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WENWENConsumer Cyclical · Restaurants

WEN Stock Forecast: The Wendy's Co. Price Predictions for 2026-2027

Last close, 2 Oct 2026
$6.13
−2.00% on the day

The 24 Wall Street analysts covering The Wendy's Co. hold a median 12-month price target of $8 — +30.6% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 57 of 100 as at 2 Oct 2026 — in the upper half.

Market cap
$1.2B
Ticker Nerd rank
57 / 100
Median analyst target
$8.00
Analysts covering
24
Revenue$570.6M+1.7% y/y
Operating income$79.2M
Net income$32.6M
Free cash flow$81.0M
Quarterly, 8 quarters to 30 June 2026 · latest quarter's figure shown
Total return, dividends reinvested
1W
−6.5%
1M
−25.7%
YTD
−23.0%
1Y
−30.7%
From 52W high
−32.2%
From 52W low
+0.2%
$6.11
$9.04
52-week range, adjusted closes · the dot is the last close
Ticker Nerd rank

WEN stock analysis: one number for the whole business

Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores The Wendy's Co. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.

Where the model ranks itAs at 2 Oct 2026
57 / 100

Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested

Value
90
Issuance
87
Accruals
73
Volatility
67
Size
42
Revisions
42
Quality
41
Momentum
40
Growth
21

Value (90): The shares cost little relative to the profits and assets behind them — which can mean the market is too gloomy, or that the business really is in trouble.

Growth (21): Sales and profits are flat, shrinking, or growing more slowly than they were.

Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.

Wall Street

WEN stock forecast 2026-2027: analyst price targets & predictions

The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on WEN, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.

Share price and the analyst range, 12 monthsAdjusted close, US dollars
$5.00$6.00$7.00$8.00$9.00$10.00$11.00Jan 26Apr 26Jul 26Oct 26WENHigh $11.00Median $8.00Low $5.00

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Data provided by Twelve Data

What Wall Street says24 analysts
3 Buy16 Hold5 Sell
Low $5.00Median $8.00High $11.00

The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +30.6% from it.

Recent analyst actionsNewest first

Of the 20 most recent actions, 2 moved their price target up and 1 moved it down.

DateFirmActionRatingTarget
16 Sept 2026Seaport GlobalInitiatesNeutral—
1 Sept 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral$8.00 → $8.25
1 Sept 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral—
10 Aug 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral$7.25 → $8.00
10 Aug 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral—
28 July 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral$7.75 → $7.25
28 July 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral—
23 June 2026Stephens & Co.ReiteratesEqual-Weight$8.00
23 June 2026Stephens & Co.ReiteratesEqual-Weight—
13 May 2026Argus ResearchUpgradeBuy—
12 May 2026TD CowenReiteratesHold—
11 May 2026BMO CapitalMaintainsMarket Perform—
11 May 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral—
11 May 2026JP MorganDowngradeUnderweight—
24 Apr 2026CitigroupMaintainsNeutral—
23 Feb 2026JP MorganMaintainsNeutral—
18 Feb 2026Stephens & Co.ReiteratesEqual-Weight—
17 Feb 2026BarclaysMaintainsEqual-Weight—
17 Feb 2026BMO CapitalMaintainsMarket Perform—
17 Feb 2026Evercore ISI GroupMaintainsIn-Line—

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Market Radar

This page is one stock. Monday covers all of them.

Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.

Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. WEN appears on the weeks it earns a place.

Free, every Monday. Unsubscribe any time.

Performance

WEN vs the S&P 500

Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.

Over the twelve months to 2 Oct 2026, The Wendy's Co. returned −30.7% against +16.2% for the S&P 500, dividends included.

WEN vs S&P 500, last 12 monthsTotal return, rebased to 100
708090100110120Jan 26Apr 26Jul 26Oct 26WENS&P 500

Download this chart as an image — free to reuse; link this page as the source.

Data provided by Twelve Data

Estimates

WEN analyst estimate revisions

Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.

Which way the estimates are movingNext fiscal year
EPS revision, 90 days
−12.6%
Analysts raising
1
Analysts cutting
22
Fundamentals

The Wendy's Co. (WEN) financial data

A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.

Valuation
Trailing P/E
9.6×

Cheaper than 59% of US stocks

Price / sales
0.5×

Cheaper than 80% of US stocks

Price / book
10.3×

Cheaper than 9% of US stocks

EV / EBITDA
10.8×

Cheaper than 34% of US stocks

Growth & margins
Revenue growth (YoY)
1.7%

Higher than 31% of US stocks

Earnings growth (YoY)
−40.8%

Higher than 13% of US stocks

Gross margin
25.6%

Higher than 28% of US stocks

Operating margin
14.3%

Higher than 71% of US stocks

Net margin
5.7%

Higher than 62% of US stocks

Returns & dividend
Return on equity
108.0%

Higher than 97% of US stocks

Return on assets
3.8%

Higher than 70% of US stocks

Dividend yield
4.5%

Higher than 78% of US dividend payers

Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.

Key statistics

The Wendy's Co. (WEN) statistics: revenue, profit & scale

The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.

  • The Wendy's Co. has a market value of $1.2B and an enterprise value of $4.9B.

  • Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $2.2B. The latest quarter grew 1.7% year on year.

  • Net income over the same four quarters: $126.1M, a 5.7% net margin.

  • Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $0.66.

  • Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $264.2M, after $94.3M of capital spending.

  • The Wendy's Co. spent $16.2M on share buybacks and $106.7M on dividends in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.

  • Shares outstanding: 190.6M.

  • Trailing P/E: 9.6×; forward P/E: 12.1× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.

