WEN vs MCD: which was the better investment?
The Wendy’s Company against McDonald’s Corporation on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 6, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did WEN beat MCD?
No — measured from May 6, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, MCD came out ahead: $5,851,693 versus $212,255 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.8% annual return against 6.8%.
What would $10,000 in WEN be worth today?
$10,000 invested in The Wendy’s Company (WEN) on May 6, 1980 would be worth about $212,255 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 2022.6% (6.8% per year). The same $10,000 in MCD would be worth $5,851,693.
Which was riskier — WEN or MCD?
WEN swung with an annualized volatility of 48.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -89.6%; MCD ran at 23.9% volatility with a -73.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.10 for WEN vs 0.53 for MCD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 6, 1980 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with WEN vs MCD. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.