Wendys Co vs Western Union Co — how do they compare? Wendys Co trades at $8.55 (market cap $1.65B), while Western Union Co trades at $7.25 (market cap $2.23B). The key difference: Western Union Co is the larger of the two by market cap, and Western Union Co pays the higher dividend (13.17%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| WEN | WU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $1.65B | $2.23B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $10.68 | $10.28 |
52-Week Low | $6.17 | $6.36 |
Enterprise Value | $5.38B | $2.13B |
Dividend Yield | 3.23% | 13.17% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Wendy's (WEN) stock is trading at $8.57, up 17.4% in 24 hours, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.18, beating expectations, but faces challenges including a 50% dividend cut, withdrawn 2026 outlook, and declining U.S. same-store sales as Burger King overtakes it as the second-largest U.S. burger chain. Financial metrics show a P/E of 11.44 and ROE of 108.04%, but net income margin has fallen to 5.72% for 2026.
The outlook is cautious; while valuation appears reasonable and recent earnings beats are positive, significant operational headwinds, high debt, and intense competition pose risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a majority Hold rating, reflecting uncertainty around the new CEO's turnaround plan. Investment opportunity hinges on successful execution of strategic initiatives to restore growth and profitability.
Western Union (WU) trades at $7.13, up 1.42% with bearish technical signals and mixed fundamentals. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics with P/E of 5.69 and P/S of 0.56, but faces revenue decline from $4.5B in 2022 to $4.05B in 2025. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $0.31 vs. $0.42 expected, continuing a trend of earnings underperformance despite strong profitability margins.
The outlook remains challenging with declining revenue trends and bearish analyst sentiment (57% Hold, 31% Sell). Key risks include competitive pressure in money transfer services and digital transition challenges. The consensus price target of $7.14 offers minimal upside potential from current levels, suggesting limited near-term growth prospects for investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Western Union provides domestic and international money transfers through its global network of about 500,000 outside agents. It is the largest money transfer company in the world and one of only a few companies with a truly global agent network.
Read more on WU →