Wendy's/Arby's Earns $14.7 Million In 3Q

"I think it's a sign of the time," he said.

For the three months that ended Sept. 27, Wendy's/Arby's earned $14.7 million, or 3 cents per share. That figure included a 3 cents per share charge related to last year's merger. Revenue was $903.2 million.

The company was formed last September when Arby's owner Triarc Cos. Inc. bought Wendy's in an all-stock deal valued at $2.34 billion.

Because of the merger, it's difficult to compare third-quarter results to the same figures last year.

Analysts expected the restaurant company, based in Atlanta, to earn 6 cents per share on revenue of $916.5 million.

"Arby's, however, continues to be a drag on the business and there are no signs yet of any real change in trend," Bernstein analyst Sara Senatore told investors in a research note. "While management is optimistic that trends will improve, persistent weakness in October clearly implies sluggish demand."

Its shares rose 14 cents, or 3.5 percent, to $4.30 in afternoon trading Thursday.

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