KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Takes $1.56 Million Position in The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ:WEN)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ:WEN - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 95,700 shares of the restaurant operator's stock, valued at approximately $1,560,000.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in WEN. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Wendy's by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 92,132 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $1,614,000 after acquiring an additional 590 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Wendy's by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 25,529 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $416,000 after purchasing an additional 717 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its stake in Wendy's by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 57,400 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $979,000 after purchasing an additional 797 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its position in Wendy's by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 15,634 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $255,000 after buying an additional 897 shares during the period. Finally, Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Wendy's by 46.4% in the 4th quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,107 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 985 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.96% of the company's stock.

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Wendy's Price Performance

Shares of Wendy's stock remained flat at $14.63 during trading hours on Monday. The stock had a trading volume of 3,639,166 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,068,499. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.48, a quick ratio of 1.83 and a current ratio of 1.85. The Wendy's Company has a 12 month low of $13.72 and a 12 month high of $20.65. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $14.97 and a 200 day moving average of $16.76. The stock has a market cap of $2.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.40, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.73.

Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The restaurant operator reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $574.27 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $564.17 million. Wendy's had a return on equity of 75.56% and a net margin of 8.65%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that The Wendy's Company will post 0.99 EPS for the current year.

Wendy's Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.84%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Wendy's's dividend payout ratio is currently 105.26%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Wendy's from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Argus raised shares of Wendy's to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. TD Securities reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $16.00 price target on shares of Wendy's in a report on Friday, March 7th. Stephens restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $15.00 price objective on shares of Wendy's in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Wendy's from $17.00 to $15.00 and set a "sell" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $18.08.

Wendy's Company Profile

The Wendy's Co engages in operating, developing, and franchising a system of quick-service restaurants. It operates through the following segments: Wendy's U.S., Wendy's International, and Global Real Estate and Development. The Wendy's U.S. segment includes the operation and franchising of Wendy's restaurants in the U.S.