WEN

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- July 17, 2026. Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. (OTCQX: MHGU), one of the nation’s premier franchise operators, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 28, 2026. Second Quarter Highlights: Sales were $150.0 million compared to $163.5 million for the same period last year, which included approximately 40 additional restaurants. Restaurant Operating Income was $10.3 million compared to $15.2 million for the same period last year. Net (Loss) Earnings was ($13.6) million compared to $0.3 million for the same period last year. Current period included $13.8 million in one-time restructuring and closing costs. Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) adjusted for these one-time costs was $2.8 million compared to $8.2 million for the same period last year. “Despite headwinds from geopolitical uncertainty, reduced marketing and rising gasoline prices impacting consumers, our Wendy's restaurants delivered consistently improved sales trends throughout the quarter. We are forecasting a significant recovery in 2027, driven by additional EBITDA from the closure of underperforming locations, modifying daypart hours of operation, and the internal cost restructuring completed in 2026 demonstrating a clear, quantifiable return on the decisive actions taken. These actions are strengthening our foundation and positioning our business to regain momentum, deliver sustainable growth and long-term value as we enter the next chapter with Wendy's under the new, energized leadership of CEO Bob Wright,” stated Meritage CEO Robert E. Schermer, Jr. Six-Month Highlights: Sales were $273.6 million compared to $318.1 million for the same period last year, which included approximately 40 more restaurants. Restaurant Operating Income was $15.6 million compared to $24.8 million for the same period last year. Net (Loss) was ($23.1) million compared to ($4.0) million for the same period last year and included $18.7 million in one-time restructuring and closing costs. Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) adjusted for these one-time costs was $3.2 million compared to $11.0 million for the same period last year. 2026 Outlook: Improving Sales & Margins Ahead Full-Year Sales: $520 to $530 million Restaurant Operating Income: $30 to $40 million The Company’s five-year growth plan includes returning to our core focus of acquis...

DUBLIN, Ohio, July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wendy's Company (Nasdaq: WEN) will release its second quarter 2026 results before the market opens on Friday, August 7. The Company will host a conference call that same day at 8:30 a.m. ET, with a simultaneous webcast accessible from the Company's Investor Relations website at www.irwendys.com. The related presentation materials will also be available on the Company's Investor Relations website. The live conference call will be available by telephone at (833) 461-5787 for North American callers and (585) 542-9983 for international callers, both using event ID 791 958 064. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website. About Wendy'sThe Wendy's Company (Nasdaq: WEN) and Wendy's® franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide. Founded in 1969, Wendy's is committed to the promise of Fresh Famous Food, Made Right, For You, delivered to customers through its craveable menu including made-to-order square hamburgers using fresh beef*, and fan favorites like the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and nuggets, Baconator®, and the Frosty® dessert. Wendy's supports the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, established by its founder, which seeks to dramatically increase the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America's foster care system. Learn more about Wendy's at www.wendys.com. For details on franchising, visit www.wendys.com/franchising. Connect with Wendy's on X, Instagram and Facebook. *Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S. and Alaska, as well as Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the UK, and other select international markets. Investor Contact:Aaron BroholmHead of Investor Relations(614) 764-3345; [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-wendys-company-to-report-second-quarter-2026-results-on-august-7-302821171.html

US stock futures were mostly trending higher on Wednesday as markets looked to recover from the prev

