Group 1 - Shanghai is focusing on high-quality development and aims to become a world-class modern international metropolis, enhancing its appeal for global goods, especially high-quality and diverse food products [1] - The city welcomes global food companies like Mondelēz International to participate in the development of Shanghai's food industry, improve their headquarters capabilities, and integrate deeply into local supply chains [1] - Mondelēz International, ranked 436th in the Fortune Global 500, is a leader in the global snack industry and has established its Greater China headquarters in Shanghai [2] Group 2 - The CEO of Mondelēz International expressed that Shanghai represents future trends and is often ahead of the global curve, making each visit a learning experience [1] - The company aims to seize growth opportunities in the Chinese market, enhance consumer experiences, and share insights from China with the global market [1]

Group 1 - The Global Staples Conference is ongoing, with a focus on industry news and developments [1] - Mondelez International is participating in the conference, represented by its Chairman and CEO Dirk Van de Put and CFO Luca Zaramella [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reaffirmed its full year 2025 organic sales growth guidance of about 5% despite headwinds from U.S. retailer restocking and hot weather in Europe impacting chocolate demand [9][10] - Organic sales in North America declined about 3.5% year over year in the first half, with underlying trends softer than anticipated [13][19] - The company expects a reasonable P&L for 2025 with top-line growth of 4% to 5% and a 10% EPS decline, indicating a challenging year ahead [6][7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that chocolate consumption in Europe was impacted by hot weather, particularly in the U.K. and Germany, leading to a decline in volumes [10][11] - In North America, the company is focusing on optimizing shopping trips and maximizing brand presence, particularly for Oreo, which has seen increased penetration but decreased purchase frequency [17][19] - The company is implementing price pack architecture in Europe to protect specific price points and stimulate consumption through promotional activities [12][27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In emerging markets, the company sees significant growth potential, particularly in India and China, despite current consumer caution [36][40] - Brazil is performing well with good single-digit growth, while Mexico is experiencing a slowdown in consumer offtake [40][41] - Cocoa supply is expected to increase, leading to a potential surplus and a decrease in cocoa prices, which could positively impact margins [32][33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The long-term strategy established in 2018 remains valid, focusing on building presence in key categories and supporting brand growth [5][6] - The company is exploring collaborations with other brands to drive innovation and market presence, viewing these partnerships as win-win opportunities [20][25] - The cakes and pastries category is identified as a significant growth opportunity, with expectations of reaching $125 billion by 2030 [52][54] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed that consumer spending behavior has not changed significantly over the past two and a half years, with consumers remaining cautious and prioritizing basic necessities [14][15] - The company anticipates continued challenges in North America over the next 6 to 12 months, with a focus on adapting to consumer behavior [19][40] - Management is optimistic about the upcoming Christmas season, expecting stronger engagement and better elasticities as consumers adjust to new price levels [12][29] Other Important Information - The company is closely monitoring cocoa supply dynamics and exploring alternative sourcing to mitigate cocoa price risks [30][34] - The capital allocation strategy remains disciplined, with a focus on smaller M&A opportunities and a pragmatic approach to share buybacks [47][50] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for North America in the next 6 to 12 months? - Management indicated that consumers are cautious and spending has not increased, leading to a challenging environment for the foreseeable future [16][19] Question: How does the company view collaborations with other brands? - Collaborations are seen as opportunities for innovation and market expansion, with potential benefits for both parties involved [20][25] Question: What is the company's strategy regarding cocoa supply and pricing? - The company is optimistic about an increase in cocoa supply leading to lower prices, which would positively impact margins [32][33] Question: What are the growth expectations in emerging markets? - Emerging markets are expected to contribute significantly to growth, with a focus on building strong brands and distribution networks [36][39]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reaffirmed its full year 2025 organic sales growth guidance of about 5% despite facing headwinds from U.S. retailer restocking and adverse weather conditions in Europe [9][10] - For 2025, the company anticipates a reasonable top-line growth of 4% to 5% but expects a 10% decline in EPS, indicating a challenging profit environment [6][7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic sales in North America declined approximately 3.5% year over year in the first half, attributed