Wendy's Co: Form 10-Q for the period ended Sep 28, 2025

Introduction

This “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of The Wendy’s Company (“The Wendy’s Company” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere within this report and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2024 (the “Form 10-K”). There have been no material changes as of September 28, 2025 to the application of our critical accounting policies as described in Item 7 of the Form 10-K. Certain statements we make under this Item 2 constitute “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Projections” in “Part II. Other Information” of this report. You should consider our forward-looking statements in light of the risks discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in “Part II. Other Information” of this report and our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report, the Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

The Wendy’s Company is the parent company of its 100% owned subsidiary holding company, Wendy’s Restaurants, LLC (“Wendy’s Restaurants”). Wendy’s Restaurants is the parent company of Wendy’s International, LLC (formerly known as Wendy’s International, Inc). Wendy’s International, LLC is the indirect parent company of (1) Quality Is Our Recipe, LLC (“Quality”), which is the owner and franchisor of the Wendy’s restaurant system in the United States (the “U.S.”) and all international jurisdictions except for Canada, and (2) Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada Inc., which is the owner and franchisor of the Wendy’s restaurant system in Canada. As used herein, unless the context requires otherwise, the term “Company” refers to The Wendy’s Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, and “Wendy’s” refers to Quality when the context relates to the ownership or franchising of the Wendy’s restaurant system and to Wendy’s International, LLC when the context refers to the Wendy’s brand.

Wendy’s is primarily engaged in the business of operating, developing and franchising a system of distinctive quick-service restaurants serving high quality food. Wendy’s opened its first restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in 1969. Today, Wendy’s is the second largest quick-service restaurant company in the hamburger sandwich segment in the U.S. based on traffic and dollar share, and the third largest globally with 7,363 restaurants in the U.S. and 35 foreign countries and U.S. territories as of September 28, 2025.

Each Wendy’s restaurant offers an extensive menu specializing in hamburger sandwiches and featuring chicken sandwiches, which are prepared to order with the customer’s choice of toppings and condiments. Wendy’s menu also includes chicken nuggets, chili, french fries, baked potatoes, freshly prepared salads, soft drinks, Frosty® desserts and kids’ meals. In addition, Wendy’s restaurants sell a variety of promotional products on a limited time basis. Wendy’s also offers breakfast across the U.S. system and in Canada. Wendy’s breakfast menu features a variety of breakfast sandwiches such as the Breakfast Baconator® and sides such as seasoned potatoes.

The Company is comprised of the following segments: (1) Wendy’s U.S., (2) Wendy’s International and (3) Global Real Estate & Development. Wendy’s U.S. includes the operation and franchising of Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S. and derives its revenues from sales at Company-operated restaurants and royalties, fees and advertising fund collections from franchised restaurants. Wendy’s International includes the operation and franchising of Wendy’s restaurants in countries and territories other than the U.S. and derives its revenues from sales at Company-operated restaurants and royalties, fees and advertising fund collections from franchised restaurants. Global Real Estate & Development includes real estate activity for owned sites and sites leased from third parties, which are leased and/or subleased to franchisees, and also includes our share of the income of our TimWen real estate joint venture. In addition, Global Real Estate & Development earns fees from facilitating franchisee-to-franchisee restaurant transfers (“Franchise Flips”) and providing other development-related services to franchisees. In this “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” the Company reports on the segment profit for each of the three segments described above. The Company measures segment profit using segment adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”). Segment adjusted EBITDA excludes certain unallocated general and administrative expenses and other items that vary from period to period without correlation to the Company’s core operating performance. See “Results of Operations” below and Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 herein for segment financial information.

The Company’s fiscal reporting periods consist of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. All three- and nine-month periods presented herein contain 13 weeks and 39 weeks, respectively. All references to years, quarters and months relate to fiscal periods rather than calendar periods.

Executive Overview

Our Business

As of September 28, 2025, the Wendy’s restaurant system was comprised of 7,363 restaurants, with 5,979 Wendy’s restaurants in operation in the U.S. Of the U.S. restaurants, 421 were operated by the Company and 5,558 were operated by a total of 202 franchisees. In addition, at September 28, 2025, there were 1,384 Wendy’s restaurants in operation in 35 foreign countries and U.S. territories. Of the international restaurants, 1,370 were operated by a total of 113 franchisees and 14 were operated by the Company in the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”).

