Wendy’s (WEN) shares slipped 2.2% ahead of the market open on Thursday after the fast-food restaurant chain reported Q4 earnings and revenue that missed Wall Street’s expectations.
Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $0.21, falling short of the consensus estimate of $0.23. The company's revenue for the quarter was $540.7 million, also below the estimated $547.03 million.
The company has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share, payable on March 15, 2024, to shareholders on record as of March 1, 2024. As of February 8, 2024, there were approximately 205.5 million common shares outstanding.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN) said it repurchased 2.4 million shares for $45.7 million. No shares have been repurchased in the first quarter of 2024 as of this announcement.
The company still has about $310.0 million available for share repurchases under its current authorization, which is valid until February 2027.
For 2024, Wendy’s forecasts adjusted EPS to be between 98 cents and $1.02, which is below the consensus projection of $1.11.
It anticipates global systemwide sales growth of 5% to 6% and expects adjusted EBITDA to range from $535 million to $545 million, compared to the estimated $566.9 million.
"2023 marked the brand's 13th consecutive year of global same-restaurant sales growth, highlighting the system's consistent execution and strong franchisee alignment as the team continued to grow the beloved Wendy's brand,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Kirk Tanner.
"I am excited to begin this next chapter for Wendy's with new plans and investments to accelerate our global growth, deliver significant restaurant margin expansion, and drive long-term shareholder value. I am looking forward to working with the team to deliver on the significant opportunities ahead."