Compare Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) vs Wendys Co (WEN) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $148.16 (market cap $363.98B), while Wendys Co trades at $7.55 (market cap $1.44B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 252.8× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (3.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MRK | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $363.98B | $1.44B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $156.43 | $9.89 |
52-Week Low | $77.60 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $410.75B | $5.17B |
Dividend Yield | 2.3% | 3.71% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
MRK trades at $148.49, down 1.23% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support near $147. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.22. Revenue reached $65.01B in 2025, and the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $157, offering ~6% upside. Risks include high P/E of 118.77 and competitive pressures in pharma. Institutional buying and a 67.57% buy rating from analysts support a constructive view, though net income margin of 4.77% warrants monitoring.
Wendy's (WEN) trades at $7.61, down 5.23% on the day, reflecting bearish technical signals and negative sentiment following the collapse of Trian's potential take-private bid. The stock shows a low P/E of 11.54 and P/S of 0.66, indicating potential undervaluation, but faces declining net income margins and high debt levels. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, yet U.S. traffic fell 12.5% in 2026, highlighting operational challenges under new CEO Bob Wright's turnaround plan.
The outlook is cautious; while valuation metrics appear attractive and analyst consensus targets $8.13, near-term risks from weak sales, high leverage, and failed M&A speculation outweigh opportunities. Investors should monitor execution of the five-point reset strategy for traffic recovery, but competitive pressures and inconsistent cash flow generation pose significant headwinds for shareholder returns.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →About Wendys Co
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 →