The revenues from our restaurant business are derived from two principal sources: (1) sales at Company-operated restaurants and (2) franchise-related revenues, including royalties, national advertising funds contributions, rents and franchise fees received from Wendy’s franchised restaurants. Company-operated restaurants comprised approximately 5% of the total Wendy’s system as of September 28, 2025.

Wendy’s operating results are impacted by a number of external factors, including commodity costs, labor costs, intense price competition, unemployment and consumer spending levels, general economic and market trends and weather.

The Company recently announced Project Fresh, a comprehensive plan to drive profitable growth and long-term value across our U.S. system. The four strategic pillars of Project Fresh include (1) brand revitalization, (2) operational excellence, (3) system optimization and (4) capital allocation. These pillars are designed to attract new customers to Wendy’s through more compelling marketing and to increase traffic by providing an exceptional customer experience. Internationally, the Company’s strategic priorities also include sustaining strong net unit growth.

Key Business Measures

We track our results of operations and manage our business using the following key business measures:

• Same-Restaurant Sales – We report same-restaurant sales commencing after new restaurants have been open for 15 continuous months and as soon as reimaged restaurants reopen. Restaurants temporarily closed for more than one week are excluded from same-restaurant sales. This methodology is consistent with the metric used by our management for internal reporting and analysis. The table summarizing same-restaurant sales below in “Results of Operations” provides the same-restaurant sales percent changes.
• Company-Operated Restaurant Margin – We define Company-operated restaurant margin as sales from Company-operated restaurants less cost of sales divided by sales from Company-operated restaurants. Cost of sales includes food and paper, restaurant labor and occupancy, advertising and other operating costs. Cost of sales excludes certain costs that support restaurant operations that are not allocated to individual restaurants, which are included in “General and administrative.” Cost of sales also excludes depreciation and amortization expense and impairment of long-lived assets. Therefore, as Company-operated restaurant margin as presented excludes certain costs as described above, its usefulness may be limited and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies in our industry.

Company-operated restaurant margin is influenced by factors such as menu prices, the effectiveness of our advertising and marketing initiatives, featured products, product mix, fluctuations in food and labor costs, restaurant openings, remodels and closures and the level of our fixed and semi-variable costs.

• Systemwide Sales – Systemwide sales includes sales by both Company-operated restaurants and franchised restaurants. Franchised restaurants’ sales are reported by our franchisees and represent their revenues from sales at franchised Wendy’s restaurants. The Company’s consolidated financial statements do not include sales by franchised restaurants to their customers. The Company’s royalty and advertising funds revenues are computed as percentages of

sales made by Wendy’s franchisees. As a result, sales by Wendy’s franchisees have a direct effect on the Company’s royalty and advertising funds revenues and profitability.

The Company calculates same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales growth on a constant currency basis. Constant currency results exclude the impact of foreign currency translation and are derived by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. The Company believes excluding the impact of foreign currency translation provides better year over year comparability.

Same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales exclude sales from Argentina due to that country’s highly inflationary economy. The Company considers economies that have had cumulative inflation in excess of 100% over a three-year period as highly inflationary.

The Company believes its presentation of same-restaurant sales, Company-operated restaurant margin and systemwide sales provide a meaningful perspective of the underlying operating performance of the Company’s current business and enables investors to better understand and evaluate the Company’s historical and prospective operating performance. The Company believes that these metrics are important supplemental measures of operating performance because they highlight trends in the Company’s business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. The Company believes investors, analysts and other interested parties use these metrics in evaluating issuers and that the presentation of these measures facilitates a comparative assessment of the Company’s operating performance. With respect to same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales, the Company also believes that the data is useful in assessing consumer demand for the Company’s products and the overall success of the Wendy’s brand.

