Wendy’s reports a weak second quarter in the U.S.

The Wendy’s Company today released financial results for the second quarter of 2026, which included disappointing news for the chain and their American franchisees. Systemwide sales were down 8.2% in the U.S. year-over-year, although the brand’s leadership expressed optimism regarding their ability to bounce back.

“Wendy’s is an iconic brand with exceptional assets. Today we are clearly not performing at our potential. I returned to Wendy’s because I believe we can fix our issues and I am excited to work with our team and our franchisees to drive a strong turnaround,” said Bob Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Wendy’s Company.

From an operational perspective, the numbers portray a brand that’s growing slightly in international markets but regressing at home in the U.S. Even though Wendy’s has added 89 international locations over the last year, they’ve suffered a net loss of 243 restaurants domestically in that same timeframe. As a result, systemwide sales in the U.S. were down more than $465 million compared to Q2 of 2025, and same-restaurant sales dropped 7% across American locations.

Total revenues for the brand, both for the second quarter and year-to-date are up slightly, although some of that additional income was generated by the company’s buyback of franchise-operated locations in Q3 of 2025, which has actually led to an overall reduction in franchise royalties and franchise rental income. The brand’s franchise platform, once considered one of the best opportunities on the market, does not seem to be generating the same enthusiasm it once did, as franchise fees are down.

Moving forward, Bob Wright and his team at Wendy’s will look for ways to help the brand rediscover growth in the U.S. by strengthening the brand and improving unit economics.

“We have already begun taking action across five areas that we’ve identified to drive the turnaround: rebuilding a quality menu at compelling value, marketing that drives demand, operational excellence, a digital experience that builds frequency, and restaurants as an engine for growth. We are updating our capital allocation to provide flexibility to support our turnaround across these actions and fund our plan for growth. Wendy’s quality heritage provides a strong foundation for the turnaround and I am confident we can translate that equity into a proposition that’s relevant to today’s fast-evolving QSR landscape,” said Wright.