Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN) Stock

WENDY'S CO/THE

Wendy's

The Wendy's Company is the second-largest burger quick-service restaurant, or QSR, chain in the United States by systemwide sales, with $12.6 billion in 2024, narrowly edging Burger King ($11.5 billion) and clocking in well behind wide-moat McDonald's ($51.1 billion). After divestitures of Tim Hortons (2006) and Arby's (2011), the firm manages just the burger banner, generating sales across a footprint that spanned more than 7,200 total stores in 30 countries as of year-end 2024. 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 roughly 94% of stores, and through franchise flipping and advisory fees.

Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett maintains Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $16 to $14.

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Analyst Ratings

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Wendy's, Lowers Price Target to $14

The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) announced on Tuesday that Kirk Tanner will take over as President and CEO, beginning August 18, marking a significant leadership transition for the company.
Tanner, a seasoned executive in the food and beverage sector, succeeds Michele Buck, who is retiring after a transformative tenure. Buck will remain with the company for a period in an advisory role to support a smooth leadership transition.
The leadership change follows a detailed succession plan, positioning Hershey for sustained growth and innovation under new guidance.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44643347/hershey-expands-snack-empire-with-acquisition-of-lesserevil-for-750m" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hershey Bites Into Better-For-You Snacking With LesserEvil Deal: Details</a>
Tanner currently serves as CEO of The Wendy&#8217;s Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>), where he prioritized brand growth and international expansion. He will depart the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/n46294385/wendys-appoints-ken-cook-as-interim-ceo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fast-food chain on July 18, 2025</a>. Wendy&#8217;s CFO Ken Cook has been appointed as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement.
Tanner also brings more than 30 years of experience from PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>), where he most recently led the $28 billion North American beverage division.
He also held several senior positions, including President of Global Foodservice and VP of Sales for the UK and Ireland. Hershey&#8217;s Board praised Tanner as a strong operator with deep experience in snack foods, beverages, and innovation.
Chair of the CEO Search Committee Mary Kay Haben highlighted Tanner&#8217;s balanced leadership and strategic vision as ideal for driving the company forward. She also thanked Buck for her impactful leadership and for building Hershey&#8217;s status as a multi-category snacking powerhouse.
In a statement, Tanner expressed enthusiasm for leading Hershey, saying the opportunity was &#8220;once-in-a-lifetime.&#8221; He emphasized his commitment to consumers, partners, and employees. Buck also voiced confidence in Tanner, calling it a privilege to support the transition after leading the company through years of sustained growth.
Price Action: HSY shares are trading lower by 2.98% to $170.32&nbsp;at last check Tuesday, while WEN shares are trading lower by 0.13% to $11.29.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants/25/05/45202730/wendys-mixes-weak-sales-with-a-side-of-resilience-fast-food-restaurant-has-solid-marketing-menu-innovation-plans-says-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wendy&#8217;s Mixes Weak Sales With A Side Of Resilience: Fast-Food Restaurant Has &#8216;Solid Marketing,&#8217; Menu Innovation Plans, Says Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

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Hershey Taps PepsiCo And Wendy's Veteran Kirk Tanner As Next CEO

Kirk Tanner to Depart Wendy's for CEO Role at The Hershey Company
DUBLIN, Ohio, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) today announced that Kirk Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer, is leaving to become the President and CEO at The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) and will depart The Wendy's Company effective July 18, 2025. Wendy's Board of Directors has launched a comprehensive search process to select a permanent CEO.

Management

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Leaves Co To Become The President And CEO At The Hershey Company, Departure Effective July 18, 2025; Wendy's Board Has Appointed Ken Cook, CFO, As Interim CEO, Launches Comprehensive Search Process To Select A Permanent CEO