Wendy’s stock price has taken a beating over the past six months, shedding 24.1% of its value and falling to a new 52-week low of $6.24 per share. This may have investors wondering how to approach the situation. Is there a buying opportunity in Wendy's, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? Get the full stock story straight from our expert analysts, it’s free. Despite the more favorable entry price, we’re cautious about Wendy's. Here are three reasons why WEN doesn’t excite us, plus one stock we’d rather own. Same-store sales is a key performance indicator used to measure organic growth at restaurants open for at least a year. Wendy’s demand has been shrinking over the last two years as its same-store sales have averaged 2.5% annual declines. Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a company’s potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite. Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect Wendy’s revenue to stall, a deceleration versus This projection is underwhelming and implies its menu offerings will face some demand challenges. As long-term investors, the risk we care about most is the permanent loss of capital, which can happen when a company goes bankrupt or raises money from a disadvantaged position. This is separate from short-term stock price volatility, something we are much less bothered by. Wendy’s $4.12 billion of debt exceeds the $298.7 million of cash on its balance sheet. Furthermore, its 7× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio (based on its EBITDA of $509.2 million over the last 12 months) shows the company is overleveraged. At this level of debt, incremental borrowing becomes increasingly expensive and credit agencies could downgrade the company’s rating if profitability falls. Wendy's could also be backed into a corner if the market turns unexpectedly – a situation we seek to avoid as investors in high-quality companies. We hope Wendy's can improve its balance sheet and remain cautious until it increases its profitability or pays down its debt. We cheer for all companies serving everyday consumers, but in the case of Wendy's, we’ll be cheering from the sidelines. After the recent drawdown, the stock trades at 12× forward P/E (or $6.24 per share). While this valuation is reasonable, we don’t see a big opportunity...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Friday, May 8, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET Chief Executive Officer — Ken Cook Chief Financial Officer — Suzanne Thuerk Senior Vice President, Investor Relations — Aaron Broholm Ken Cook: Thank you, Aaron, and good morning, everyone. Let me start by thanking our franchisees, restaurant teams and company employees who together as One Wendy's, have stayed focused on improving restaurant operations elevating the customer experience and enhancing franchisee economics. Our focus in the U.S. continues to be on advancing our Project Fresh turnaround strategy. We are confident our actions will drive to improvement as we move through the year. Internationally, our business continues to expand in key growth markets, and we are excited to have recently signed a franchise agreement to expand into China, further strengthening our development pipeline, I'll share more on this in a moment. Starting with the first quarter, results were largely in line with our expectations, though still not where we need to be, and we continue to execute on the early phase of our turnaround plan. We're focused on the customer and seeing progress on our key priorities. Global systemwide sales declined 5.5% in the quarter, driven by same-restaurant sales in the U.S., reflecting a challenging competitive environment. Results were also impacted by severe weather and the actions we're taking to optimize our restaurant footprint and operating hours. These factors were partially offset by international system-wide sales growth of 6%, driven by net unit growth. Adjusted EBITDA was $111 million and adjusted EPS was $0.12 for the quarter. Before I discuss our progress in the U.S., I'll start with an update on our International business. We're excited to announce today that we recently signed a new franchise agreement to build up to 1,000 restaurants across China over the next 10 years. Our franchise partner is a large restaurant operator with decades of experience in China. They're known for strong hospitality and have a deep understanding of the Chinese consumer. We could not ask for a better partner. Together, we are well positioned to deliver an exceptional experience for Chinese consumers, and we can't wait for them to taste the best hamburgers in QSR, alongside locally inspired menu innovation. Additionally, we're rolling out our future fresh restaurant design to help driv...

Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN) and the best and worst performers in the traditional fast food industry. Traditional fast-food restaurants are renowned for their speed and convenience, boasting menus filled with familiar and budget-friendly items. Their reputations for on-the-go consumption make them favored destinations for individuals and families needing a quick meal. This class of restaurants, however, is fighting the perception that their meals are unhealthy and made with inferior ingredients, a battle that's especially relevant today given the consumers increasing focus on health and wellness. The 12 traditional fast food stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.4%. While some traditional fast food stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.5% since the latest earnings results. Founded by Dave Thomas in 1969, Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN) is a renowned fast-food chain known for its fresh, never-frozen beef burgers, flavorful menu options, and commitment to quality. Wendy's reported revenues of $540.6 million, up 3.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.4%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates. Wendy's pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 8% since reporting and currently trades at $7.51. Is now the time to buy Wendy's? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. With a name that translates into ‘The Crazy Chicken’, El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO) is a fast food chain known for its citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken recipe that hails from the coastal town of Sinaloa, Mexico. El Pollo Loco reported revenues of $126.2 million, up 5.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 2.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $13.87. Is now the time to buy El Pollo Loco? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. Fou...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Monday closed up +0.19%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.19%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.29%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.18%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +0.28%. Stock indexes settled higher on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 10 posting new all-time highs amid strong corporate earnings results and resurgent optimism around artificial intelligence. Strength in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks led the broader market higher on Monday. Gains in stocks were limited on Monday amid rising oil prices and bond yields after the US and Iran failed to reach terms to end the war in the Middle East. Global bond yields rose on concern that the continued standoff will keep energy prices elevated and could force the world’s central banks to tighten monetary policy. The 10-year T-note yield rose +5 bp to 4.41%. Dear D-Wave Quantum Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for May 12 Berkshire Hathaway Just Upped Its Stake in Sumitomo Stock. Greg Abel Says It’s Holding for the Long Term. This Analyst Just Raised the Price Target on Coherent Stock by 50%. What to Know. Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! In the latest developments in the Middle East, President Trump and Iran rejected each other's latest peace proposals to end the 10-week conflict. Iran offered to transfer some of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a third country, but rejected the idea of dismantling its nuclear facilities. Iran also demanded a lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions relief, while maintaining a degree of control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the ceasefire in place since last month, a drone strike over the weekend set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Also, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait both said they intercepted hostile drones. Monday’s US economic news was slightly weaker than expected after Apr existing home sales rose +0.2% m/m to 4.02 million, below expectations of 4.05 million. Chinese trade news was better than expected, a positive factor for global growth. China Apr exports rose +14.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +8.4% y/y. Apr imports rose +25.3% y/y, stro...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.25%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.05%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.17%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.29%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.19%. Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs amid strong corporate earnings results and resurgent optimism around artificial intelligence. Gains in stocks are limited today amid rising oil prices and bond yields after the US and Iran failed to reach terms to end the war in the Middle East. Global bond yields rose on concern that the continued standoff will keep energy prices elevated and could force the world’s central banks to tighten monetary policy. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3 bp to 4.39%. Broadcom Hits a Bottleneck as OpenAI Revenue Concerns Claim Their First Casualty Dan Ives Can’t Make It Any Clearer: Palantir Stock Is Still a ‘Golden Goose’ Despite Q1 Earnings Fears Palantir Stock Has a ‘High-Class Problem’: Demand for Its Software Is Far Outpacing Supply Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. In the latest developments in the Middle East, President Trump and Iran rejected each other's latest peace proposals to end the 10-week conflict. Iran offered to transfer some of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a third country, but rejected the idea of dismantling its nuclear facilities. Iran also demanded a lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions relief, while maintaining a degree of control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the ceasefire in place since last month, a drone strike over the weekend set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Also, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait both said they intercepted hostile drones. Today’s US economic news was slightly weaker than expected after Apr existing home sales rose +0.2% m/m to 4.02 million, below expectations of 4.05 million. Chinese trade news was better than expected, a positive factor for global growth. China Apr exports rose +14.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +8.4% y/y. Apr imports rose +25.3% y/y, stronger than expectations of 20.0% y/y. WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up by more than 2% today, as optimism that the US an...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.17%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.10%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.06%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.19%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.05%. Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 10 posting new all-time highs amid strong corporate earnings results and resurgent optimism around artificial intelligence. Gains in stocks are limited today amid rising oil prices and bond yields after the US and Iran failed to reach terms to end the war in the Middle East. Global bond yields rose on concern that the continued standoff will keep energy prices elevated and could force the world’s central banks to tighten monetary policy. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3 bp to 4.39%. Broadcom Hits a Bottleneck as OpenAI Revenue Concerns Claim Their First Casualty Palantir Stock Has a ‘High-Class Problem’: Demand for Its Software Is Far Outpacing Supply Dan Ives Can’t Make It Any Clearer: Palantir Stock Is Still a ‘Golden Goose’ Despite Q1 Earnings Fears Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. In the latest developments in the Middle East, President Trump and Iran rejected each other's latest peace proposals to end the 10-week conflict. Iran offered to transfer some of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a third country but rejected the idea of dismantling its nuclear facilities. Iran also demanded a lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions relief, while maintaining a degree of control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the ceasefire in place since last month, a drone strike over the weekend set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Also, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait both said they intercepted hostile drones. Chinese trade news was better than expected, a positive factor for global growth. China Apr exports rose +14.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +8.4% y/y. Apr imports rose +25.3% y/y, stronger than expectations of 20.0% y/y. WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up by more than 2% today, as optimism that the US and Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz was dashed after President Trump said Iran's latest peace proposals were "totally unacceptable." The strait remains essentially closed, as abo...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Friday closed up +0.84%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.02%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +2.35%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.79%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +2.37%. Stock indexes settled higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new record highs. Chipmaker and AI-infrastructure stocks led the overall market higher on Friday, offsetting concerns about the Iran war. Stronger-than-expected corporate earnings are pushing stocks higher. Weakness in software stocks on Friday weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. As CPUs Steal the Show, AMD Stock Just Got a New Street-High Price Target How Intel Stock Could Be the Biggest Winner from AMD’s Explosive Earnings Win Cathie Wood Dumps More AMD Shares Despite Its Massive 108% Rally. Here's Why. Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. Stock indexes also found support today on signs of resiliency in the US labor market after April nonfarm payrolls rose more than expected and March nonfarm payrolls were revised upward. Stocks rallied on Friday despite a larger-than-expected decline in US consumer sentiment to a record low. US Apr nonfarm payrolls rose by +115,000, stronger than expectations of +65,000, and Mar nonfarm payrolls were revised upward to +185,000 from the previously reported +178,000. The Apr unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3%, right on expectations. US Apr average hourly earnings rose +0.2% m/m and +3.6% y/y, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +3.8% y/y. The University of Michigan’s US May consumer sentiment index fell -1.6 to a record low of 48.2 (data from 1978), weaker than expectations of 49.5. The University of Michigan US May 1-year inflation expectations rate unexpectedly eased to +4.5% from +4.7% in Apr, weaker than expectations of an increase to 4.8%. The May 5-10 year inflation expectations rate unexpectedly eased to +3.4%, weaker than expectations of no change at +3.5%. In the latest developments in the Middle East, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said Iran seized an oil tanker on Friday in the Strait of Hormuz for "attempting to disrupt oil exports and the interests of the Iranian nation." Also, US forces targeted missile and drone launch sites and other milita...

