Wendy's Faces Franchise Strain as US Closures Mount
Wendy's is grappling with a turnaround, reporting 289 US restaurant closures in the first half and a 7% drop in US same-store sales in Q2. CEO Bob Wright says the chain will take a more targeted approach to closures to strengthen franchise health, amid ongoing leadership turnover and stiff competition from McDonald’s, Burger King, and others. Analysts expect a clearer plan and don’t foresee a meaningful turnaround before 2027, with the stock having fallen sharply over the past several years.