Wendy’s Pops on Meme Stock Hype. How Should You Play WEN Here?

Key Points

  • Wendy’s (WEN) shares surged 10% at market open on July 23, driven by a meme stock frenzy and high short interest of over 11% of its float.
  • Despite the spike, WEN stock remains 25% below its year-to-date high, with upcoming Q2 earnings on Aug. 8 expected to show a decline to $0.25 per share from $0.27 last year.
  • BTIG analyst Peter Saleh maintains a “Neutral” rating, emphasizing the need for store modernization to compete with rivals like McDonald’s.
  • Wendy’s offers a compelling 5.1% dividend yield and trades at a low forward P/E of 11.7x compared to McDonald’s 24x.
  • Wall Street’s consensus rating is “Hold,” but a mean price target of $14.17 suggests a potential 30% upside in the second half of 2025.

Summary

Wendy’s (WEN) stock experienced a 10% surge on July 23, fueled by a meme stock frenzy and significant short interest, aligning it with other speculative picks like Krispy Kreme and GoPro. However, the stock remains 25% below its year-to-date peak, and the company faces challenges in improving fundamentals. Ahead of its Q2 earnings on Aug. 8, analysts anticipate a drop in earnings to $0.25 per share from $0.27 last year. BTIG analyst Peter Saleh reiterated a “Neutral” rating, urging Wendy’s to modernize stores to rival McDonald’s. Despite concerns, Wendy’s attracts income investors with a 5.1% dividend yield and trades at a low forward P/E of 11.7x compared to McDonald’s 24x. While Wall Street’s consensus rating is “Hold,” a mean target price of $14.17 hints at a potential 30% upside by late 2025.

yahoo
July 24, 2025
Crypto
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