Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc , the No. 3 U.S. fast-food chain, reported a stronger-than-expected adjusted quarterly profit on Thursday.

The company, formed after Arby's owner Triarc bought Wendy's International Inc for just over $2 billion in September 2008, said its fourth-quarter net loss narrowed to $13.6 million, or 3 cents per share, from $393.2 million, or 84 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding charges, it earned 7 cents a share, ahead of the analysts' average forecast of 3 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Investors remain cautious about the company, which is working to turn around both the Wendy's and Arby's brands at a time when discounting is rampant and unemployment is rising. The company said same-store sales should rise at Wendy's this year, but fall at Arby's as it works on improvements at that chain.

Consolidated fourth-quarter revenue from the 10,000-plus restaurant chain rose 0.5 percent to $900.9 million, below the $914.8 million analysts had expected.

Wendy's/Arby's shares were down 4 cents at $4.90 in trading before the market opened.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)