With the S&amp;P 500 Index meandering along at a 1.69% year-to-date return, you can't fault investors looking for some juice out of their portfolios at the mid-point of 2025.
One way to increase your portfolio&#8217;s profit potential is to look for undervalued stocks that aren't generating headlines or creating buzz on Reddit but are showing signs of popping in the second half of 2025.
Undervalued stocks are securities that trade below their assumed value.
That low price may be justified, as a low stock price doesn&#8217;t guarantee a future rebound if the underlying business doesn&#8217;t improve.
"Yet companies with strong net margins, low earnings multiples (relative to price), and clean balance sheets are more likely to be resilient and do well through downturns," said Dan Buckley, chief analyst at DayTrading.com
Buckley points to one underdog stock that made it big: Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>).
"Look at Advanced Micro Devices, which for years was a distant second to Intel in the semiconductor industry," he said. "10 years ago, it commonly traded at around a market cap of only $3 billion, and now it's over $200 billion."
Buckley noted that AMD&#8217;s resurgence was driven by a strategic pivot under CEO Lisa Su. The company focused on high-performance computing and consistently delivered innovative, powerful chips that won significant market share.
"This turnaround shows how strong leadership and a clear, forward-looking strategy can transform an underperforming company into a market leader," Buckley said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Matt Maley's Strategy for Navigating Global Risks and Sector Shifts—Live This Wednesday</h2>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Potential Underdog Stocks for 2025</h2>
Benzinga canvassed several market mavens this week and asked them for potential powerhouse underdog stocks waiting for their chance to howl – here's what they had to say.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Centene</h3>
Year-to-Date Performance: -8.96% as of June 20, 2025
Benzinga Value Rating: 73.05
Brian Krawez, CFA and president of Scharf Investments, LLC, likes Centene (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>), a healthcare enterprise company.
"CNC is one of our favorite under-the-radar stocks," Krawez said. 
Centene is a health insurance managed care organization (MCO) focusing on the Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA Marketplace programs. Founded in 1984, Centene is the top player in Medicaid and Marketplace and now has 28 million members across the US.
"It collects premiums from the health plan sponsors and contracts with the providers to pay for care services that its members use," he noted.
Over the past 10 years, CNC has grown revenue by +26% CAGR and adjusted accordingly. EPS stands at plus-20% CAGR, driven by a steady Medicaid program expansion. "Recently, earnings growth has slowed due to post-COVID Medicaid redetermination and elevated member care utilization rates," Krawez added. "But as the states update the price reimbursement to reflect this increased member utilization level, we expect CNC to return to a more normalized margin."
Krawez believes that in the long haul, Medicaid will continue to grow at its historical rate of 5%-7 %, which would be good news for CNC shareholders. "It's the largest player in the space and should continue to leverage its scale and expertise in steering care to the most efficient place and grow earnings double-digits," he said. &#8220;In addition, management is a good capital allocator and has been aggressively buying back stock, signaling their confidence in the company's prospects."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wendy's</h3>
Year-to-Date Performance: -30.49%
Benzinga Value Rating: 40.88
Buckley's favorite underdog stock is the iconic fast-food chain, Wendy&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>).
"Wendy's has strong brand recognition, a quality P/E ratio (12x) in an otherwise relatively expensive market, and consistent dividend payments (around a 5% yield)," Buckley said. "Yet it's currently overshadowed by current market pressures."
Additionally, the company&#8217;s digital growth and international expansion represent "compelling long-term value" that the market might be underappreciating, he added. "Many consumers are also highly value-conscious, which can support Wendy&#8217;s growth as it competes on affordability." 
Pivoting to a more efficient digital operation should help Wendy&#8217;s, too.
"While the fast-food industry faces challenges with reduced foot traffic, Wendy&#8217;s focus on meal deals and growing its digital and delivery platforms caters directly to current consumer preferences for convenience and value," he added.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Eli Lilly</h3>
Year-to-Date Performance: 1.69%
Benzinga Quality Rating: 89.63
Chad Harmer, chief investment officer, founder, and financial planner at Harmer Wealth Management Corp. favors Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) as its underdog play in 2025.
"Major advancements in Eli's Obesity and Diabetes drugs like Mounjaro set the company up incredibly well for growth in the current market," Harmer said. "Moving forward, Eli is incredibly well-positioned to benefit from the aging population with Alzheimer&#8217;s therapies like Donanemab, bone health and osteoporosis treatments like Forteo, and an expanded pipeline in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, all conditions prevalent in older age groups."
Harmer says, like with all of the above stocks, investors have to tread cautiously when vetting underdog stocks.
"Watch out for the ‘Value Trap,&#8217;" he added. "Stocks that seem cheap or undervalued need to be carefully investigated to ensure business fundamentals, management, and growth projections remain strong."
Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.
Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

