Nucor Corporation vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Nucor Corporation trades at $269.17 (market cap $61.93B), while Wendys Co trades at $8.55 (market cap $1.44B). The key difference: Nucor Corporation is far larger — about 43× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (3.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NUE | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $61.93B | $1.44B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $274.74 | $10.68 |
52-Week Low | $131.78 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $66.34B | $5.17B |
Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 3.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Nucor (NUE) trades at $269.50, down 1.86% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings with EPS of $4.84 beating estimates of $4.46, driven by record steel mill shipments and higher prices. Revenue trends show recovery from 2024 lows, with 2026 projections indicating $36.1B revenue and improved margins. Analyst consensus remains positive with 59% buy ratings and a $279.63 price target, representing 3.8% upside potential.
Nucor presents a compelling investment case with earnings momentum, favorable analyst sentiment, and technical strength. Key opportunities include continued demand recovery and operational efficiency gains. However, risks include cyclical steel industry exposure, tariff policy uncertainties, and declining operating cash flow trends from 2022 peaks. The stock offers moderate upside to consensus targets but faces macroeconomic headwinds affecting industrial demand.
WEN trades at $8.595, up 17.74% in 24 hours, with a neutral technical signal. Recent Q2 2026 EPS of $0.18 beat expectations, but revenue trends are flat and net income margin declined to 5.72% in 2025. The company cut its dividend and withdrew 2026 guidance amid a strategic turnaround under new leadership, facing traffic declines and loss of its No. 2 U.S. burger chain position to Burger King.
Outlook is cautious; the dividend cut frees cash for restructuring, but execution risks are high. Valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 11.44, though high debt and competitive pressures pose significant headwinds. Analyst consensus is mixed, with 62.75% hold ratings reflecting uncertainty around the turnaround plan's success.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →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 →