Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Vanguard S&P 500 ETF trades at $687.5, while Wendys Co trades at $7.63 (market cap $1.50B). The key difference: Wendys Co pays a 7.13% dividend while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF pays none, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Wendys Co nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VOO | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $698.29 | $11.33 |
52-Week Low | $571.45 | $6.17 |
Market Cap | — | $1.50B |
Enterprise Value | — | $5.31B |
Dividend Yield | — | 7.13% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
VOO, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, trades at $682.20, down slightly by 0.14% over 24 hours. Technical indicators show a bearish trend with moving averages signaling caution, though oscillators are neutral. The ETF recently surpassed $1.0 trillion in assets under management, reflecting strong institutional confidence. A dividend of $1.96 is scheduled for payment on June 30, 2026.
The outlook for VOO is mixed; its low-cost, diversified exposure to the S&P 500 offers long-term growth potential, but current technical weakness and elevated market valuations pose near-term risks. Investors should weigh the ETF's historical resilience against potential volatility from economic shifts or sector rotations.
Wendy's (WEN) trades at $7.63, down 1.68% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and recent meme stock momentum. The company shows consistent earnings beats but faces margin pressure, with net income declining from $204M in 2023 to $165M in 2025. Valuation metrics appear attractive with a P/E of 10.2 and P/S of 0.69, while analyst consensus is mixed with a $7.96 price target.
The stock presents a value opportunity with solid dividends and low valuation, but investors face risks from declining profitability, high debt levels, and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include Q2 2026 earnings on August 7 and ongoing Project Fresh initiatives, though weak traffic and cost inflation remain headwinds for sustained growth.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
VOO is a foundational ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Index, providing exposure to 500 of the largest and most established companies in the United States. Renowned for its ultra-low expense ratio and tax efficiency, it serves as a core building block for long-term investors seeking to capture the total return of the U.S. large-cap market in a single, highly liquid vehicle.
Read more on VOO →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 →