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3 'Underdog Stocks' For The Rest Of 2025

15 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have set 12-month price targets for Wendy's, revealing an average target of $14.8, a high estimate of $21.00, and a low estimate of $13.00. A 9.04% drop is evident in the current average compared to the previous average price target of $16.27. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750168832_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
The perception of Wendy's by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jim Salera</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Strelzik</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alton Stump</td>
<td>Loop Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jeffrey Bernstein</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jake Bartlett</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Ivankoe</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Glass</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jim Salera</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Charles</td>
<td>TD Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jim Salera</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dennis Geiger</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jeffrey Bernstein</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jake Bartlett</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris O'Cull</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jim Salera</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Wendy's. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Wendy's compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for Wendy's's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Wendy's's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WEN/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Wendy's analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Wendy's: A Closer Look</h2>
The Wendy's Company is the second-largest burger quick-service restaurant, or QSR, chain in the United States by systemwide sales, with $12.6 billion in 2024, narrowly edging Burger King ($11.5 billion) and clocking in well behind wide-moat McDonald's ($51.1 billion). After divestitures of Tim Hortons (2006) and Arby's (2011), the firm manages just the burger banner, generating sales across a footprint that spanned more than 7,200 total stores in 30 countries as of year-end 2024. 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 roughly 94% of stores, and through franchise flipping and advisory fees.
<h3>Financial Milestones: Wendy's's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization: Indicating a reduced size compared to industry averages, the company's market capitalization poses unique challenges.
Revenue Growth: Wendy's's revenue growth over a period of 3M has faced challenges. As of 31 March, 2025, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -2.11%. This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Consumer Discretionary sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Wendy's's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 7.49%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Wendy's's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 20.14%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Wendy's's ROA lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns from its assets. With an ROA of 0.79%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Debt Management: The company faces challenges in debt management with a debt-to-equity ratio higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 31.3, caution is advised due to increased financial risk.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Forecasting The Future: 15 Analyst Projections For Wendy's

Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Jim Salera reiterates Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Equal-Weight and maintains $14 price target.

Reiteration

Stephens & Co. Reiterates Equal-Weight on Wendy's, Maintains $14 Price Target

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/06/25</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$62.1K</td>
<td>24.3K</td>
<td>193.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIVN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/13/25</td>
<td>$14.50</td>
<td>$79.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/21/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$29.0K</td>
<td>10.8K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WEN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/21/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$47.0K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LULU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/13/25</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$82.0K</td>
<td>39</td>
<td>626</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CHWY</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/13/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$29.9K</td>
<td>121</td>
<td>425</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$25.7K</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$33.6K</td>
<td>344</td>
<td>42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BKNG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/06/25</td>
<td>$5645.00</td>
<td>$30.4K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DRI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$28.8K</td>
<td>476</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, is expiring today. Parties traded 296 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.1K, with a price of $209.0 per contract. There were 24305 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 193767 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RIVN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on June 13, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $14.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $79.0K, with a price of $79.0 per contract. There were 1234 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2046 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 168 day(s) on November 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.0K, with a price of $29.0 per contract. There were 10858 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1611 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding WEN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 168 day(s) on November 21, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.0K, with a price of $47.0 per contract. There were 2110 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1007 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LULU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 7 day(s) on June 13, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $82.0K, with a price of $820.0 per contract. There were 39 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 626 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CHWY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 7 day(s) on June 13, 2025. This event was a transfer of 285 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.9K, with a price of $105.0 per contract. There were 121 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 425 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 14 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $340.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.7K, with a price of $1285.0 per contract. There were 70 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 95 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 70 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.6K, with a price of $840.0 per contract. There were 344 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 42 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BKNG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be neutral, is expiring today. Parties traded 5 contract(s) at a $5645.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.4K, with a price of $6085.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 30 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For DRI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 42 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 27 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.8K, with a price of $1070.0 per contract. There were 476 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 29 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

