Wendy's is suddenly a meme stock

Apparently any stock can attract the attention of Reddit traders.

woman about to eat a burger

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Shares of The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ: WEN) were rocketing 18% higher on Tuesday after the WallStreetBets subreddit crowd apparently turned its attention to the fast-food chain and mentioned it as a possible short squeeze candidate.

Chat room traders this year have driven up the shares of a number of companies that short-sellers have bet heavily against. While squeezes are not uncommon, retail investors have driven the discussion since January when they rallied together to support GameStop (NYSE: GME) and lash out at hedge funds that overplayed their hands.

Wendy's, though, is an unlikely stock to serve as a rallying point for Reddit investors, as there were just 8.2 million shares sold short at last count, down almost 18% from the prior period and amounting to just 4% of the shares outstanding.

With days to cover standing at around 2.5, it doesn't seem like a strong candidate to carry the banner next.

Wendy's stock is actually up 43% from the 52-week low it hit in March, and last month beat analyst expectations for first-quarter results, posting revenue of $460 million and generating adjusted profits of $0.20 per share.

That was notably better than the $444 million in revenue and $0.14 per share in earnings Wall Street anticipated.

While the meme stocks of the trading frenzy that started 2021 continue to capture the Reddit crowd's fancy, such as AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE: AMC), which has doubled in the past week alone, there have been a few other stocks that were curious choices, such as Tootsie Roll Industries (NYSE: TR), whose stock spiked over 100% in January and still trades 15% above where it started the year.

Wendy's has several tailwinds, including a returning workforce and a bullish outlook by management that raised full-year guidance.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Rich Duprey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

More on International Stock News

A male investor sits at his desk looking at his laptop screen holding his hand to his chin pondering whether to buy Macquarie shares
International Stock News

If you invested $10,000 in Nvidia stock the day ChatGPT came out, this is how much you'd have today

Buying Nvidia when the disruptive AI chatbot launched would have been a smart move.

Read more »

A Tesla car driving along a road at sunset
International Stock News

Why Tesla stock was climbing today

Investors were encouraged by news of a price hike on the Model Y.

Read more »

Plate with coloured wedges being parcelled out like a slice of pie representing a share split
International Stock News

Stock-split watch: Is Nvidia next?

Nvidia last split its stock when it traded for a pre-split $744 in 2021.

Read more »

A woman in jeans and a casual jumper leans on her car and looks seriously at her mobile phone while her vehicle is charged at an electic vehicle recharging station.
International Stock News

1 Wall Street analyst thinks Tesla stock is going to $125. Is it a sell?

Tesla is no longer a magnificent stock, according to a Wells Fargo analyst.

Read more »

A young man goes over his finances and investment portfolio at home.
International Stock News

Is Nvidia stock a buy?

The company's stock could rise 40% over the next two years and outperform the S&P 500.

Read more »

Man with hands in the middle of two items with money bags on them.
International Stock News

Is Nvidia headed for a stock split?

Nvidia stock has split five previous times in the company's history.

Read more »

Digital rocket on a laptop.
International Stock News

Nvidia shares surged (again) today. Is it too late to buy the red-hot artificial intelligence (AI) growth stock?

Nvidia stock has gained nearly 300% over the past year. Can investors still profit from this AI stock?

Read more »

A woman holds a soldering tool as she sits in front of a computer screen while working on the manufacturing of technology equipment in a laboratory environment.
International Stock News

Can you buy Nvidia shares on the ASX?

This stock has rocketed higher. How do we get access to it?

Read more »