The Wendy’s Company $WEN Stock Bought by International Assets Investment Management LLC

International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN) by 109.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor 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’s holdings in Wendy’s were worth $925,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Trian Fund Management L.P. bought a new stake in Wendy’s during the second quarter worth approximately $252,583,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Wendy’s by 21.1% in the second 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 in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in shares of Wendy’s in the first quarter valued at $26,062,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wendy’s by 2,612.4% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,340,282 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $16,265,000 after buying an additional 2,254,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Wendy’s during the 2nd quarter valued at $13,820,000. 85.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wendy’s Stock Up 5.2%

WEN stock opened at $7.65 on Thursday. The company has a market cap 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 quick ratio of 1.88, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.95. The Wendy’s Company has a 12-month low of $5.94 and a 12-month high of $10.12. The company has a 50 day moving average of $6.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.37.

Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 7th. The restaurant operator reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.16 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $570.57 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $557.13 million. Wendy’s had a return on equity of 115.31% and a net margin of 5.72%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.29 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that The Wendy’s Company will post 0.50 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wendy’s Cuts Dividend

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

Key Wendy’s News

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%

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WEN shares. KeyCorp reissued a “sector weight” rating on shares of Wendy’s in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Stephens decreased their target price on Wendy’s from $8.00 to $7.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Seaport Research Partners began coverage on Wendy’s in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. UBS Group reduced their target price on Wendy’s from $8.00 to $6.50 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 26th. Finally, Argus lowered Wendy’s from a “buy” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and six have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $7.42.

Wendy’s Company Profile

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.