AES Corp vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.72 (market cap $10.49B), while Wendys Co trades at $8.65 (market cap $1.44B). The key difference: AES Corp is far larger — about 7.3× Wendys Co's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.49B | $1.44B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $10.68 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $40.75B | $5.17B |
Dividend Yield | 4.79% | 3.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.725, down 0.03% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company shows strong profitability with a 14.34% net income margin and a low P/E of 5.51. Recent news highlights a pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders in June 2026, alongside a quarterly dividend of $0.17595 per share.
The stock offers a high dividend yield and appears undervalued based on earnings, but faces risks from the acquisition's regulatory scrutiny and a recent earnings miss. Upside is capped near the $15 buyout price if the deal closes, while downside exists if approvals fail. Analyst sentiment is mixed with no sell ratings but a majority on hold.
Wendy's (WEN) stock is trading at $8.57, up 17.4% in 24 hours, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.18, beating expectations, but faces challenges including a 50% dividend cut, withdrawn 2026 outlook, and declining U.S. same-store sales as Burger King overtakes it as the second-largest U.S. burger chain. Financial metrics show a P/E of 11.44 and ROE of 108.04%, but net income margin has fallen to 5.72% for 2026.
The outlook is cautious; while valuation appears reasonable and recent earnings beats are positive, significant operational headwinds, high debt, and intense competition pose risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a majority Hold rating, reflecting uncertainty around the new CEO's turnaround plan. Investment opportunity hinges on successful execution of strategic initiatives to restore growth and profitability.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →The Wendy's Company is the second-largest burger quick-service restaurant, or QSR, chain in the United States by systemwide sales, with $11.1 billion in 2021, narrowly edging Burger King ($10.3 billion) and clocking in well behind wide-moat McDonald's ($45.7 billion). After divestitures of Tim Hortons (2006) and Arby's (2011), the firm manages just the burger banner, generating sales across a footprint that spans almost 7,000 total units in 30 countries. Wendy's generates revenue from the sale of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, and fries throughout its company-owned footprint, through franchise royalty and marketing fund payments remitted by its franchisees, which account for 94% of stores, and through franchise flipping and advisory fees.
Read more on WEN →