Trailing Dividend / Share
$0.99
The Wendy's Company (WEN) Dividend History
Income profile from 2003 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
14.3%
Payout Ratio
1.1%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
4 years
WEN Dividend Income Check
Safety
1.1% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
4 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 3.1% and trend is rising.
WEN Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield14.3%
Trailing DPS$0.99
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout1.1%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout86.0%
FCF SafetyStretched
Piotroski F-Score5/9
Growth
Growth Streak4 years
3Y CAGR10.2%
5Y CAGR18.2%
Yield on Cost (5Y)3.1%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield5.8%
Total Shareholder Yield20.2%
1Y Total Return-36.1%
5Y Total Return-53.5%
Div Contribution (5Y)16.0%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$4,64910Y ago$11,08520Y ago$7,911
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
WEN Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (24 years of payments)
WEN Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
The Wendy's Company distributes 1.1% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 86.0%, rated "Stretched".
Piotroski F-Score: 5/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
WEN has raised its dividend for 4 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 10.2% and 5-year CAGR of 18.2%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, WEN returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 14.3% dividend yield, 5.8% buyback yield, 20.2% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 3.1% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is -53.5%, with dividends contributing 16.0% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $11,085 today.
FCF payout is stretched — the dividend consumes a large share of free cash flow.
WEN Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$3.65
Avg/Payment$0.1825
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2026Latest | $0.1400 | — | 7.53% | Mar 16, 2026 |
| Dec 1, 2025 | $0.1400 | — | 8.14% | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Sep 2, 2025 | $0.1400 | — | 7.59% | Sep 16, 2025 |
| Jun 2, 2025 | $0.1400 | ↓ -44.0% | 7.69% | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Mar 3, 2025 | $0.2500 | — | 6.70% | Mar 17, 2025 |
| Dec 2, 2024 | $0.2500 | — | 5.54% | Dec 16, 2024 |
| Sep 3, 2024 | $0.2500 | — | 6.07% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| Jun 3, 2024 | $0.2500 | — | 5.77% | Jun 17, 2024 |
WEN Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#1 yield in peer group
Div Yield
14.3%
#1 of 6
Safety
Sustainable
1.1% payout
Streak
4Y
18.2% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
20.2%
#1 of 6
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st WENThe Wendy's Company | $1.3B | 14.3% | 1.1% | 4 | Sustainable |
 MCDMcDonald's Corporati… | $201.6B | 2.5% | 59.7% | 27 | Sustainable |
3rd  QSRRestaurant Brands In… | $27.4B | 3.1% | 1.4% | 14 | Sustainable |
2nd  JACKJack in the Box Inc. | $266M | 6.3% | — | 0 | Unknown |
 YUMYum! Brands, Inc. | $43.5B | 1.8% | 50.6% | 8 | Sustainable |
 DPZDomino's Pizza, Inc. | $11.2B | 2.1% | 39.4% | 12 | Sustainable |
WEN Annual Dividend History (1986–2026)
38 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.14 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 0.7% |
| 2025 | $0.67 | -33.0% | 4 | — | — | — | 3.1% |
| 2024 | $1.00 | 0.0% | 4 | $0.95 | 105.3% | 0.95x | 4.7% |
| 2023 | $1.00 | 100.0% | 4 | $0.97 | 103.1% | 0.97x | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $0.50 | 16.3% | 4 | $0.82 | 61.0% | 1.64x | 2.3% |
| 2021 | $0.43 | 48.3% | 4 | $0.89 | 48.3% | 2.07x | 2.0% |
| 2020 | $0.29 | -31.0% | 4 | $0.52 | 55.8% | 1.79x | 1.4% |
| 2019 | $0.42 | 23.5% | 4 | $0.58 | 72.4% | 1.38x | 2.0% |
| 2018 | $0.34 | 21.4% | 4 | $1.88 | 18.1% | 5.53x | 1.6% |
| 2017 | $0.28 | 14.3% | 4 | $0.77 | 36.4% | 2.75x | 1.3% |
See WEN's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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Start ComparisonWEN — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying WEN stock.
How much dividend does WEN pay per share?
The Wendy's Company (WEN) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $0.99 per share, with a current dividend yield of +14.3%. Payments are made Annual.
When is WEN's next ex-dividend date?
WEN's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. WEN typically pays dividends Annual.
Is WEN's dividend safe?
WEN's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +1.1% and FCF payout ratio of +86.0%. The 4-year growth streak provides moderate confidence.
Is WEN a Dividend Payer?
Yes, The Wendy's Company is classified as a Dividend Payer with 4 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +18.2%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does WEN pay dividends?
The Wendy's Company pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $0.99 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 23+ years from 2003 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in WEN grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in WEN five years ago would be worth approximately $4,649 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is WEN's yield on cost for long-term holders?
WEN's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +3.1% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +14.3% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.