BKNG

CHWY

CVNA

LULU

RIVN

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Looking into the current session, Wendy's Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) shares are trading at $11.87, after a 2.50% spike. Moreover, over the past month, the stock spiked by 1.36%, but in the past year, decreased by 30.05%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is undervalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1749070821_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Wendy's P/E Compared to Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 70.62 in the Hotels, Restaurants &amp; Leisure industry, Wendy's Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 12.32. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1749070821_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

Intraday Update

A Look Into Wendy's Inc's Price Over Earnings

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/23/25</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$77.1K</td>
<td>21.7K</td>
<td>128.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/23/25</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$37.8K</td>
<td>36.2K</td>
<td>15.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LCID</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/30/25</td>
<td>$3.00</td>
<td>$25.8K</td>
<td>10.6K</td>
<td>14.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ETSY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>28.0K</td>
<td>5.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CAVA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$32.9K</td>
<td>668</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GME</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$99.8K</td>
<td>31.4K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/21/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$46.1K</td>
<td>8.8K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EBAY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$72.50</td>
<td>$49.0K</td>
<td>911</td>
<td>135</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WEN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$30.2K</td>
<td>491</td>
<td>110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FIVE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$39.2K</td>
<td>80</td>
<td>90</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on May 23, 2025. This event was a transfer of 78 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $77.1K, with a price of $985.0 per contract. There were 21780 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 128182 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on May 23, 2025. This event was a transfer of 700 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.8K, with a price of $54.0 per contract. There were 36275 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 15084 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LCID (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on May 30, 2025. Parties traded 1832 contract(s) at a $3.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.8K, with a price of $14.0 per contract. There were 10654 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 14013 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ETSY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 31 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $125.0 per contract. There were 28020 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5708 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CAVA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAVA#NYSE">CAVA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 70 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.9K, with a price of $470.0 per contract. There were 668 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2405 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GME (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 497 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $99.8K, with a price of $201.0 per contract. There were 31497 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2341 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 185 day(s) on November 21, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 49 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.1K, with a price of $46.0 per contract. There were 8826 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1019 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding EBAY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 122 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $72.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.0K, with a price of $490.0 per contract. There were 911 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 135 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding WEN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 241 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 110 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.2K, with a price of $275.0 per contract. There were 491 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 110 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FIVE (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 59 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 36 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.2K, with a price of $1092.0 per contract. There were 80 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 90 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AMZN

CAVA

EBAY

ETSY

FIVE

LCID

In a new SEC filing on May 6, it was revealed that Pringle, President at Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>), executed a significant exercise of company stock options.
What Happened: Pringle, President at Wendy's, exercised stock options for 136,819 shares of WEN stock. This information was disclosed in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000030697/000112760225013489//Archives/edgar/data/30697/000112760225013489/0001127602-25-013489-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Tuesday. The exercise price of the options was $9.98 per share.
The Wednesday morning update indicates Wendy's shares up by 0.51%, currently priced at $11.93. At this value, Pringle's 136,819 shares are worth $267,257.
<h3>All You Need to Know About Wendy's</h3>
The Wendy's Company is the second-largest burger quick-service restaurant, or QSR, chain in the United States by systemwide sales, with $12.6 billion in 2024, narrowly edging Burger King ($11.5 billion) and clocking in well behind wide-moat McDonald's ($51.1 billion). After divestitures of Tim Hortons (2006) and Arby's (2011), the firm manages just the burger banner, generating sales across a footprint that spanned more than 7,200 total stores in 30 countries as of year-end 2024. 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 roughly 94% of stores, and through franchise flipping and advisory fees.
<h3>Wendy's's Economic Impact: An Analysis</h3>
Revenue Growth: Wendy's's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has faced challenges. As of 31 March, 2025, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -2.11%. This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Consumer Discretionary sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Evaluating Earnings Performance:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: The company sets a benchmark with a high gross margin of 28.27%, reflecting superior cost management and profitability compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): With an EPS below industry norms, Wendy's exhibits below-average bottom-line performance with a current EPS of 0.2.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: Wendy's's debt-to-equity ratio stands notably higher than the industry average, reaching 31.3. This indicates a heavier reliance on borrowed funds, raising concerns about financial leverage.
Valuation Metrics: A Closer Look
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: Wendy's's P/E ratio of 12.63 is below the industry average, suggesting the stock may be undervalued.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The current P/S ratio of 1.08 is below industry norms, suggesting potential undervaluation and presenting an investment opportunity for those considering sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): Wendy's's EV/EBITDA ratio at 10.86 suggests potential undervaluation, falling below industry averages.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a smaller scale relative to peers. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
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<h3>Illuminating the Importance of Insider Transactions</h3>
Insider transactions contribute to decision-making but should be supplemented by a comprehensive investment analysis.
Exploring the legal landscape, an "insider" is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as stipulated by Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This encompasses executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be submitted within two business days of the transaction.
Highlighted by a company insider's new purchase, there's a positive anticipation for the stock to rise.
But, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors.
<h3>A Deep Dive into Insider Transaction Codes</h3>
When analyzing transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> tend to focus on those in the open market, detailed in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase,while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000030697">Check Out The Full List Of Wendy's's Insider Trades.</a>
Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves
Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don't miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22in8&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Trades

