006-02-28 0.078431 0.471140
2005-11-30 0.078431 0.489294
2005-08-30 0.078431 0.489894
2005-06-01 0.063725 0.420437
2005-03-01 0.063725 0.414273
2004-12-01 0.063725 0.501927
2004-09-01 0.063725 0.597422
2004-06-01 0.063725 0.614943
2004-03-02 0.063725 0.584528
2003-11-28 0.063725 0.580871
2003-09-11 0.063725 0.649346
2003-09-05 21.078430 217.831796
Additional Data
dividendRate 0.28
dividendYield 3.58
exDividendDate 2026-09-01
trailingAnnualDividendRate 0.56
trailingAnnualDividendYield 0.07165707
lastDividendValue 0.14
lastDividendDate 2026-06-01
dividendDate 2026-09-15

Info Dump

Attribute Value
52 Week Change -0.19474196
Address1 One Dave Thomas Boulevard
All Time High 32.35294
All Time Low 1.470588
Ask 8.29
Ask Size 5
Audit Risk 3
Average Analyst Rating 3.0 - Hold
Average Daily Volume10 Day 8,342,050
Average Daily Volume3 Month 16,658,084
Average Volume 16,658,084
Average Volume10Days 8,342,050
Beta 0.379
Bid 8.0
Bid Size 1
Board Risk 3
Book Value 0.607
City Dublin
Compensation As Of Epoch Date 1,767,139,200
Compensation Risk 6
Country United States
Crypto Tradeable 0
Currency USD
Current Price 8.27
Current Ratio 1.897
Custom Price Alert Confidence HIGH
Date Short Interest 1,786,665,600
Day High 8.3
Day Low 7.85
Debt To Equity 3,380.615
Dividend Date 1,789,430,400
Dividend Rate 0.28
Dividend Yield 3.58
Earnings Call Timestamp End 1,786,105,800
Earnings Call Timestamp Start 1,786,105,800
Earnings Growth -0.408
Earnings Quarterly Growth -0.408
Earnings Timestamp 1,786,105,800
Earnings Timestamp End 1,793,968,200
Earnings Timestamp Start 1,793,968,200
Ebitda 455,947,008
Ebitda Margins 0.2069
Enterprise To Ebitda 11.642
Enterprise To Revenue 2.409
Enterprise Value 5,308,154,368
Eps Current Year 0.51258
Eps Forward 0.52963
Eps Trailing Twelve Months 0.7
Esg Populated 0
Ex Dividend Date 1,788,220,800
Exchange NMS
Exchange Data Delayed By 0
Exchange Timezone Name America/New_York
Exchange Timezone Short Name EDT
Fifty Day Average 7.8584
Fifty Day Average Change 0.4116006
Fifty Day Average Change Percent 0.05237715
Fifty Two Week Change Percent -19.474197
Fifty Two Week High 10.45
Fifty Two Week High Change -2.1799994
Fifty Two Week High Change Percent -0.20861238
Fifty Two Week Low 6.07
Fifty Two Week Low Change 2.2000003
Fifty Two Week Low Change Percent 0.36243826
Fifty Two Week Range 6.07 - 10.45
Financial Currency USD
First Trade Date Milliseconds 326,467,800,000
Five Year Avg Dividend Yield 4.82
Float Shares 157,127,276
Forward Eps 0.52963
Forward P E 15.6146755
Free Cashflow 173,339,744
Full Exchange Name NasdaqGS
Full Time Employees 4,967
Fullday Change 0.455
Fullday Change Percent 5.82214
Fullday Price 8.22
Gmt Off Set Milliseconds -14,400,000
Governance Epoch Date 1,785,542,400
Gross Margins 0.33111
Gross Profits 729,672,000
Has Pre Post Market Data 1
Held Percent Insiders 0.09149
Held Percent Institutions 0.87157
Implied Shares Outstanding 190,639,000
Industry Restaurants
Industry Disp Restaurants
Industry Key restaurants
Ir Website http://www.aboutwendys.com/Investors/
Is Earnings Date Estimate 1
Language en-US
Last Dividend Date 1,780,272,000
Last Dividend Value 0.14
Last Fiscal Year End 1,766,880,000
Long Business Summary The Wendy's Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation, development, and franchising of a system of quick-service restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company operates through the Wendy's U.S., Wendy's International, and Global Real Estate & Development segments. Its restaurants offer a menu that includes hamburger sandwiches and chicken sandwiches; chicken tenders and nuggets, chili, french fries, baked potatoes, salads, soft drinks, Frosty desserts, and kids' meals; breakfast menu, including the Breakfast Baconator sandwich and seasoned products; and a variety of promotional products on a limited time basis. The company also owns and leases real estate properties. As of December 28, 2025, there were 5,969 Wendy's restaurants in operation in the United States and 1,428 Wendy's restaurants in operation in 38 foreign countries and U.S. territories. The company was formerly known as Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc. and changed its name to The Wendy's Company in July 2011. The Wendy's Company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.
