Wendy's has reported a strong performance in its fourth-quarter earnings, with revenue reaching $574.27 million, surpassing expectations of $563.64 million. The company achieved a year-on-year sales growth of 6.2%, while adjusted revenues increased by 6.4% to $459.3 million. Global same-restaurant sales grew by 4.3%. In addition, Wendy's same-store sales rose by 10% in October, remaining in line with industry trends in November and December. The quick-service restaurant chain plans to increase capital expenditures to between $100 million and $110 million in 2025, focusing on new restaurant builds and technology enhancements, including digital menu boards. Wendy's is also set to return $325 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases this year. However, the company anticipates negative same-store sales in the first quarter, attributing this to overall industry traffic challenges exacerbated by severe weather events. CEO Kirk Tanner stated that Wendy's aims to expand its voice-activated AI technology to 500-600 drive-thrus by the end of 2025, enhancing order accuracy and driving sales.