Insider Activity Update: Abigail Pringle Executes Options Exercise, Resulting In $267K At Wendy's

BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik maintains Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Market Perform and lowers the price target from $17 to $15.

BMO Capital Maintains Market Perform on Wendy's, Lowers Price Target to $15

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Compass Point analyst Joe Flynn downgraded the rating for MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>) from Neutral to Sell and lowered the price target from $25 to $9.5. MARA Holdings shares closed at $13.09 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MARA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger downgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) from Outperform to Market Perform and cut the price target from $550 to $503. Vertex Pharmaceuticals shares closed at $500.19 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VRTX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Jenny Ping downgraded the rating for National Grid plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NGG#NYSE">NGG</a>) from Buy to Neutral. National Grid shares closed at $71.84 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NGG/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JWedbush analyst Michael Pachter downgraded Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TBCH#NASDAQ">TBCH</a>) from Outperform to Neutral and lowered the price target from $21 to $9. Turtle Beach shares closed at $10.76 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/tbch/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying VRTX stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="623" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/06071502/image-52-1024x623.png" alt="" class="wp-image-903019" style="width:603px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/06071502/image-52-1024x623.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/06071502/image-52-300x182.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/06071502/image-52-768x467.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/06071502/image-52.png 1095w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Downgrades

Pre-Market Outlook

MARA

RDDT

TBCH

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This Vertex Pharmaceuticals Analyst Is No Longer Bullish; Here Are Top 4 Downgrades For Tuesday

