Wendy's (WEN) vs Wingstop (WING)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Wendy's (WEN) has outperformed Wingstop (WING) over the past year, losing 32.9% versus a loss of 52.3%. Over five years, WING leads with a -32.1% price change compared with -72.4% for WEN. Wingstop is the larger company by market cap ($3.18 billion vs $1.16 billion), about 2.7 times the size.
On valuation, Wendy's trades at a lower forward P/E (11.9x vs 21.8x for Wingstop). Wendy's offers the higher dividend yield (9.17% vs 1.03%).
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 | WEN | WING |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $6.11 | $116.68 |
| Market cap | $1.16B | $3.18B |
| 1-day change | -0.81% | +3.99% |
| YTD return | -26.65% | -51.08% |
| 1-year return | -32.93% | -52.30% |
| 5-year return | -72.40% | -32.09% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.40 | 27.65 |
| Forward P/E | 11.89 | 21.82 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.65 | $4.22 |
| Dividend yield | 9.17% | 1.03% |
| Annual dividend | $0.56 | $1.20 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $696.85M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +11.35% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $174.27M |
| Gross margin | — | 86.22% |
| Operating margin | — | 25.73% |
| Net margin | — | 25.01% |
| 52-week high | $10.12 | $302.80 |
| 52-week low | $5.94 | $95.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -39.62% | -61.47% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.90% | +68.05% |
| Average volume | 7.85M | 1.27M |
| Shares outstanding | 190.67M | 27.24M |
| Employees | 4,967 | 345 |
| 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
- Wingstop is about 2.7 times larger than Wendy's by market value ($3.18B vs $1.16B).
- WEN has outperformed WING by 19.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Wingstop trades at a higher earnings multiple (27.6x vs 9.4x trailing P/E).
- Wendy's offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (9.17% vs 1.03%).
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
About Wingstop
WING stock →Wingstop Inc., together with its subsidiaries, franchises and operates restaurants under the Wingstop brand in United States, Australia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, and The Netherlands. Its restaurants provides classic wings, boneless wings, tenders, and hand-sauced-and-tossed in various flavors, as well as chicken sandwiches, fries, and hand-cut carrots and celery that are cooked-to-order.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 345 employees
WEN vs WING FAQ
Which is bigger, Wendy's or Wingstop?
Wingstop (WING) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.18B compared with $1.16B for Wendy's (WEN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, WEN or WING?
WEN returned -32.93% over the past 12 months, compared with -52.30% for WING (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, WEN or WING?
WEN has the lower trailing P/E at 9.4, versus 27.6 for WING. 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, Wendy's or Wingstop?
Wendy's has the higher yield at 9.17%, compared with 1.03% for Wingstop.
Are Wendy's and Wingstop in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.