📊 WEN Key Takeaways
Is Wendy's Co (WEN) a Good Investment?
Wendy's faces significant headwinds with revenue declining 3.1% YoY and net income falling 15.1% YoY, while carrying an extremely dangerous 23.51x debt-to-equity ratio with minimal equity cushion ($117.4M). The highly leveraged capital structure leaves the company vulnerable to further revenue declines or interest rate pressures despite currently positive free cash flow.
Why Buy Wendy's Co Stock? WEN Key Strengths
- Strong free cash flow generation of $242.6M with 11.1% FCF margin demonstrates underlying operational cash generation capability
- Operating margin of 15.8% is respectable for quick-service restaurant sector amid competitive pressures
- Adequate near-term liquidity with 1.76x current ratio and $300.8M cash on hand
WEN Stock Risks: Wendy's Co Investment Risks
- Extreme leverage with 23.51x debt-to-equity ratio and $2.8B long-term debt against only $117.4M equity creates existential vulnerability to revenue declines or rate increases
- Negative revenue trend (-3.1% YoY) and net income decline (-15.1% YoY) suggest deteriorating business fundamentals in mature market
- Interest coverage ratio of 5.6x is inadequate as buffer; further earnings decline would create debt service risk given capital structure
- Tiny equity base relative to asset/liability scale indicates limited margin for error and potential covenant pressures
Key Metrics to Watch
- Quarterly same-store sales growth trajectory and ability to stabilize revenue
- Debt levels and refinancing costs as interest rate environment evolves
- Free cash flow sustainability if revenues continue declining
Wendy's Co (WEN) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
Wendy's Co presents a mixed fundamental picture. Review the detailed metrics above to form your own investment thesis.
WEN Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
WEN vs Consumer Sector: How Wendy's Co Compares
How Wendy's Co compares to Consumer sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Wendy's Co Stock Overvalued? WEN Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Wendy's Co has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Consumer sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Wendy's Co Balance Sheet: WEN Debt, Cash & Liquidity
WEN Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Wendy's Co's revenue has grown significantly by 18% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $0.97 reflects profitable operations.
WEN Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
WEN Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $549.5M | $39.2M | $0.23 |
| Q2 2025 | $560.9M | $39.2M | $0.27 |
| Q1 2025 | $523.5M | $39.2M | $0.19 |
| Q3 2024 | $550.6M | $39.8M | $0.25 |
| Q2 2024 | $561.6M | $39.8M | $0.27 |
| Q1 2024 | $528.8M | $39.8M | $0.19 |
| Q3 2023 | $532.6M | $37.4M | $0.24 |
| Q2 2023 | $537.8M | $37.4M | $0.22 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Wendy's Co Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
WEN SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Wendy's Co (CIK: 0000030697)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about WEN
What is the AI rating for WEN?
Wendy's Co (WEN) has an AI rating of SELL with 75% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are WEN's key strengths?
Claude: Strong free cash flow generation of $242.6M with 11.1% FCF margin demonstrates underlying operational cash generation capability. Operating margin of 15.8% is respectable for quick-service restaurant sector amid competitive pressures.
What are the risks of investing in WEN?
Claude: Extreme leverage with 23.51x debt-to-equity ratio and $2.8B long-term debt against only $117.4M equity creates existential vulnerability to revenue declines or rate increases. Negative revenue trend (-3.1% YoY) and net income decline (-15.1% YoY) suggest deteriorating business fundamentals in mature market.
What is WEN's revenue and growth?
Wendy's Co reported revenue of $2.2B.
Does WEN pay dividends?
Wendy's Co pays dividends, with $129.6M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find WEN SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Wendy's Co (CIK: 0000030697) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is WEN's EPS?
Wendy's Co has a diluted EPS of $0.85.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is WEN a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Wendy's Co has a SELL rating with 75% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.
Is WEN stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for WEN: ROE of 140.6% (sector avg: 18%), net margin of 7.6% (sector avg: 8%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.
Should I buy WEN stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Wendy's Co a combined SELL rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is WEN's free cash flow?
Wendy's Co's operating cash flow is $344.5M, with capital expenditures of $101.9M. FCF margin is 11.1%.
How does WEN compare to other Consumer stocks?
Vs Consumer sector averages: Net margin 7.6% (avg: 8%), ROE 140.6% (avg: 18%), current ratio 1.76 (avg: 1.5).
Is Wendy's Co carrying too much debt?
WEN has a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.51x, which is above the Consumer sector average of 0.8x. However, the current ratio of 1.76 suggests adequate short-term liquidity.
Why is WEN's return on equity (ROE) so high?
Wendy's Co has a return on equity of 140.6%, significantly above the Consumer sector average of 18%. A high ROE indicates the company is efficient at generating profits from shareholder equity. This is supported by a 7.6% net margin.