HCA Health Inc vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $371.94 (market cap $82.17B), while Wendys Co trades at $7.75 (market cap $1.50B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 54.8× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (7.13%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $82.17B | $1.50B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $11.33 |
52-Week Low | $334.32 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $131.08B | $5.31B |
Dividend Yield | 0.84% | 7.13% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HCA Healthcare trades at $370.74, down 0.12% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including consistent earnings beats and revenue growth to $75.6 billion in 2025. The stock faces headwinds from lowered 2026 guidance and negative news flow, but maintains a solid valuation with a P/E of 12.79 and positive analyst consensus.
The outlook is mixed: attractive valuation and operational strength support upside to the $469.40 price target, but near-term risks from payer mix shifts and legal investigations warrant caution. Long-term growth drivers include capacity expansion and medical advancements, though investor sentiment is currently pressured.
Wendy's (WEN) trades at $7.805, up 0.58% with a bullish technical signal and recent earnings beats. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics with P/E of 10.07 and P/S of 0.68, though net margins have declined to 6.77%. Recent news highlights Project Fresh initiatives and China expansion plans, while the company maintains a $0.14 dividend payment scheduled for June 2026.
WEN presents a mixed outlook with strong valuation appeal and dividend yield offset by margin pressures and declining earnings. The stock's 28% monthly gain reflects retail investor enthusiasm, but fundamental challenges require careful monitoring of turnaround execution and competitive positioning in the crowded fast-food sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →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 →