Duke Energy Corp vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Duke Energy Corp trades at $123.36 (market cap $96.05B), while Wendys Co trades at $8.69 (market cap $1.44B). The key difference: Duke Energy Corp is far larger — about 66.7× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (3.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DUK | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $96.05B | $1.44B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $133.46 | $10.68 |
52-Week Low | $113.99 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $188.56B | $5.17B |
Dividend Yield | 3.52% | 3.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Duke Energy (DUK) trades at $121.19, down 2.93% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $1.43 per share, beating estimates, and maintains solid fundamentals with a 15.78% net income margin. Recent news highlights operational challenges from storms affecting customers but also strategic initiatives like a $35 million equity units offering and data center growth opportunities.
The outlook is mixed; fundamentals are robust with consistent earnings beats and a healthy dividend, but technical weakness and high debt levels pose risks. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $136.17 price target, suggesting cautious optimism for long-term investors amid near-term volatility.
Wendy's stock (WEN) trades at $7.30, down 5.07% amid significant operational challenges. The company faces declining U.S. traffic, a 50% dividend cut, and loss of its position as America's second-largest burger chain to Burger King. Despite beating Q2 2026 EPS estimates ($0.18 vs. $0.16 expected), revenue trends remain weak with profit margins contracting from 7.58% in 2025 to 5.72% projected for 2026. Technical indicators show bearish momentum with key support at $7.00.
The outlook remains challenging as new CEO Bob Wright implements a turnaround strategy. While valuation appears reasonable (P/E 11.44, P/S 0.65), execution risks are elevated given competitive pressures and $2.66 billion debt load. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 62.75% hold ratings, reflecting uncertainty about the company's ability to regain market share and improve franchisee economics.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Duke Energy is one of the largest U.S. utilities, with regulated utilities in the Carolinas, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky that deliver electricity to nearly 8 million customers. Its natural gas utilities serve more than 1.5 million customers. Duke operates in three major segments: electric utilities and infrastructure
Read more on DUK →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 →