Wendy&#8217;s Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) shares were rising in early trading on Monday, despite the company announcing on Friday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45197309/these-analysts-cut-their-forecasts-on-wendys-after-q1-results">downbeat first-quarter sales</a>.
The announcement came amid an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">exciting earnings season</a>. Here are some key analyst takeaways.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Truist Securities On Wendy&#8217;s</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/589dc33d43eaaa000122c591/jake-bartlett">Analyst Jake Bartlett</a> maintained a Buy rating, while reducing the price target from $17 to $16.
Wendy&#8217;s reported first-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $124.5 million, beating consensus of $122.1 million, Bartlett said in a note. He added, however, that U.S. same-store sales declined by 2.8%, worse than consensus of down 1.6%, while restaurant-level margins (RLM) of 14.3% also missed Street expectations of 14.5%.
US same-store sales decelerated sharply from the fourth quarter's 4.1% "due to adverse weather in January and February and a sharp macro pull-back in demand in March," the analyst wrote. Although management lowered their full-year systemwide sales growth guidance to -2% to flat, their prior projection of +2% to +3%, the company's "solid marketing plan" could partially offset macro headwinds, the analyst further stated.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">RBC Capital Markets On Wendy&#8217;s</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/6645dc02eba8c50001257ef4/logan-reich">Analyst </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/6645dc02eba8c50001257ef4/logan-reich">Logan Reich</a> reiterated a Sector Perform rating with a price target of $14.
Wendy&#8217;s reported mixed results for the first quarter, with U.S. same-store sales being impacted by consumer softness, which seems to have continued into April, Reich said. While weather impacted sales during the first two months of the year, same-store sales "inflected to positive territory exiting February following the Thin Mint Frosty launch on 2/21," he added.
The deterioration in consumer sentiment and spending prompted management to lower their full-year guidance, the analyst stated. The guidance for company-owned margins were lowered by 100 basis points to 15%, "which could be partially attributed to tariffs in addition to softer top-line," he further wrote.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Stephens On Wendy&#8217;s</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/6495598a08348c00019c0ae9/jim-salera">Analyst Jim Salera</a> reaffirmed an Equal-weight rating and price target of $14.
Wendy&#8217;s total revenue of $523.5 million came in short of the consensus of $526.5 million, Salera said. The company's global same-store sales declined by 2.1%, worse than consensus of down 1%, he added.
The guidance reduction implies "softer same-store sales given the weaker-than-expected macro backdrop," the analyst wrote. Management lowered their 2025 earnings guidance to 92 cents-98 cents per share, from its prior projection of 98 cents-$1.02 per share, he further stated.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">KeyBanc Capital Markets On Wendy&#8217;s</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58e64302b85e9300014c97e6/eric-gonzalez">Analyst Eric Gonzalez</a> maintained a Sector Weight rating on the stock.
Wendy's same-store sales growth fell short of expectations, "as weather and declining consumer sentiment weighed on domestic trends, Gonzalez said. The trends are expected to remain in the low-to-middle single-digit range in the current quarter, he added.
"As such, the Company lowered its full-year outlook for system sales, EBITDA, and EPS, which assumes the current industry malaise persists," the analyst wrote. Wendy's is planning menu innovation, brand collaborations and other initiatives that could boost momentum in the second half of the year, he further stated.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Oppenheimer On Wendy&#8217;s</h1>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/590b5cc4290fa700017b6a59/christopher-glynn">Analyst Brian Bittner</a> reiterated a Perform rating on the stock.
Wendy&#8217;s trimmed its 2025 EBITDA outlook to $530-$545 million, bringing it lower than Street expectations of $546 million, Bittner said. "This reflects a softer macro backdrop management has incorporated into its outlook for the remainder of the year," he wrote.
Although same-store sales turned positive in late February and early March, trends turned negative thereafter due to the uncertain macro, the analyst stated. Management&#8217;s new guidance reflects that the macro backdrop could remain soft for the rest of 2025, he added.
WEN Price Action: Shares of Wendy&#8217;s had risen by 1.79% to $12.78 at the time of publication on Monday.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/45045012/sabre-divests-hospitality-arm-tpg-plans-debt-reductioncore-platform-focus"> </a> • <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/45045012/sabre-divests-hospitality-arm-tpg-plans-debt-reductioncore-platform-focus">Restaurant Sector Q1 Volatility From Weather, Inflation — Analyst Lowers Price Targets</a>

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Analyst Color

Restaurants

Wendy's Mixes Weak Sales With A Side Of Resilience: Fast-Food Restaurant Has 'Solid Marketing,' Menu Innovation Plans, Says Analyst

Loop Capital analyst Alton Stump maintains Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $26 to $21.

Loop Capital Maintains Buy on Wendy's, Lowers Price Target to $21

Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein maintains Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $14 to $13.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Wendy's, Lowers Price Target to $13

Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett maintains Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $17 to $16.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Wendy's, Lowers Price Target to $16

WIIM

Wendy's shares are trading higher after JPMorgan upgraded the stock to Overweight despite cutting its price target to $15.