Long Name The Wendy's Company
Market us_market
Market Cap 1,576,584,704
Market State CLOSED
Max Age 86,400
Message Board Id finmb_23557
Most Recent Quarter 1,782,604,800
Net Income To Common 126,061,000
Next Fiscal Year End 1,798,416,000
Non Diluted Market Cap 1,489,843,785
Number Of Analyst Opinions 19
Open 7.85
Operating Cashflow 358,492,000
Operating Margins 0.14292
Overall Risk 1
Payout Ratio 0.8485
Peg Ratio 1.76
Phone 614 764 3100
Post Market Change -0.05000019
Post Market Change Percent -0.6045972
Post Market Price 8.22
Post Market Time 1,787,961,571
Previous Close 7.815
Price Eps Current Year 16.134068
Price Hint 2
Price To Book 13.624383
Price To Sales Trailing12 Months 0.71542686
Profit Margins 0.0572
Quick Ratio 1.493
Quote Source Name Nasdaq Real Time Price
Quote Type EQUITY
Recommendation Key hold
Recommendation Mean 3.04167
Region US
Regular Market Change 0.455
Regular Market Change Percent 5.82214
Regular Market Day High 8.3
Regular Market Day Low 7.85
Regular Market Day Range 7.85 - 8.3
Regular Market Open 7.85
Regular Market Previous Close 7.815
Regular Market Price 8.27
Regular Market Time 1,787,947,200
Regular Market Volume 8,239,275
Return On Assets 0.03817
Return On Equity 1.08042
Revenue Growth 0.017
Revenue Per Share 11.572
Sand P52 Week Change 0.20204377
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Sector Disp Consumer Cyclical
Sector Key consumer-cyclical
Share Holder Rights Risk 1
Shares Outstanding 190,639,000
Shares Percent Shares Out 0.2678
Shares Short 51,057,370
Shares Short Previous Month Date 1,784,073,600
Shares Short Prior Month 57,533,325
Short Name Wendy's Company (The)
Short Percent Of Float 0.3754
Short Ratio 5.29
Source Interval 15
State OH
Symbol WEN
Target High Price 13.0
Target Low Price 5.0
Target Mean Price 7.78947
Target Median Price 8.0
Total Cash 341,211,008
Total Cash Per Share 1.79
Total Debt 4,072,525,056
Total Revenue 2,203,697,920
Tradeable 0
Trailing Annual Dividend Rate 0.56
Trailing Annual Dividend Yield 0.07165707
Trailing Eps 0.7
Trailing P E 11.814286
Trailing Peg Ratio 1.5029
Triggerable 1
Two Hundred Day Average 7.6993
Two Hundred Day Average Change 0.57070065
Two Hundred Day Average Change Percent 0.07412371
Type Disp Equity
Volume 8,239,275
Website https://www.wendys.com
Zip 43,017