Core Insights - Mondelez International is a global leader in the snack food industry with a strong brand portfolio including Oreo, Cadbury, and Toblerone, operating in over 150 countries [1][6] - Berenberg Bank has set a price target of $70 for Mondelez, indicating a potential price increase of approximately 10.81% from its current trading price of $63.17, reflecting confidence in the company's market position [2][6] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.2%, which is attractive to income-focused investors, and is experiencing robust top-line growth, particularly in emerging markets and the chocolate segment [3][6] Financial Performance - Mondelez anticipates a 5% sales growth for the year, driven by resilient demand and market share gains, with potential normalization of cocoa prices supporting this growth [4] - The current stock price is $63.17, reflecting a 1.12% increase, with a market capitalization of approximately $81.74 billion [4] - Over the past year, Mondelez's stock has shown volatility, reaching a high of $72.70 and a low of $53.95, with a trading volume of 6,258,629 shares on the day [5]

Upgrades - Barclays upgraded Charles River (CRL) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $195, up from $165, citing stabilized drug discovery demand and valuation [2] - Barclays upgraded C.H. Robinson (CHRW) to Equal Weight from Underweight with a price target of $130, up from $95, reflecting the company's AI-enabled efficiency gains in a soft market [2] - HSBC upgraded Ferrari (RACE) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $470, up from $413, anticipating double-digit earnings growth out to 2030 due to the upcoming capital markets day plan [3] - JPMorgan upgraded Corteva (CTVA) to Overweight from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $70, noting that the planned split into two companies in 2026 does not diminish its value [4] - KeyBanc upgraded Nike (NKE) to Overweight from Sector Weight with a price target of $90, following solid fiscal Q1 results driven by progress on its "Win Now" actions [4] Downgrades - Roth Capital downgraded Electronic Arts (EA) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $210, up from $185, after the announcement of a $55 billion take-private deal [5] - Berenberg downgraded Mondelez (MDLZ) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $70, down from $81, expecting cocoa prices to decline in 2026 relative to 2025 [5] - William Blair downgraded RH (RH) to Market Perform from Outperform due to new tariffs on imported kitchen cabinets and furniture, starting at 25% and potentially rising to 50% [5] - Mizuho downgraded Bloom Energy (BE) to Neutral from Outperform with a price target of $79, up from $48, citing improved demand visibility but concerns over valuation after a recent rally [5] - Barclays downgraded Medpace (MEDP) to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $425, down from $450, due to growth deceleration and margin pressure expected in the second half of 2026 [5]

Core Viewpoint - Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) is considered a top pick for retirement portfolios despite a downgrade in price target and sales growth projections by Evercore ISI [1][2]. Group 1: Sales Growth and Projections - Evercore ISI has reduced its projection for third-quarter consolidated organic sales to 3.5%, down from a consensus expectation of 4.5% [2]. - The expectation for organic sales growth in 2025 has been lowered from 5% to 4.4% [2]. - Increasing price elasticity across Europe is identified as a key factor contributing to slower sales growth [1]. Group 2: Stock Performance and Valuation - Analysts warn that short-term sales risks could lead to a 5–10% decline in Mondelez's stock, positioning it at the lower end of its 10-year price-to-earnings range of 18x [2]. - Despite immediate concerns, Mondelez is still viewed as a solid long-term growth story at a reasonable price [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Mondelez International, Inc. is a Chicago-based international firm specializing in confectionery, cuisine, drinks, and snacks [3].

Group 1 - The article highlights that food stocks are currently under pressure due to inflationary pressures on consumers and concerns related to the "Make America Healthy Again" campaign [2] - There is a potential for investment opportunities in food stocks, particularly in MDLZ, as the analyst may initiate a long position in the near future [2] Group 2 - iREIT+HOYA Capital focuses on income-producing asset classes that provide sustainable portfolio income, diversification, and inflation hedging [1] - The service offers a free two-week trial for investors to explore top ideas across exclusive income-focused portfolios [1]

Company Overview - Mondelez International operates in over 150 countries, providing snacks with an estimated net revenue of approximately $36.4 billion for 2024, and is part of major indices like S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index [2] - The company entered the Chinese market in 1984, with its Greater China headquarters in Shanghai, producing and managing various products including biscuits, chocolates, gum, candies, and solid beverages under well-known brands like Oreo and Trident [2] - Mondelez employs around 4,000 people in China, with production bases in North, South, and East China, and a global R&D center located in East China [2] - The Suzhou Lake East factory received the Green Factory title from Jiangsu Province in 2021, and in January 2023, it joined the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network [2] Compliance and Ethics Initiatives - Mondelez International has established a training mechanism to cultivate a compliance culture, implementing a hybrid training program that deepens employees' understanding of core policies [3] - In 2024, the company conducted approximately 90 interactive compliance live courses, with around 43,000 employees completing the training online [3] - The company has developed and continuously updates a binding Code of Conduct, available in about 32 languages, outlining employees' responsibilities in conducting business lawfully and ethically [3] - All employees are required to undergo annual training on the Code of Conduct, ensuring they read, understand, and comply with its contents [3] Reporting and Accountability - Mondelez International provides accessible complaint mechanisms for employees, contractors, and subcontractors through its compliance and integrity program, with a free hotline and online reporting platform available in over 90 countries [4] - In 2024, the company's ethics and compliance department received over 2,900 contacts globally through these channels, primarily concerning inquiries about compliance policies and reporting of misconduct [4] - The company has integrated compliance principles into its supply chain management, with approximately 96% of its owned production sites and 98% of key suppliers having completed SMETA social responsibility audits in the past three years [4] - Mondelez aims for 100% coverage of its Cocoa Life program's child labor monitoring and remediation system in West Africa by 2025, having achieved 89% coverage in 2024 [4]