Wendy's Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) reported downbeat sales for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WEN/earnings">first quarter on Friday</a>.
The company posted a first-quarter 2025 sales decline of 2.1% year-on-year to $523.47 million, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $525.41 million. Adjusted EPS of 20 cents was in-line with the consensus estimate.
&#8220;We continued to deliver for our customers during the first quarter. In the U.S. we held both traffic and dollar share in a challenging consumer environment, and in our International business we grew systemwide sales by 8.9%,&#8221; said President and CEO Kirk Tanner.
Wendy&#8217;s lowered FY25 adjusted EPS outlook from 98 cents-$1.02 to 92 cents-98 cents. WEN sees FY25 global systemwide sales growth of (-2.0%) – flat. The company expects FY25 adjusted EBITDA of $530 million – $545 million.
Wendy&#8217;s shares gained 0.4% to trade at $299.95 on Monday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Wendy&#8217;s following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst John Glass maintained Wendy&#8217;s with an Underweight rating and lowered the price target from $14 to $13.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst John Ivankoe upgraded Wendy&#8217;s from Neutral to Overweight but lowered the price target from $17 to $15.</li>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Jim Salera reiterated Wendy&#8217;s with an Equal-Weight rating and maintained a $14 price target.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying WEN stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="603" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05104930/image-40-1024x603.png" alt="" class="wp-image-901639" style="width:647px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05104930/image-40-1024x603.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05104930/image-40-300x177.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05104930/image-40-768x452.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05104930/image-40.png 1097w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Earnings

These Analysts Cut Their Forecasts On Wendy's After Q1 Results

Morgan Stanley analyst John Glass maintains Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $14 to $13.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Underweight on Wendy's, Lowers Price Target to $13

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>BMO Capital cut Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>) price target from $80 to $58. BMO Capital analyst Rufus Hone downgraded the stock from Outperform to Market Perform. Block shares closed at $46.53 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XYZ/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Susquehanna raised the price target for eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>) from $65 to $70. Susquehanna analyst Shyam Patil maintained a Neutral rating. eBay shares closed at $68.60 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EBAY/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo raised Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IR#NYSE">IR</a>) price target from $80 to $86. Wells Fargo analyst Joseph O&#8217;Dea maintained an Overweight rating. Ingersoll Rand shares closed at $76.73 on Friday. See how other <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IR/analyst-ratings">analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods slashed the price target for WesBanco, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSBC#NASDAQ">WSBC</a>) from $43 to $40. Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Catherine Mealor maintained an Outperform rating. WesBanco shares closed at $30.42 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WSBC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>BMO Capital raised the price target for McDonald&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) from $340 to $345. BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik reiterated an Outperform rating. McDonald&#8217;s shares closed at $311.96 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MCD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Cantor Fitzgerald cut Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONTO#NYSE">ONTO</a>) price target from $250 to $135. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Matthew Prisco downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral. Onto Innovation shares settled at $127.10 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ONTO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JP Morgan cut The Wendy&#8217;s Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) price target from $17 to $15. JP Morgan analyst John Ivankoe upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight. Wendy&#8217;s shares closed at $12.55 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WEN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Jefferies cut Parsons Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSN#NYSE">PSN</a>) price target from $75 to $65. Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Parsons shares closed at $62.81 on Friday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PSN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity raised the price target for Worthington Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WOR#NYSE">WOR</a>) from $54 to $67. Canaccord Genuity analyst Brian McNamara upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Worthington shares settled at $51.99 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/wor/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Rosenblatt cut Datadog, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>) price target from $160 to $150. Rosenblatt analyst Blair Abernethy maintained a Buy rating. Datadog shares closed at $105.00 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ddog/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying MCD stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="564" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-1024x564.png" alt="" class="wp-image-901350" style="width:729px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-1024x564.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-300x165.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-768x423.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16.png 1143w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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DDOG

ONTO

WSBC

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Press Releases

Wendy's Unveils Next Chapter of Growth and Announces Long-Term Financial Algorithm at 2025 Investor Day

Nothing Beats Fresh: Wendy's Drops $1 Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or $1 Double Stack in the App to Fuel Fans Through March Madness

The Wendy's Company to Report First Quarter 2025 Results on May 2

Fresh Ways to Frosty: Wendy's Reimagines Famous Dessert with April Launch of Frosty Swirls and May Launch of Frosty Fusions

THE WENDY'S COMPANY REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2025 RESULTS

Wendy's Celebrates 50 Fresh Years in Canada

CHEEZ-IT® AND WENDY'S® STACK UP THE FLAVOR WITH LIMITED-EDITION BACONATOR® CRACKERS

Wendy's and Takis Turn Up the Heat with a Flavor-Packed Collaboration

WENDY'S APPOINTS KEN COOK AS INTERIM CEO

The Wendy's Company to Report Second Quarter 2025 Results on August 8

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