Wendy's: Nelson Peltz Wants Another Bite

Wendy's faces weak U.S. traffic, margin compression, and underperformance versus peers despite new menu launches and value initiatives. Free cash flow and EBITDA are declining, but dividends remain well-covered; leverage is elevated at ~4.9x EBITDA, with refinancing risk looming post-2028. Trian's potential take-private bid could value WEN at $9.50–$11.90 per share (16–45% upside); standalone fair value is $8–$8.75.