Third Quarter Highlights

• Global systemwide sales decreased 2.7% to $3.5 billion in the third quarter of 2025 compared with $3.6 billion in the third quarter of 2024;
• Revenues decreased 3.0% to $549.5 million in the third quarter of 2025 compared with $566.7 million in the third quarter of 2024;
• Global same-restaurant sales decreased 3.7%, U.S. same-restaurant sales decreased 4.7% and international same-restaurant sales increased 3.0% compared with the third quarter of 2024. On a two-year basis, global same-restaurant sales decreased 3.5%;
• Global Company-operated restaurant margin was 12.4% in the third quarter of 2025, a decrease of 270 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2024;
• Income before income taxes decreased 9.2% to $63.2 million in the third quarter of 2025 compared with $69.7 million in the third quarter of 2024;
• Digital sales increased to approximately 21.0% of global systemwide sales in the third quarter of 2025 compared with approximately 17.6% in the third quarter of 2024; and
• Systemwide restaurant count increased by 29 net new restaurants in the third quarter of 2025.

Year-to-Date Highlights

• Global systemwide sales decreased 2.1% to $10.6 billion in the first nine months of 2025 compared with $10.8 billion in the first nine months of 2024;
• Revenues decreased 2.3% to $1.6 billion in the first nine months of 2025 compared with $1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2024;
• Global same-restaurant sales decreased 2.9%, U.S. same-restaurant sales decreased 3.7% and international same-restaurant sales increased 2.4% compared with the first nine months of 2024. On a two-year basis, global same restaurant sales decreased 2.2%;
• Global Company-operated restaurant margin was 14.1% in the first nine months of 2025, a decrease of 110 basis points compared with the first nine months of 2024;
• Income before income taxes decreased 3.9% to $194.1 million in the first nine months of 2025 compared with $201.9 million in the first nine months of 2024;
• Digital sales increased to approximately 20.6% of global systemwide sales in the first nine months of 2025 compared with approximately 17.1% in the first nine months of 2024; and
• Systemwide restaurant count increased by 123 net new restaurants in the first nine months of 2025.

Results of Operations

The tables included throughout this Results of Operations section set forth in millions the Company’s condensed consolidated results of operations for the third quarter and first nine months of 2025 and 2024.

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The table below presents certain of the Company’s key business measures, which are defined and further discussed in the “Executive Overview” section included herein.

(a) Excludes Argentina due to the impact of that country’s highly inflationary economy.

(b) During the third quarter of 2025 and 2024, global systemwide sales decreased 2.6% and increased 1.8%, respectively, U.S. systemwide sales decreased 4.4% and increased 0.9%, respectively, and international systemwide sales increased 8.6% and 7.7%, respectively, on a constant currency basis. During the first nine months of 2025 and 2024, global systemwide sales decreased 1.8% and increased 2.3%, respectively, U.S. systemwide sales decreased 3.4% and increased 1.4%, respectively, and international systemwide sales increased 8.7% and 8.3%, respectively, on a constant currency basis.

The increase in sales during the third quarter of 2025 was primarily due to the Company’s acquisition of 35 franchise-operated restaurants of $6.4 million, partially offset by (1) a 0.7% decrease in global Company-operated same-restaurant sales of $2.4 million and (2) net closures of Company-operated restaurants of $0.6 million. The decrease in sales during the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) a 0.9% decrease in global Company-operated same-restaurant sales of $7.9 million and (2) net closures of Company-operated restaurants of $3.8 million, partially offset by the Company’s acquisition of 35 franchise-operated restaurants of $6.4 million. Company-operated same-restaurant sales decreased due to a decrease in traffic, partially offset by higher average check.

Franchise royalty revenue during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 decreased primarily due to a 3.9% and 3.0% decrease in global franchise same-restaurant sales, respectively. Franchise same-restaurant sales during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 decreased due to a decrease in traffic, partially offset by higher average check.

The increase in franchise fees during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to higher fees for providing information technology services to franchisees.

The decrease in franchise rental income during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to the impact of assigning certain existing leases to franchisees of $2.9 million and $4.9 million, respectively. This impact during the first nine months of 2025 was partially offset by (1) entering into new leases of $1.7 million and (2) amending certain existing leases of $1.7 million.

The decrease in advertising funds revenue during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) promotional activity in the prior year of $12.0 million and (2) a decrease in franchise same-restaurant sales in the U.S. of $5.7 million and $12.3 million, respectively.

