Shake Shack (SHAK) vs Wendy's (WEN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Shake Shack (SHAK) has outperformed Wendy's (WEN) over the past year, losing 27.1% versus a loss of 30.7%. Over five years, SHAK leads with a -10.8% price change compared with -71.9% for WEN. Shake Shack is the larger company by market cap ($2.88 billion vs $1.19 billion), about 2.4 times the size.
On valuation, Wendy's trades at a lower forward P/E (12.2x vs 47.5x for Shake Shack). Wendy's pays a dividend yielding 9.00%, while Shake Shack does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | SHAK | WEN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $67.31 | $6.22 |
| Market cap | $2.88B | $1.19B |
| 1-day change | +4.89% | +1.80% |
| YTD return | -17.08% | -25.33% |
| 1-year return | -27.14% | -30.73% |
| 5-year return | -10.76% | -71.91% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 70.85 | 9.42 |
| Forward P/E | 47.46 | 12.17 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.95 | $0.66 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 9.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.45B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +15.38% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $45.73M | — |
| Operating margin | 4.32% | — |
| Net margin | 3.16% | — |
| 52-week high | $107.46 | $10.12 |
| 52-week low | $51.60 | $5.94 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -37.36% | -38.54% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +19.91% | +21.70% |
| Average volume | 1.60M | 7.78M |
| Shares outstanding | 40.35M | 190.67M |
| Employees | 13,873 | 4,967 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Shake Shack is about 2.4 times larger than Wendy's by market value ($2.88B vs $1.19B).
- Shake Shack trades at a higher earnings multiple (70.9x vs 9.4x trailing P/E).
- Wendy's offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (9.00% vs 0.00%).
About Shake Shack
SHAK stock →Shake Shack Inc. owns, operates, and licenses Shake Shack restaurants (Shacks) in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 13,873 employees
About Wendy's
WEN stock →The Wendy's Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation, development, and franchising of a system of quick-service restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company operates through the Wendy's U.S., Wendy's International, and Global Real Estate & Development segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 4,967 employees
SHAK vs WEN FAQ
Which is bigger, Shake Shack or Wendy's?
Shake Shack (SHAK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.88B compared with $1.19B for Wendy's (WEN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SHAK or WEN?
SHAK returned -27.14% over the past 12 months, compared with -30.73% for WEN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SHAK or WEN?
WEN has the lower trailing P/E at 9.4, versus 70.9 for SHAK. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Shake Shack or Wendy's?
Wendy's pays a dividend yielding 9.00%, while Shake Shack does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Shake Shack and Wendy's in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.