Cardinal Health Inc vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $228.8 (market cap $53.89B), while Wendys Co trades at $7.42 (market cap $1.41B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is far larger — about 38.2× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (7.55%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $53.89B | $1.41B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $239.71 | $11.33 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $58.87B | $5.23B |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | 7.55% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cardinal Health (CAH) trades at $233.66, down 0.91% in the last session, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $3.17 surpassing expectations. Revenue reached $222.58 billion in 2025, though net margins remain thin at 0.62%. Recent news highlights growth potential in medical supplies, with earnings results for fiscal 2026 due August 11.
The outlook for CAH is positive, driven by earnings momentum and sector tailwinds, but risks include high leverage with debt-to-asset ratio at 16.09% and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $248 price target, suggesting 6% upside. Investors should weigh solid operational cash flow against negative shareholder equity and investing outflows.
Wendy's (WEN) trades at $7.50, down 0.66% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and recent meme-driven momentum. The stock shows strong valuation metrics with a P/E of 9.74 and P/S of 0.65, but faces declining net income margins, falling to 7.58% in 2025. Recent earnings beats and a 7.1% dividend yield attract income investors, while Project Fresh initiatives aim to counter traffic and cost pressures.
Outlook remains mixed: low valuation and retail enthusiasm offer upside, but margin compression and high debt pose risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $7.96 price target, suggesting limited near-term growth. Key catalysts include Q2 2026 results on August 7 and international expansion progress, though competitive and inflationary headwinds persist.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Cardinal Health is a leading pharmaceutical wholesaler, engaged in the sourcing and distribution of branded, generic, and specialty pharmaceutical products to pharmacies (retail chains, independent, and mail-order), hospitals networks, and healthcare providers. Along with AmerisourceBergen and McKesson, the three compose well over 90% of the U.S. pharmaceutical wholesale industry. Cardinal Health also supplies medical-surgical products and equipment to healthcare facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Read more on CAH →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 →