Analysts said they're not surprised that Peltz would investigate the possibility, but they were skeptical that an actual offer would materialize because the merger would possibly cannibalize Wendy's own burger franchises. "There's a lot of folks that are window shopping out there." said Conrad Lyon, an analyst with Global Hunter Securities in Newport Beach, Calif. Mark Smith, an analyst with Minneapolis based Feltl and Co., noted that Lee's offer is somewhat of a "discount price.". "So we still don't rule out a higher offer coming in," he said. 
Share:  Analysts said they're not surprised that Peltz would investigate the possibility, but they were skeptical that an actual offer would materialize because the merger would possibly cannibalize <span class="company">Wendy</span>'s own burger franchises. "There's a lot of folks that are window shopping out there." said Conrad Lyon, an analyst with Global Hunter Securities in Newport Beach, Calif.<span class="sent"> <span class="analyst">Mark Smith</span>, an analyst with Minneapolis based Feltl and Co., noted that Lee's offer is somewhat of a "discount price.". "So we still don't rule out a higher offer coming in," he said.</span>...Analysts said they're not surprised that Peltz would investigate the possibility, but they were skeptical that an actual offer would materialize because the merger would possibly cannibalize <span class="company">Wendy</span>'s own burger franchises. "There's a lot of folks that are window shopping out there." said Conrad Lyon, an analyst with Global Hunter Securities in Newport Beach, Calif.<span class="sent"> <span class="analyst">Mark Smith</span>, an analyst with Minneapolis based Feltl and Co., noted that Lee's offer is somewhat of a "discount price.". "So we still don't rule out a higher offer coming in," he said.</span> Tweet this 

According to a recent report in the New York Post, Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management, the owner of Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc ( WEN , Analyst Report ) is looking to acquire CKE Restaurants Inc ( CKR , Snapshot Report ). Atlanta based, Wendy's/Arby's Group is considering a bid of $1 billion for CKE Restaurants, the operator of Carl's Jr and Hardee's fast food chains. Earlier, in , CKE agreed to a buyout offer from Boston, Massachusetts based, private equity investment firm Thomas H. Lee Partners. 
Share:  According to a recent report in the New York Post, Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management, the owner of <span class="company">Wendy's/Arby's</span> Group Inc ( WEN , Analyst Report ) is looking to acquire CKE Restaurants Inc ( CKR , Snapshot Report ). Atlanta based, <span class="company">Wendy's/Arby's</span> Group is considering a bid of $1 billion for CKE Restaurants, the operator of Carl's Jr and Hardee's fast food chains. Earlier, in , CKE agreed to a buyout offer from Boston, Massachusetts based, private equity investment firm Thomas H. Lee Partners. Tweet this 

"We have a price war going on," said Morningstar analyst R. J. Hottovy, adding that Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's continue to offer promotions with the intent of securing market share. 
Share:  <span class="sent">"We have a price war going on," said <span class="analyst">Morningstar</span> analyst R. J. Hottovy, adding that Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's continue to offer promotions with the intent of securing market share.</span> Tweet this 

The company, which faces stiff competition from Burger King Holdings Inc ( BKC , Analyst Report ), Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc ( WEN , Analyst Report ) and Yum! Brands Inc ( YUM , Analyst Report ) said that the U. S comparable sales inched up 0.6% in February (versus a 2.8% increase last year for the comparable month) helped by a strong demand for the Olympic themed Chicken McNugget, $1 breakfast value menu and McCafe beverages. In Europe, comparable sales climbed 5.4% in February (versus a 0.2% decline last year for the comparable month) fueled by strong performance in the U. K., France and other markets. Sustained focus on core and seasonal value menu offerings contributed to sales. 
Share:  The company, which faces stiff competition from Burger King Holdings Inc ( BKC , Analyst Report ), <span class="company">Wendy</span>'s/Arby's Group Inc ( WEN , Analyst Report ) and Yum! Brands Inc ( YUM , Analyst Report ) said that the U. S comparable sales inched up 0.6% in February (versus a 2.8% increase last year for the comparable month) helped by a strong demand for the Olympic themed Chicken McNugget, $1 breakfast value menu and McCafe beverages. In Europe, comparable sales climbed 5.4% in February (versus a 0.2% decline last year for the comparable month) fueled by strong performance in the U. K., France and other markets. Sustained focus on core and seasonal value menu offerings contributed to sales. Tweet this 

Wendy's/Arby's was cut to neutral from buy at Goldman Sachs following fourth quarter results."We 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">Wendy</span>'s/Arby's was cut to neutral from buy at <span class="analyst">Goldman Sachs</span> following fourth quarter results."We</span> Tweet this 

Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc (NYSE: WEN), the third largest quick service restaurant company in the United States, announced its participation in two upcoming investment conferences. The dates, times and speakers are as follows: , 2010 at 9:40 a.m. ET – Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2010 Consumer Conference to be held in New York. 
Share:  <span class="company">Wendy</span>'s/Arby's Group, Inc (NYSE: WEN), the third largest quick service restaurant company in the United States, announced its participation in two upcoming investment conferences. The dates, times and speakers are as follows: , 2010 at 9:40 a.m. ET – Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2010 Consumer Conference to be held in New York. Tweet this 

Shares of Wendy's ( WEN ) are off 7 cents, or 1.5%, at $4.52, after Goldman Sachs analyst Steven Kron downgraded the stock from "Buy" to "Neutral" following the company's announcement yesterday of Q4 revenue that missed analysts' estimates. His read on the company now is that the cost savings he was looking forward to this year were already largely taken last fiscal year, and so now he's dealing with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) growth of just 4%, down from his prior view of 11%, this year. Furthermore, Kron sees commodity costs becoming a "headwind" where they were a benefit last year. Beef prices have already started to move up, he notes 
Share:  <span class="sent">Shares of Wendy's ( <span class="company">WEN</span> ) are off 7 cents, or 1.5%, at $4.52, after Goldman Sachs analyst <span class="analyst">Steven Kron</span> downgraded the stock from "Buy" to "Neutral" following the company's announcement yesterday of Q4 revenue that missed analysts' estimates.</span> His read on the company now is that the cost savings he was looking forward to this year were already largely taken last fiscal year, and so now he's dealing with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) growth of just 4%, down from his prior view of 11%, this year. Furthermore, Kron sees commodity costs becoming a "headwind" where they were a benefit last year. Beef prices have already started to move up, he notes....<span class="sent">Shares of Wendy's ( <span class="company">WEN</span> ) are off 7 cents, or 1.5%, at $4.52, after Goldman Sachs analyst <span class="analyst">Steven Kron</span> downgraded the stock from "Buy" to "Neutral" following the company's announcement yesterday of Q4 revenue that missed analysts' estimates.</span> His read on the company now is that the cost savings he was looking forward to this year were already largely taken last fiscal year, and so now he's dealing with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) growth of just 4%, down from his prior view of 11%, this year. Furthermore, Kron sees commodity costs becoming a "headwind" where they were a benefit last year. Beef prices have already started t Tweet this 

Goldman Sachs downgrades Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc (NYSE: WEN ) from Buy to Neutral and lowered their price target from $5.50 to $5 price target, saying shares will be more range bound near term. 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="analyst">Goldman Sachs</span> downgrades Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc (NYSE: WEN ) from Buy to Neutral and lowered their price target from $5.50 to $5 price target, saying shares will be more range bound near term.</span> Tweet this 

Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc ( WEN , Analyst Report ), the third largest fast food restaurant operator, recently reported better than expected fourth quarter 2009 results. The quarterly earnings of 7 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 3 cents, and rose 40% from 5 cents a share delivered in the prior year quarter. In the third and second quarters of 2009, WEN's earnings were in line with the consensus estimate. 
Share:  Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc ( <span class="company">WEN</span> , Analyst Report ), the third largest fast food restaurant operator, recently reported better than expected fourth quarter 2009 results. The quarterly earnings of 7 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 3 cents, and rose 40% from 5 cents a share delivered in the prior year quarter. In the third and second quarters of 2009, <span class="company">WEN</span>'s earnings were in line with the consensus estimate. Tweet this 

Arby's same store sales dropped 11 percent during the fourth quarter and continue to weigh on the company. Smith said the company was disappointed by the decline and is focusing on Arby's $1 value menu to address the issue. One analyst was critical of the menu in recent years. "It seems like one of the things that's been missing is new product innovation at Arby's," said Michael W. Gallo, an analyst with CL King & Associates in New York 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">Arby</span>'s same store sales dropped 11 percent during the fourth quarter and continue to weigh on the company. Smith said the company was disappointed by the decline and is focusing on <span class="company">Arby</span>'s $1 value menu to address the issue.</span> One analyst was critical of the menu in recent years. "It seems like one of the things that's been missing is new product innovation at <span class="company">Arby</span>'s," said Michael W. Gallo, an analyst with CL King & Associates in New York....<span class="sent"><span class="company">Arby</span>'s same store sales dropped 11 percent during the fourth quarter and continue to weigh on the company. Smith said the company was disappointed by the decline and is focusing on <span class="company">Arby</span>'s $1 value menu to address the issue.</span> One analyst was critical of the menu in recent years. "It seems like one of the things that's been missing is new product innovation at <span class="company">Arby</span>'s," said Michael W. Gallo, an analyst with CL King & Associates in New York....<span class="sent">"It seems like one of the things that's been missing is new product innovation at <span class="company">Arby</span>'s," said Michael W. Gallo, an analyst with CL King & Associates in New York.</span> Wendy's/<span class="company">Arby</span>'s Group is optimistic about the $1 value menu at <span class="company">Arby</spa Tweet this