Income (Loss) Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 03, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of income (loss) amounts attributable to parent used to calculate basic and diluted income (loss) per share

Income (loss) amounts attributable to The Wendy’s Company used to calculate basic and diluted income (loss) per share were as follows:

	Year Ended
	2015		2014		2013
Amounts attributable to The Wendy’s Company:
Income from continuing operations	$	139,979	$	116,424	$	48,390
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	21,163		5,010		(2,903		)
Net income	$	161,142	$	121,434	$	45,487

Number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted income per share

The weighted average number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted income (loss) per share were as follows:

	Year Ended
	2015	2014	2013
Common stock:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	323,018	370,160	392,585
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares	5,707	6,022	6,095
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	328,725	376,182	398,680