Wendys Co vs Yum China Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Wendys Co trades at $7.56 (market cap $1.44B), while Yum China Holdings Inc trades at $42.55 (market cap $14.48B). The key difference: Yum China Holdings Inc is far larger — about 10.1× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (3.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| WEN | YUMC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $1.44B | $14.48B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $9.89 | $57.95 |
52-Week Low | $6.17 | $40.18 |
Enterprise Value | $5.17B | $15.39B |
Dividend Yield | 3.71% | 2.72% |
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.
YUMC trades at $43.34, down 0.6% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but bullish oscillators. The company reported consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.70 surpassing the $0.67 estimate. Revenue grew to $11.80 billion in 2025, and net income reached $929 million. Recent developments include the acquisition of Pizza Hut brand ownership in mainland China and expansion of the Pizza Hut Burger Bar to 300 locations.
The outlook remains positive given strong analyst support, with 14 buy ratings and a consensus pointing to 25.6% upside. Key risks include execution of expansion plans and macroeconomic pressures in China. The stock presents a value opportunity with a P/E of 15.88 and solid profitability metrics, but investors should monitor competitive dynamics and consumer spending trends.
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 →With almost 10,600 units and USD 9.5 billion in systemwide sales in 2020, Yum China is the largest restaurant chain in China. It generates revenue through its own restaurants and franchise fees. Key concepts include KFC (7,166 units) and Pizza Hut (2,355), but the company's portfolio also includes other brands such as Little Sheep, East Dawning, Taco Bell, Huang Ji Huang, COFFii & Joy, and Lavazza (collectively representing about 985 units). Yum China is a trademark licensee of Yum Brands, paying 3% of total systemwide sales to the company it separated from in October 2016.
Read more on YUMC →