Core Insights - Mondelez is transitioning to natural dyes for its products that currently use synthetic colors, indicating a shift towards more natural ingredients in the food industry [1] Company Summary - Mondelez manufactures popular candy brands such as Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish, which are known for their vibrant colors [1] - The company's initiative to switch to natural dyes reflects a growing consumer demand for healthier and more natural food options [1]

Core Insights - The Hershey Company has outperformed Mondelez International nearly 2:1 in 2025, despite both companies facing challenges from rising cocoa prices [1][2] - The management of rising costs and the strength of non-chocolate portfolios will be crucial for both companies as peak candy demand approaches during Halloween and the holidays [2] Group 1: Hershey Company - Hershey's stock was one of the worst performers in 2024 due to higher commodity prices and a change in leadership, with Kirk Tanner replacing Michele Buck [4] - The company has successfully implemented a price increase of approximately 26% on popular products like Reese's and Kit-Kat, demonstrating its ability to pass costs to consumers [5] - Hershey has diversified its product offerings, launching new products like Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies, which sold over 11 million units, and expanding its portfolio of salty snacks [6][7] Group 2: Mondelez International - Mondelez has also expanded its portfolio beyond chocolate but has not shown the same strong gains as Hershey, relying more on cost-cutting measures to preserve margins [8] - The company's earnings report indicated a 15% year-over-year drop in EPS, compared to Hershey's 3% decline, highlighting Hershey's better performance in passing price hikes to consumers [9] - Analysts suggest that while Mondelez stock may have more upside based on conventional metrics, it needs to prove its ability to pass on higher cocoa prices to consumers [10][11] Group 3: Market Sentiment and Analyst Ratings - Recent upgrades for Hershey include a rating increase from Neutral to Outperform by BNP Paribas Exane and a significant upgrade from Goldman Sachs from Sell to Buy, raising its price target to $220 [12] - Analysts expect a 15% gain for Hershey, which is higher than the 13% growth anticipated for Mondelez stock, indicating a more favorable outlook for Hershey [12] - Mondelez currently holds a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, but it is not included in the list of top stocks recommended by leading analysts [13]

Core Insights - The Next Generation Ingredients conference will take place in London on November 4 and 5, featuring executives from major companies in the food and drinks sector [1][2] - Key themes include investment strategies in ingredients, product development influenced by GLP-1 drugs, and the impact of global macroeconomic factors on ingredient strategies [3][4] Group 1: Conference Overview - The conference is organized by Arena International and aims to address trends and issues in the ingredients sector [1] - Notable participants include executives from Mars, Associated British Foods, Greencore, Mondelez International, and others [1][2] Group 2: Key Topics and Discussions - The first day will feature discussions on investment in ingredients, with insights from Unilever, Nichols, and THG [2] - Rousselot will present on the influence of GLP-1 drugs on product development, while Mondelez will discuss the effects of macroeconomic instability [3] - The first afternoon will include panels on personalization and sourcing, featuring brands like BetterYou and The Fairtrade Foundation [3][4] Group 3: Day Two Highlights - Day two will start with Greencore discussing global cuisine and will include a panel on new product development (NPD) strategies [4] - Bakkavor will focus on the benefits and trade-offs of reformulation during a mid-morning session [4] - The afternoon will see discussions on retail strategy and the use of functional ingredients, involving companies like The Gut Stuff and Zooki [5]

Group 1 - Mondelez International, Inc. reported Q2 2025 results with an Adjusted EPS of $0.73, exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.68, and quarterly revenue of $8.98 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $8.82 billion [2] - The company experienced a year-over-year net revenue increase of 7.7%, although there was a decline of 1.5% in volume/mix, indicating that favorable pricing significantly contributed to revenue growth [2] - Mondelez announced a 6% increase in its dividend and introduced new products in collaboration with Reese's, including the REESE'S OREO Cup, which is expected to perform well based on online excitement [3] Group 2 - The company has a dividend yield of 3.19%, providing stable income for shareholders and enhancing its appeal to potential investors [4] - Mondelez International is a global snacking company formed in 2012 from the spin-off of Kraft Foods' global snack and confectionery business, owning several billion-dollar brands such as Oreo, Ritz, Cadbury Dairy Milk, and Toblerone [4]

Group 1 - Mondelez International, Inc. is recognized as one of the best high dividend stocks to buy under $100, with a strong presence in the snack industry and a diverse portfolio of iconic brands [1][2] - The company has expanded its portfolio significantly since its formation in 2012, completing 10 acquisitions since 2018 to enhance its core categories and enter adjacent markets [3][4] - Mondelez has focused on acquiring brands that offer healthier or premium products, reinforcing its market presence and expanding into new categories [4] Group 2 - The company has demonstrated a commitment to shareholder returns, recently announcing a 6.4% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.50 per share, marking 12 consecutive years of dividend growth [5] - As of September 18, Mondelez's stock has a dividend yield of 3.16%, making it an attractive option for dividend investors [5]