Wendys Co vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? Wendys Co trades at $7.55 (market cap $1.44B), while Williams Companies Inc trades at $75.31 (market cap $91.92B). The key difference: Williams Companies Inc is far larger — about 63.8× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (3.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| WEN | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $1.44B | $91.92B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $9.89 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $6.17 | $56.51 |
Enterprise Value | $5.17B | $122.55B |
Dividend Yield | 3.71% | 2.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
WMB trades at $75.83, up 2.27% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong analyst consensus. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings but maintains robust profitability with a 25.18% net income margin. Recent developments include the $5.5 billion acquisition of Momentum Midstream, enhancing its natural gas infrastructure, while a court ruling vacated a key permit for the NESE pipeline project.
The stock offers growth exposure to natural gas demand driven by LNG exports and AI infrastructure, with a consensus price target of $88.14 implying 16% upside. Risks include regulatory hurdles for pipeline projects and high debt levels, but strong cash flow supports dividends and expansion.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →