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BH vs WEN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Restaurants
BH vs WEN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
| Market Cap | $622M | $1.32B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $387M | $2.21B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2M | $186M |
| Gross Margin | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Operating Margin | 8.5% | 16.8% |
| Forward P/E | — | 12.1x |
| Total Debt | $150M | $4.09B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $31M | $451M |
BH vs WEN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biglari Holdings In… (BH) | 100 | 494.0 | +394.0% |
| The Wendy's Company (WEN) | 100 | 32.7 | -67.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BH vs WEN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
BH is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 24.5% 10Y total return vs WEN's 10.9%
- +26.8% vs WEN's -36.1%
WEN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.52, yield 14.3%
- Rev growth 3.0%, EPS growth -2.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.52, current ratio 1.85x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.0% revenue growth vs BH's -0.9% | |
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | 8.4% margin vs BH's 0.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.52 vs BH's 1.04 | |
| Dividends | 14.3% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +26.8% vs WEN's -36.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.7% ROA vs BH's 0.2%, ROIC 7.1% vs 2.5% |
BH vs WEN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
BH vs WEN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — BH and WEN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WEN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.2B annually — 5.7x BH's $387M. WEN is the more profitable business, keeping 8.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BH's 0.5%. On growth, BH holds the edge at +10.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $387M | $2.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $73M | $530M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2M | $186M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $81M | $238M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.6% | +35.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.5% | +16.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.5% | +8.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.0% | +10.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.3% | -3.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -107.5% | -8.0% |
Valuation Metrics
WEN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, WEN's 9.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BH's 11.8x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $622M | $1.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $742M | $5.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -111.79x | 7.32x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 12.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.71x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.78x | 9.38x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.72x | 0.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.73x | 5.51x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 32.63x | 5.07x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WEN leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WEN delivers a 170.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $170 in annual profit, vs $0 for BH. BH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.26x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WEN's 15.78x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WEN scores 5/9 vs BH's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.4% | +170.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.2% | +3.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.5% | +7.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.2% | +7.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.26x | 15.78x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $119M | $3.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $31M | $451M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $150M | $4.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.38x | 2.86x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BH leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BH five years ago would be worth $20,319 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,649 for WEN. Over the past 12 months, BH leads with a +26.8% total return vs WEN's -36.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BH at 17.4% vs WEN's -25.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.5% | -13.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +26.8% | -36.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +61.7% | -58.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +103.2% | -53.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.5% | +10.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.4% | -25.3% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BH and WEN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WEN is the less volatile stock with a 0.52 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BH's 1.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BH currently trades 62.2% from its 52-week high vs WEN's 55.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.04x | 0.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $483.60 | $12.52 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $230.12 | $6.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +62.2% | +55.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.2 | 42.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 105K | 7.8M |
Analyst Outlook
WEN leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BH as "Buy" and WEN as "Hold". WEN is the only dividend payer here at 14.31% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $7.73 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 51 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +14.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.99 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +5.8% |
WEN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BH leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
BH vs WEN: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BH or WEN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Wendy's Company (WEN) is the stronger pick with 3.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 9% for Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH). The Wendy's Company (WEN) offers the better valuation at 7. 3x trailing P/E (12. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) a "Buy" — based on 2 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — BH or WEN?
Over the past 5 years, Biglari Holdings Inc.
(BH) delivered a total return of +103. 2%, compared to -53. 5% for The Wendy's Company (WEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BH returned +24. 5% versus WEN's +10. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — BH or WEN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Wendy's Company (WEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
52β versus Biglari Holdings Inc. 's 1. 04β — meaning BH is approximately 98% more volatile than WEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 16% for The Wendy's Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — BH or WEN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Wendy's Company (WEN) is pulling ahead at 3.
0% versus -0. 9% for Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Wendy's Company grew EPS -2. 1% year-over-year, compared to -107. 0% for Biglari Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WEN leads at 5. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — BH or WEN?
The Wendy's Company (WEN) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
7% net margin versus -1. 0% for Biglari Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WEN leads at 16. 5% versus 6. 4% for BH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BH leads at 38. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Which pays a better dividend — BH or WEN?
In this comparison, WEN (14.
3% yield) pays a dividend. BH does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is BH or WEN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The Wendy's Company (WEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
52), 14. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WEN: +10. 9%, BH: +24. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between BH and WEN?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: BH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; WEN is a small-cap deep-value stock. WEN pays a dividend while BH does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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