  • Forward dividend yield: 4.47%, paying out 85% of earnings.

  • The Wendy's Co. employs 4,967 people — $444K of revenue per employee.

Statement figures: company filings via Twelve Data, four quarters to 30 June 2026 · market figures as at 2 Oct 2026

Data provided by Twelve Data

Peers

WEN vs competitors

The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.

Its peer group, ranked by the same modelRestaurants
CompanyMarket capTKN rank
WENThe Wendy's Co.$1.2B
57
BHBiglari Holdings, Inc.$1.2B
34
CBRLCracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.$1.2B
76
SGSweetgreen, Inc.$1.1B
9
BJRIBJ's Restaurants, Inc.$1.3B
93
ARCOArcos Dorados Holdings, Inc.$1.5B
85
BLMNBloomin' Brands, Inc.$726.0M
93

Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.

The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own The Wendy's Co. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →

News

Latest WEN news & analysis

Which Companies Are Screaming ‘Take Me Private'? These 3 Fit the Bill

24/7 Wall Street · 29 Sept 2026neutral

24/7 Wall Street discusses characteristics that make companies attractive buyout targets, noting that private-equity sponsors seek strong cash flow, discounted equity valuations, and operational improvements not yet captured by management. The piece identifies three companies it believes fit that profile as potential take-private candidates.

Why it matters — Wendy's watchers would care because the article discusses take-private buyout dynamics and valuation appeal factors that are often cited in regard to restaurant chains like WEN.

What's Wrong With Wendy's Stock?

The Motley Fool · 29 Sept 2026negative

Wendy's stock has declined by more than 71% over the past five years. Bob Wright, who previously led a turnaround at Potbelly's, took over as CEO in late May.

Why it matters — The significant multi-year stock decline and the arrival of a new CEO with turnaround experience are notable developments for investors tracking Wendy's trajectory.

Wendy's is closing more stores: See a list of doomed locations from a major franchisee in ongoing bankruptcy

Fast Company · 28 Sept 2026negative

A major Wendy's franchisee that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month could close up to 30 restaurants over the next few weeks, according to new court filings tied to a cash collateral agreement.

Why it matters — Store closures by a large franchisee signal financial strain within Wendy's franchise system and could weigh on the company's revenue and restaurant count.

McDonald's Falls 4% as Investor Day Sets $8.5B Franchisee Support Plan; Wendy's Dips, Yum! Brands Holds Steady

24/7 Wall Street · 23 Sept 2026neutral

McDonald's shares fell sharply after its Investor Day detailed a multi-year strategy featuring an $8.5 billion franchisee support commitment running through 2036. In the same session, Wendy's shares dipped while Yum! Brands held steady amid the fast-food sector reaction.

Why it matters — A Wendy's watcher would note that a major competitor's investor-day moves and share decline can influence sentiment across the fast-food sector, including Wendy's stock.

Wendy's Stock Moves Higher: What's Going On?

Benzinga · 21 Sept 2026negative

Wendy's Co. shares moved higher on Monday, although the stock had recently reached a fresh multi-year low after a series of escalating negative news over the past several weeks.

Why it matters — Wendy's watchers would follow this because the stock's rebound comes after a period of mounting setbacks that pushed shares to a multi-year low.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about WEN stock

What is the WEN stock price forecast for 2026-2027?

The 24 Wall Street analysts covering The Wendy's Co. have a median 12-month price target of $8, with estimates ranging from $5 to $11. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Is WEN stock a buy right now?

Of the 24 analysts covering The Wendy's Co., 3 rate it a Buy, 16 a Hold and 5 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks The Wendy's Co. 57 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 2 Oct 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.

How does Ticker Nerd's model rank WEN?

As at 2 Oct 2026, The Wendy's Co. ranks 57 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Value (90 of 100).

Will WEN stock go up?

No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 24 analysts implies +30.6% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks The Wendy's Co. 57 out of 100 as at 2 Oct 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.

What is the WEN stock forecast for 2030?

No analyst covering The Wendy's Co. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for WEN are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $5 to $11 over the next 12 months.

How has WEN stock performed over the past year?

The Wendy's Co. returned -30.7% over the 12 months to 2 Oct 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.

What does The Wendy's Co. do?

The Wendy's Company is a quick-service restaurant operator and franchisor focused on serving a broad menu of made-to-order fast-food items. The Wendy's Company manages its restaurant system through U.S.

What is the latest news on WEN?

The most recent item we track (24/7 Wall Street, 29 Sept 2026): "Which Companies Are Screaming ‘Take Me Private'? These 3 Fit the Bill". 24/7 Wall Street discusses characteristics that make companies attractive buyout targets, noting that private-equity sponsors seek strong cash flow, discounted equity valuations, and operational improvements not yet captured by management. The piece identifies three companies it believes fit that profile as potential take-private candidates.

Company

About The Wendy's Co.

The Wendy's Company is a quick-service restaurant operator and franchisor focused on serving a broad menu of made-to-order fast-food items. The Wendy's Company manages its restaurant system through U.S. operations, international locations, and real estate and development activities tied to owned and leased sites. Its menu centers on burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, salads, breakfast offerings, chili, baked potatoes, and the Frosty dessert, positioning the brand in the competitive burger and broader quick-service segment. The company serves customers through company-operated restaurants and a large franchise network, giving it a hybrid business model that combines food service with brand licensing and property-related operations. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, The Wendy's Company remains a recognized participant in the global restaurant industry, with an emphasis on consistent menu identity, franchising efficiency, and everyday dining occasions.

CEO Mr. Robert D. Wright · 4,967 employees · United States · https://www.wendys.com