Altria Group Inc vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Altria Group Inc trades at $68.02 (market cap $113.83B), while Wendys Co trades at $7.53 (market cap $1.45B). The key difference: Altria Group Inc is far larger — about 78.5× Wendys Co's market cap, and Altria Group Inc pays the higher dividend (6.51%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MO | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $113.83B | $1.45B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $74.92 | $9.89 |
52-Week Low | $54.72 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $136.04B | $5.18B |
Dividend Yield | 6.51% | 3.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Altria Group (MO) trades at $68.18, down 1.02% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The stock offers a high dividend yield of 6.45% following its 61st annual increase. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly results, with Q1 2026 beating expectations but Q2 2026 missing. Revenue remains stable around $20.1 billion (2025), with strong profitability margins, though net income declined to $6.95 billion in 2025 from $11.3 billion in 2024. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $68.50 price target.
MO presents a value opportunity with a low P/E of 14.35 and robust cash flows supporting dividends, but faces risks from regulatory lawsuits, declining cigarette volumes, and high debt levels. The stock's appeal hinges on dividend sustainability amid secular challenges in the tobacco industry.
Wendy's stock (WEN) trades at $7.61, down 5.23% over 24 hours, reflecting recent volatility after takeover speculation faded. The stock shows a bearish technical trend with key support at $7 and resistance at $8. Fundamentally, the company has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters but faces declining net income margins, from 7.58% in 2025 to 5.72% projected for 2026. Recent news highlights CEO Bob Wright's turnaround efforts, including a new marketing chief appointment to address quality and traffic declines.
The outlook is mixed: valuation ratios like P/E of 11.54 and P/S of 0.66 appear attractive relative to peers, but execution risks persist amid competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is cautious with 64.71% hold ratings, though the $8.13 price target implies modest upside. Key risks include sustained traffic declines and high debt levels, with debt-to-asset ratio rising to 55.68% in 2025.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Helix Innovations, and Philip Morris Capital, although the company plans to wind down Philip Morris Capital by the end of 2022. It holds a 10% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the U.S. with a 43% share in 2020. Altria holds strategic investments in JUUL Labs (35% economic interest) and Cronos (42%).
Read more on MO →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 →