The Wendy’s Company $WEN Stock: International Assets Investment Management LLC Increases Holdings

International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN) by 109.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 145,000 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 75,900 shares during the quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC owned about 0.08% of Wendy’s worth $925,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Trian Fund Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Wendy’s in the second quarter worth about $252,583,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Wendy’s by 21.1% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 26,314,724 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $218,149,000 after buying an additional 4,576,075 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in Wendy’s by 20.1% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,566,985 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $54,440,000 after acquiring an additional 1,101,063 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Wendy’s by 5.6% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,493,752 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $31,232,000 after acquiring an additional 236,541 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new position in shares of Wendy’s in the first quarter valued at $26,062,000. 85.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wendy’s Stock Performance

WEN stock opened at $7.65 on Thursday. The Wendy’s Company has a 1 year low of $5.94 and a 1 year high of $10.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.59, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.95, a quick ratio of 1.88 and a current ratio of 1.90. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $6.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.37.

Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 7th. The restaurant operator reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.16 by $0.02. Wendy’s had a net margin of 5.72% and a return on equity of 115.31%. The business had revenue of $570.57 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $557.13 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.29 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that The Wendy’s Company will post 0.50 EPS for the current year.

Wendy’s Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st were paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 1st. This is a decrease from Wendy’s’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Wendy’s’s dividend payout ratio is 42.42%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on WEN. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Wendy’s in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Wendy’s in a research report on Tuesday, September 15th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Wendy’s from $8.00 to $6.50 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 26th. Stephens cut their target price on shares of Wendy’s from $8.00 to $7.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, Seaport Research Partners assumed coverage on Wendy’s in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and six have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $7.42.

Wendy’s News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Wendy’s this week:

• Neutral Sentiment: Wendy’s Q3 2026 earnings preview puts the upcoming results in focus. The article details supplied do not include estimates or guidance, so it offers no clear indication of whether results are expected to beat or miss. Wendy’s Q3 2026 Earnings Preview
• Neutral Sentiment: A report says two Wendy’s restaurants in one area have closed. The closures may affect local sales but, absent evidence of a broader pattern, are unlikely to be material to the company overall. Two area Wendy’s restaurants close
• Neutral Sentiment: One article describes Wendy’s as a potential takeover target amid challenges in the U.S. burger market. This is speculation, not a reported offer or confirmed transaction, so it should not be treated as deal-driven upside. Why Wendy’s is struggling and a potential takeover target
• Negative Sentiment: Short interest was reported at 38.46% of the float as of October 15, up 7.24% from September 30, with an estimated 9.95 days to cover. This signals substantial bearish positioning and potential volatility; short covering could also amplify a move higher, but is not guaranteed. Wendy’s short interest rises to 38.46%

About Wendy’s

The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ: WEN) operates and franchises quick-service restaurants under the Wendy’s brand. Its restaurants are known for hamburgers made with fresh, never-frozen beef, along with chicken sandwiches, salads, fries, breakfast items, desserts, and beverages.

Founded by Dave Thomas in 1969, Wendy’s has grown into an international restaurant chain with locations primarily in the United States and Canada, as well as select markets in other countries. The company’s restaurant system includes both company-operated and franchised locations.

In addition to its restaurant operations, Wendy’s supports customers through digital ordering, delivery, loyalty programs, and mobile applications.