Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2025

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill activity for 2025 and 2024 was as follows:

	Wendy’s U.S.		Wendy’s International		Global Real Estate & Development		Total
Balance at December 31, 2023:
Goodwill, gross	$	620,603	$	39,973	$	122,548	$	783,124
Accumulated impairment losses (a)	—		(9,397)		—		(9,397)
Goodwill, net	620,603		30,576		122,548		773,727
Changes in goodwill:
Currency translation adjustment	—		(2,259)		—		(2,259)
Balance at December 29, 2024:
Goodwill, gross	620,603		37,714		122,548		780,865
Accumulated impairment losses (a)	—		(9,397)		—		(9,397)
Goodwill, net	620,603		28,317		122,548		771,468
Changes in goodwill:
Restaurant acquisitions	1,249		—		—		1,249
Currency translation adjustment	—		1,371		—		1,371
Balance at December 28, 2025:
Goodwill, gross	621,852		39,085		122,548		783,485
Accumulated impairment losses (a)	—		(9,397)		—		(9,397)
Goodwill, net	$	621,852	$	29,688	$	122,548	$	774,088

_______________

(a)Accumulated impairment losses resulted from the full impairment of goodwill of the Wendy’s international franchise restaurants during the fourth quarter of 2013.

The following is a summary of the components of other intangible assets and the related amortization expense:

	Year End
	December 28, 2025						December 29, 2024
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net
Indefinite-lived:
Trademarks	$	903,000	$	—	$	903,000	$	903,000	$	—	$	903,000
Definite-lived:
Franchise agreements	348,151		(286,182)		61,969		347,370		(268,976)		78,394
Favorable leases	138,730		(79,992)		58,738		144,734		(77,352)		67,382
Reacquired rights under franchise agreements	96,042		(27,171)		68,871		88,696		(21,863)		66,833
Software	356,325		(278,232)		78,093		323,738		(247,083)		76,655
	$	1,842,248	$	(671,577)	$	1,170,671	$	1,807,538	$	(615,274)	$	1,192,264

Aggregate amortization expense:
Actual for fiscal year:
2023	$	59,356
2024	62,255
2025	62,565
Estimate for fiscal year:
2026	$	57,011
2027	49,764
2028	44,794
2029	34,549
2030	15,160
Thereafter	66,393
	$	267,671