Wendy’s closing hundreds of locations: List of fast food casualties in 2025 grows longer

Core Insights - Wendy's plans to close 200 to 350 underperforming U.S. store locations, representing a "mid-single-digit percentage" of its approximately 6,000 locations [2][3] - The company reported third-quarter profits of $44.3 million and revenue of $549.5 million, exceeding analyst expectations by 2.71% [3] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were 24 cents, surpassing the expected 20 cents [3] Store Closures - The closures will begin this year and continue through 2026, with specific locations not disclosed [4][5] - The decision to close stores is based on a case-by-case evaluation of underperforming restaurants that do not enhance the brand or negatively impact franchisee financial performance [5] - The closures are expected to improve sales and profitability at nearby locations [7] International Growth - Wendy's international business is projected to achieve over 9% net unit growth by 2025, indicating strong system-wide sales growth [3] Stock Performance - Following the announcement, Wendy's shares rose approximately 2% in midday trading after an 11.66% surge in pre-market trading [4]