McDonald's Corp vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? McDonald's Corp trades at $274.15 (market cap $193.70B), while Wendys Co trades at $7.53 (market cap $1.39B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 139.4× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (3.84%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MCD | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $193.70B | $1.39B |
Volume | 2,230,036 | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $341.06 | $10.68 |
52-Week Low | $262.80 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $247.47B | $5.12B |
Dividend Yield | 2.72% | 3.84% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $274.15, down slightly by 0.12% on the day, with technical indicators showing a neutral overall signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with consistent revenue growth, reaching $26.89 billion in 2025, and robust profitability with a 31.72% net income margin. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, and the company has announced a new global growth strategy focused on automation and menu innovation to drive future performance.
The outlook for MCD is positive, supported by strong analyst consensus with a $322.45 price target implying significant upside. Key opportunities include the successful execution of its new growth plan and its defensive qualities in a challenging economy. Primary risks involve inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and intense competition in the quick-service restaurant sector.
Wendy's stock (WEN) trades at $7.69, up 4.06% in the last session, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus price target of $9.33. Recent Q2 2026 EPS beat estimates at $0.18, but revenue trends show stagnation near $2.2B, with net income declining to $165M in 2025. The company faces headwinds from a dividend cut and lost market share to Burger King, as new leadership pursues a turnaround plan amid weak U.S. traffic.
The outlook is cautious; valuation ratios like P/E of 11.67 and P/S of 0.67 suggest undervaluation, but high debt and competitive pressures pose risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 62.75% hold ratings, reflecting uncertainty over the turnaround's success. Near-term performance hinges on execution of strategic initiatives to revive sales and margins.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates fast-food restaurants in the global restaurant industry. The Company's restaurants serves a variety of value-priced menu products in countries around the world.
Read more on MCD →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 →