to retailer restocking and softer underlying trends [14][20] - The company is focusing on optimizing shopping trips and maximizing brand presence, particularly for products like Oreo, which has seen increased penetration but decreased purchase frequency [18][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Europe, the company experienced a decline in chocolate volumes due to higher temperatures impacting consumption, particularly in key markets like the U.K. and Germany [12][27] - Elasticities in Europe have increased to around 0.6 to 0.7, higher than the anticipated 0.4, indicating a shift in consumer response to pricing [28][29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The long-term strategy established in 2018 remains valid, focusing on building presence in key categories and supporting brand growth [5][6] - The company is exploring collaborations with other brands, such as Coca-Cola and Biscoff, to enhance product offerings and market presence without engaging in M&A [21][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer spending behavior has not changed significantly over the past two and a half years, with consumers remaining cautious and prioritizing basic necessities [15][16] - The outlook for North America is expected to remain challenging for the next 6 to 12 months, with a focus on adapting to consumer behavior and optimizing product offerings [20][40] Other Important Information - The company is optimistic about cocoa prices decreasing in the future due to increased supply from West Africa and other regions, which could improve margins [30][31][34] - The cakes and pastries category is seen as a significant growth opportunity, with expectations of reaching a $125 billion market by 2030 [52][54] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for North America in the next 6 to 12 months? - Management expects continued challenges in North America, with consumers remaining cautious and spending patterns not changing significantly [20] Question: How does the company view its collaborations with other brands? - Collaborations are seen as win-win opportunities that enhance product offerings without the complexities of M&A [21][26] Question: What is the current view on cocoa fundamentals? - Cocoa supply is expected to increase, leading to a potential decrease in cocoa prices, which would benefit the company's margins [30][31][34] Question: What are the growth expectations in emerging markets? - Emerging markets are crucial for long-term growth, with a focus on building strong brands and expanding distribution [36][39]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reaffirmed its full year 2025 organic sales growth guidance of about 5% despite facing headwinds from U.S. retailer restocking and adverse weather conditions in Europe affecting chocolate demand [9][10] - For 2025, the company anticipates a reasonable top-line growth of 4% to 5% but expects a 10% decline in EPS, which is considered acceptable given the current cocoa circumstances [6][7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic sales in North America declined approximately 3.5% year over year in the first half, attributed to retailer restocking and softer underlying trends [14][20] - The company is focusing on optimizing shopping trips and maximizing brand presence, particularly for Oreo, which has seen increased penetration but decreased purchase frequency [18][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Europe, the company experienced higher elasticities than anticipated, with current levels around 0.6 to 0.7, compared to the expected 0.4 [28][29] - The cocoa supply situation is improving, with a 7% increase in cocoa pot counts in West Africa compared to the last five-year norm, suggesting potential price reductions in the future [31][32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The long-term strategy established in 2018 remains valid, focusing on building presence in key categories and supporting brand growth [5][6] - The company is exploring collaborations with other brands, such as Coca-Cola and Biscoff, to enhance product offerings and market presence [21][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer spending has remained stagnant over the past 24 to 30 months, leading to cautious shopping behavior [15][16] - The outlook for North America is expected to remain challenging for the next 6 to 12 months, with consumers becoming increasingly careful in their spending [20] Other Important Information - The cakes and pastries category is projected to grow from $95 billion to approximately $125 billion by 2030, with the company aiming to enhance its position in this fragmented market [52][54] - The company is maintaining a disciplined approach to M&A, focusing on smaller assets that align with its strategic goals [48][50] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for North America in the next 6 to 12 months? - Management expects continued challenges in North America, with consumers remaining cautious and spending levels stagnant [20] Question: How does the company view current cocoa levels and supply dynamics? - The company believes current cocoa prices are unsustainable and anticipates a surplus in the market, leading to potential price reductions [30][32] Question: What is the strategy regarding M&A and share buybacks? - The company remains disciplined in M&A, focusing on smaller strategic assets, while being pragmatic about share buybacks given current stock prices [46][50]