The increase in cost of sales, as a percent of sales, during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) higher commodity costs, (2) a decrease in traffic and (3) an increase in restaurant labor rates. These changes were partially offset by (1) higher average check and (2) labor efficiencies.

The increase in franchise support and other costs during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to an increase in costs incurred to provide information technology services and other services to franchisees.

The decrease in franchise rental expense during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to the impact of assigning certain existing leases to franchisees.

On an interim basis, advertising funds expense is recognized in proportion to advertising funds revenue. The decrease in advertising funds expense during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) the same factors as described above for “Advertising Funds Revenue” and (2) a decrease in the recognition of the Company breakfast advertising spend in excess of advertising funds revenue when compared to the prior year.

The decrease in general and administrative expenses during the third quarter of 2025 was primarily due to lower share-based compensation as a result of the departure of the Company’s previous President and Chief Executive Officer.

The decrease in general and administrative expenses during the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) lower share-based compensation as a result of the departure of the Company’s previous President and Chief Executive Officer, (2) a decrease in incentive compensation accruals, reflecting lower operating performance as compared to plan in 2025 versus 2024 and (3) a decrease in professional fees. These changes were partially offset by higher employee compensation and benefits.

The increase in depreciation and amortization during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to asset additions for new and remodeled restaurants.

The increase in amortization of cloud computing arrangements during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to amortization of assets associated with the Company’s digital investments.

During the first nine months of 2025, the Company recognized costs under the Organizational Redesign Plan of ($0.8) million, which primarily included a reversal of a severance accrual as a result of a change in estimate. During the first nine months of 2024, the Company recognized costs under the Organizational Redesign Plan of $8.3 million, which primarily included severance and related employee costs. See Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 herein for further information on the Organizational Redesign Plan.

The increase in impairment of long-lived assets during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to higher impairment charges as a result of the deterioration in operating performance of certain Company-operated restaurants.

The increase in other operating income, net during the third quarter of 2025 was primarily due to an increase in lease buyout activity. The increase in other operating income, net during the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to the settlement of a claim.

The increase in interest expense, net during the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to lower interest income as a result of amending certain sales-type and direct financing leases.

During the first nine months of 2025, the Company recorded a loss of $1.7 million due to impairment charges for the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of an investment in equity securities.

The decrease in other income, net during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to a decrease in interest income, reflecting lower balances of cash equivalents.

The effective tax rates for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 and 2024 were impacted by variations in income before income taxes, adjusted for recurring items such as non-deductible expenses and state income taxes, as well as non-recurring discrete items. The increase in the effective tax rate for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to state income taxes and the tax effects of our foreign operations, partially offset by the tax effects of share-based compensation.

Segment Information

See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 herein for further information regarding the Company’s segments.

Wendy’s U.S.

The decrease in Wendy’s U.S. revenues during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) lower advertising fund revenue and (2) a decrease in same-restaurant sales. Same-restaurant sales decreased during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 primarily due to a decrease in traffic, partially offset by higher average check. These changes were partially offset by the Company’s acquisition of 35 franchise-operated restaurants.

The decrease in Wendy’s U.S. segment profit during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) lower revenues, (2) higher cost of sales, as a percent of sales for Company-operated restaurants driven by the same factors as described above for “Cost of Sales, as a Percent of Sales,” (3) higher general and administrative expense and (4) higher franchise support and other costs. These changes were partially offset by a decrease in the Company’s funding of incremental advertising.

Wendy’s International

The increase in Wendy’s International revenues during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) net new restaurant development and (2) an increase in franchise same-restaurant sales. Franchise same-restaurant sales increased during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 due to (1) higher average check and (2) an increase in traffic.

The increase in Wendy’s International segment profit during the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to higher revenues. This increase was partially offset by (1) higher advertising fund expense and (2) higher general and administrative expense.

Global Real Estate & Development

The decrease in Global Real Estate & Development revenues during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 was primarily due to (1) the impact of assigning certain existing leases to franchisees and (2) lower development-related fees.