Interested in The Wendy's Company? Here are five stocks we like better. Wendy’s Q1 results were mixed but largely in line with expectations, as U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 7.8% and adjusted EBITDA declined to $111.3 million amid traffic pressure, weather impacts and higher commodity and labor costs. International growth remained a bright spot, with systemwide sales up 6% overseas and Wendy’s announcing its largest-ever China franchise agreement to open up to 1,000 restaurants over the next 10 years. The company is pushing its Project Fresh turnaround through menu upgrades, operational improvements and footprint optimization, and it reaffirmed its 2026 outlook for flat global systemwide sales, $460 million to $480 million of adjusted EBITDA, and a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share. 3 Bargain-Cheap Small Caps Worth a Second Look Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN) reported first-quarter results that management said were largely in line with expectations, while acknowledging the restaurant chain remains in the early stages of a U.S. turnaround effort aimed at improving traffic, operations and franchisee economics. Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Ken Cook said the company is focused in the U.S. on advancing its Project Fresh turnaround strategy, while the international business continues to expand in key growth markets. The company also announced a new franchise agreement to build up to 1,000 restaurants in China over the next 10 years. → Insider Sales: Top AST SpaceMobile Insider Cuts Postion Over 30% MarketBeat Week in Review – 03/02 - 03/06 “Results were largely in line with our expectations, though still not where we need to be,” Cook said. He cited a challenging competitive environment, severe weather and the company’s efforts to optimize its restaurant footprint and operating hours as factors affecting the quarter. Global systemwide sales declined 5.5% on a constant currency basis in the first quarter. U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 7.8%, driven by lower traffic, partially offset by a higher average check, according to Suzie Thuerk, Chief Accounting Officer and Global Head of FP&A. → Light Speed Returns: Corning Cashes In on NVIDIA Growth Wendy’s Is Down Sharply—Is the Dividend a Bargain or Value Trap? Thuerk said severe weather accounted for about one full percentage point of pressure during the quarter, with the impact occurring mos...

Wendy's (WEN) reported $540.64 million in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 3.3%. EPS of $0.12 for the same period compares to $0.20 a year ago. The reported revenue represents a surprise of +2.88% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $525.51 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.10, the EPS surprise was +16.39%. While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately. Here is how Wendy's performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Number of restaurants - Total: 7,251 versus the six-analyst average estimate of 7,301. Number of restaurants - Company-operated - Total: 431 compared to the 433 average estimate based on six analysts. Same-Restaurant - U.S.: -7.8% versus -6.6% estimated by six analysts on average. Number of restaurants - Franchised - Total: 6,820 versus the six-analyst average estimate of 6,868. Revenues- Franchise rental income: $58.9 million versus $56.13 million estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +0.8% change. Revenues- Sales at Company-operated restaurants: $225.5 million compared to the $229.22 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.7% year over year. Revenues- Advertising funds: $108.34 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $94.06 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +8%. Revenues- Franchise royalty revenue and fees: $147.9 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $139.96 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1.9%. Revenues- Franchise fees: $31.71 million versus $23.35 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +35.1% change. Revenues- Franchise royalty: $116.19 million versus $116.53 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this num...