Consumer Staples Sector Overview - The consumer staples sector is currently facing challenges such as cost pressures from inflation, high commodity prices, and tariffs, which have negatively impacted profit margins [1] - Real average wages have declined, leading consumers to reduce spending [1] - Investor focus has shifted towards high-growth industries like AI, resulting in high valuations and limited upside for consumer staples companies [1][2] Constellation Brands - Constellation Brands is a major player in the alcoholic beverages market, with brands like Modelo and Corona, and has seen a year-to-date decline of nearly 29%, making it an attractive value play with a price/sales ratio of 2.56 [4][5] - The global alcohol market is projected to reach approximately $3 trillion by 2030, and Constellation's strong international presence positions it well, particularly among Hispanic and Latino consumers [5] - Despite a troubling dividend payout ratio of -170.7%, Constellation has maintained a dividend yield of 2.56% and analysts expect earnings to grow by about 7% in the coming year, indicating potential upside of over 33% for STZ shares [7] Estée Lauder - Estée Lauder has experienced mixed results in its latest fiscal quarter, with both EPS and revenue declining year-over-year, although EPS exceeded analyst expectations [8][9] - The company is implementing cost-cutting measures aimed at saving up to $1 billion annually, which has led to a gross margin expansion of 230 basis points to 74% [10] - Estée Lauder's strong market position in prestige beauty and improved value metrics make it well-positioned to navigate external challenges [11] Mondelez International - Mondelez International maintains a strong market presence in the snack food and beverage sector, leveraging pricing power and brand loyalty to counteract volume slippage [13] - Despite a year-over-year decline in EPS, Mondelez's revenue grew by about 8% due to strong performance in emerging markets [14] - The company has a sustainable dividend payout ratio and is expected to generate over $3 billion in free cash flow this year, with analysts projecting more than 17% upside potential for MDLZ shares [15]

Core Insights - The article discusses the journey to financial independence through disciplined living and strategic investing, highlighting the transition from financial struggle to freedom within a six-year period [2]. Group 1: Financial Independence Journey - The individual began blogging in 2011 about achieving financial independence by living below means and investing wisely [2]. - Achieved financial freedom by age 33 after starting from a position of being "below broke" at age 27 [2]. Group 2: Investment Focus - The content created focuses on dividend growth investing, emphasizing the importance of living off dividends and identifying undervalued high-quality dividend growth stocks [2]. - The strategy includes exploring high-yield investment opportunities and other long-term investment prospects [2].

Core Insights - Investors are comparing Bunzl PLC (BZLFY) and Mondelez (MDLZ) to determine which stock offers better value for investment [1] Valuation Metrics - Bunzl PLC has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while Mondelez has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - BZLFY has a forward P/E ratio of 13.54, significantly lower than MDLZ's forward P/E of 20.94 [5] - The PEG ratio for BZLFY is 1.25, while MDLZ has a PEG ratio of 4.79, suggesting BZLFY is more reasonably priced relative to its expected earnings growth [5] - BZLFY's P/B ratio is 3, compared to MDLZ's P/B of 3.13, indicating a more favorable market value to book value ratio for BZLFY [6] Value Grades - BZLFY has a Value grade of A, while MDLZ has a Value grade of C, reflecting BZLFY's stronger valuation metrics [6] - The stronger estimate revision activity and more attractive valuation metrics for BZLFY suggest it is the superior option for value investors at this time [7]

Group 1 - In November 2024, the analysis covered the two largest publicly traded sweet-snack conglomerates, Hershey and Mondelēz, with Hershey being the preferred pick, returning 4% to date, while Mondelēz is down [1] - The analyst has over five years of experience in Consulting & Audit Firms, including positions in Valuation, FP&A, and Controlling, indicating a strong academic finance background [1] - The approach is primarily value-oriented, emphasizing that valuation is more indicative of long-term opportunities or risks rather than short- to mid-term timing [1] Group 2 - The article expresses the analyst's own opinions and does not involve any stock, option, or similar derivative positions in the mentioned companies, although there may be plans to initiate a long position in the near future [2] - Seeking Alpha clarifies that past performance does not guarantee future results and that no specific investment recommendations are provided [3]

Group 1 - Mondelēz International, Inc. will participate in a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on September 3, 2025, at 8:15 am ET [1] - The presentation will be available via a live audio webcast on the company's investor website, with an archive also accessible later [1] Group 2 - Mondelēz International reported net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion for the year 2024 [2] - The company operates in over 150 countries and offers a range of iconic brands including Oreo, Ritz, and Cadbury [2] - Mondelēz is recognized as a member of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class North America and World Indices [2]