Principal Financial Group Inc. Buys 393,105 Shares of The Wendy’s Company $WEN

Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN) by 107.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 759,620 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 393,105 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.40% of Wendy’s worth $6,958,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in Wendy’s by 5.6% during the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 19,697 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 1,036 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Wendy’s by 35.0% during the 2nd quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 4,017 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 1,041 shares during the last quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey grew its stake in shares of Wendy’s by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 63,577 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $726,000 after acquiring an additional 1,094 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc grew its stake in shares of Wendy’s by 17.6% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 7,641 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $87,000 after acquiring an additional 1,144 shares during the period. Finally, Earned Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Wendy’s by 10.8% in the 3rd quarter. Earned Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,814 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $108,000 after acquiring an additional 1,151 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.96% of the company’s stock.

Wendy’s Stock Performance

NASDAQ WEN opened at $7.48 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $8.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.89, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The Wendy’s Company has a 1 year low of $7.08 and a 1 year high of $16.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.42 billion, a PE ratio of 7.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.38.

Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The restaurant operator reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $439.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $537.11 million. Wendy’s had a net margin of 8.43% and a return on equity of 125.74%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.25 earnings per share. Wendy’s has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.560-0.600 EPS. Analysts predict that The Wendy’s Company will post 0.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wendy’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.5%. Wendy’s’s payout ratio is presently 59.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on WEN shares. Evercore dropped their price objective on shares of Wendy’s from $11.00 to $9.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $9.00 price target (down previously from $12.00) on shares of Wendy’s in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of Wendy’s from $9.00 to $8.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Wendy’s from $11.00 to $9.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Wendy’s in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, sixteen have given a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Wendy’s has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $10.20.

Wendy’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS beat — Wendy’s reported $0.16 EPS vs. consensus $0.14, showing some margin resilience despite traffic weakness. Wendy’s (WEN) Q4 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: International strength — global systemwide sales grew internationally (Q4 and full-year), providing a growth pocket outside the U.S. weakness. THE WENDY’S COMPANY REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2025 RESULTS AND PROVIDES 2026 OUTLOOK
• Positive Sentiment: Short-term traffic promotions — deals (e.g., $1 burgers) and limited-time items could support near-term comp trends if they drive visits. Wendy’s celebrating ‘singles’ with $1 burgers on Feb. 15. See deal
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro backdrop steady — CPI came in roughly as expected today, suggesting inflation dynamics aren’t an immediate upside/downside surprise for consumer spending. CPI Increased in Line With Expectations
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/earnings context available — full earnings call transcript and multiple analyst takes provide detail but deliver mixed views on whether Wendy’s is a value opportunity or a value trap. The Wendy’s Company (WEN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Planned U.S. closures — management said it will close roughly 5–6% of U.S. restaurants in H1 2026 (about 240–360 locations), signaling structural problems in core U.S. markets. Wendy’s says as many as 350 US locations will close in the first half of this year
• Negative Sentiment: Weak FY26 guidance — Wendy’s set FY2026 EPS at $0.56–$0.60 vs. consensus ~$0.86, a sizable cut that pressures valuation and near‑term upside. THE WENDY’S COMPANY REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2025 RESULTS AND PROVIDES 2026 OUTLOOK
• Negative Sentiment: Top-line weakness — Q4 revenue and systemwide sales declined (U.S. comps fell), and coverage notes the company’s U.S. struggles are expected to persist into FY26. Wendy’s Sales Dented by Persistent U.S. Struggles
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction context — shares hit a 52-week low amid a highly shorted profile, amplifying downside risk if U.S. trends don’t stabilize. Highly Shorted Stock Wendy’s Hits 52-Week Low On Weak Outlook

About Wendy’s

The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN) operates as a global quick-service restaurant chain, best known for its square-shaped beef patties, fresh ingredient sourcing and signature Frosty dessert. The company’s menu features a variety of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, breakfast sandwiches, sides and beverages, designed to appeal to a broad customer base seeking both classic and contemporary fast-food options. Wendy’s has placed particular emphasis on product innovation, introducing limited-time offerings and revamped core menu items to maintain customer interest and respond to evolving dining trends.

Founded in 1969 by entrepreneur Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio, Wendy’s expanded rapidly through both company-owned and franchised outlets.