The increase in Global Real Estate & Development segment profit during the third quarter of 2025 was primarily due to a decrease in franchise rental expense, driven by the same factors as described above for “Franchise Rental Expense.” This change was partially offset by lower revenues.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 28, 2025, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $352.0 million. In addition, the Company maintains a revolving financing facility, which allows for the drawing of up to $300.0 million. Based on current levels of operations, the Company expects that available cash and cash flows from operations will provide sufficient liquidity to meet operating cash requirements for the next 12 months.

We currently believe we have the ability to pursue additional sources of liquidity if needed or desired to fund operating cash requirements or for other purposes. However, there can be no assurance that additional liquidity will be readily available or available on terms acceptable to us.

Stock Repurchases

In January 2023, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program for up to $500.0 million of our common stock through February 28, 2027, when and if market conditions warrant and to the extent legally permissible (the “January 2023 Authorization”). During the nine months ended September 28, 2025, the Company repurchased 14.4 million shares under the January 2023 Authorization with an aggregate purchase price of $200.0 million, excluding excise tax of $1.9 million and commissions of $0.2 million. As of September 28, 2025, the Company had $35.0 million of availability remaining under the January 2023 Authorization.

Dividends

On March 17, 2025, June 16, 2025, and September 16, 2025, the Company paid quarterly cash dividends per share of $.25 $.14, and $.14, respectively, aggregating $103.0 million. On November 7, 2025, the Company announced a dividend of $.14 per share to be paid on December 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of December 1, 2025. As a result, the Company expects that its total cash requirement for the fourth quarter of 2025 will be approximately $26.6 million based on the number of shares of its common stock outstanding at October 30, 2025. The Company currently intends to continue to declare and pay quarterly cash dividends; however, there can be no assurance that any additional quarterly dividends will be declared or paid or of the amount or timing of such dividends, if any.

Long-Term Debt, Including Current Portion

Wendy’s U.S. advertising fund has a revolving line of credit of $15.0 million, which was established to support the Company’s advertising fund operations. During the three months ended March 30, 2025, the Company borrowed and repaid $15.0 million and $8.5 million, respectively, under the revolving line of credit. During the three months ended June 29, 2025, the Company borrowed an additional $8.5 million under the revolving line of credit. There were no new borrowings or repayments under the revolving line of credit during the three months ended September 28, 2025. As a result, as of September 28, 2025, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $15.0 million under the revolving line of credit.

Except as described above, there were no material changes to the Company’s debt obligations since December 29, 2024. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of September 28, 2025. See Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 herein for further information related to our long-term debt obligations.

Cash Flows from Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

The table below summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the first nine months of 2025 and 2024:

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities consists primarily of net income, adjusted for non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred income tax and share-based compensation, and the net change in operating assets and liabilities. Cash provided by operating activities was $275.3 million and $286.7 million in the first nine months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The change was primarily due to (1) an increase in cash paid for cloud computing arrangements and (2) the timing of payments for marketing expenses of the national advertising funds.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities was $100.6 million and $68.8 million in the first nine months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The change was primarily due to (1) an increase in payments for acquisitions of $16.9 million compared to the prior year, reflecting the impact of the Company’s acquisition of 35 franchise-operated restaurants during the third quarter of 2025 and (2) an increase in capital expenditures of $11.7 million.

Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities was $329.6 million and $250.6 million in the first nine months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The change was primarily due to an increase in repurchases of the Company’s common stock of $140.7 million. This change was partially offset by (1) a decrease in dividends of $50.5 million and (2) a net increase in cash provided by long-term debt activities of $15.0 million, reflecting the impact of the draw on the Company’s U.S. advertising fund revolving line of credit.

General Inflation, Commodities and Changing Prices

Inflationary pressures on labor and commodity price increases directly impacted our consolidated results of operations during the nine months ended September 28, 2025, and we anticipate continued labor and commodity inflation throughout the remainder of 2025. We attempt to manage any inflationary costs and commodity price increases through selective menu price increases, product mix and focused execution of operational excellence. Delays in implementing such menu price increases and competitive pressures may limit our ability to recover such cost increases in the future. Inherent volatility experienced in certain commodity markets, such as those for beef, chicken, eggs, pork, cheese and grains, could have a significant effect on our results of operations and may have an adverse effect on us in the future. The extent of any impact will depend on our ability to manage such volatility through product mix and selective menu price increases.

Seasonality

Wendy’s restaurant operations are moderately seasonal. Wendy’s average restaurant sales are normally higher during the summer months than during the winter months. Because our business is moderately seasonal, results for a particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for any other quarter or for the full fiscal year.

As of September 28, 2025 there were no material changes from the information contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2024.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The management of the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of September 28, 2025. Based on such evaluations, the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of September 28, 2025, the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company were effective at a reasonable assurance level in (1) recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act and (2) ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the internal control over financial reporting of the Company during the third quarter of 2025 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any control system, including the potential for human error and the possible circumvention or overriding of controls and procedures. Additionally, judgments in decision-making can be faulty and breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. An effective control system can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control objectives of the system are adequately met. Accordingly, the management of the Company, including its Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the control system can prevent or detect all error or fraud. Finally, projections of any evaluation or assessment of effectiveness of a control system to future periods are subject to the risks that, over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in an entity’s operating environment or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Projections

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may contain or incorporate by reference certain statements that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). Generally, forward-looking statements include the words “may,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimate,” “goal,” “upcoming,” “outlook,” “guidance” or the negation thereof, or similar expressions. In addition, all statements that address future operating, financial or business performance, strategies or initiatives, future efficiencies or savings, anticipated costs or charges, future capitalization, anticipated impacts of recent or pending investments or transactions and statements expressing general views about future results or brand health are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. Forward-looking statements are based on our expectations at the time such statements are made, speak only as of the dates they are made and are susceptible to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. For all of our forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. Our actual results, performance and achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Many important factors could affect our future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• the impact of competition or poor customer experiences at Wendy’s restaurants;
• adverse economic conditions or disruptions, including in regions with a high concentration of Wendy’s restaurants;
• changes in discretionary consumer spending and consumer tastes and preferences;
• impacts to our corporate reputation or the value and perception of our brand;
• our ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives and business strategies, including our Project Fresh plan, as well as the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs and new product development;
• our ability to manage the impact of social or digital media;
• our ability to protect our intellectual property;
• food safety events or health concerns involving our products;
• our ability to deliver global sales growth and maintain or grow market share across our dayparts;
• our ability to achieve our growth strategy through new restaurant development;
• our ability to effectively manage the acquisition and disposition of restaurants or successfully implement other strategic initiatives;
• risks associated with leasing and owning significant amounts of real estate, including environmental matters;
• risks associated with our international operations, including our ability to execute our international growth strategy;
• changes in commodity and other operating costs;
• shortages or interruptions in the supply or distribution of our products and other risks associated with our independent supply chain purchasing co-op;
• the impact of increased labor costs or labor shortages;
• the continued succession and retention of key personnel and the effectiveness of our leadership and organizational structure;
• risks associated with our digital commerce strategy, platforms and technologies, including our ability to adapt to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences;
• our dependence on computer systems and information technology, including risks associated with the failure or interruption of our systems or technology or the occurrence of cyber incidents or deficiencies;
• risks associated with our securitized financing facility and other debt agreements, including compliance with operational and financial covenants, restrictions on our ability to raise additional capital, the impact of our overall debt levels and our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our debt service obligations and operate our business;
• risks associated with our capital allocation policy, including the amount and timing of equity and debt repurchases and dividend payments;
• risks associated with complaints and litigation, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and an increased focus on environmental, social and governance issues;
• risks associated with the availability and cost of insurance, changes in accounting standards, the recognition of impairment or other charges, changes in tax rates or tax laws and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
• conditions beyond our control, such as adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, hostilities, social unrest, health epidemics or pandemics or other catastrophic events;
• risks associated with our predominantly franchised business model; and
• other risks and uncertainties affecting us and our subsidiaries referred to in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025 (see especially “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”) and in our other current and periodic filings with the SEC.

All future written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to above. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and factors that we currently deem immaterial may become material, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by federal securities laws, although we may do so from time to time. We do not endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.

In addition to the information contained in this report, you should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Except as described elsewhere in this report, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Form 10-K.