Mondelez projects steeper EPS decline as third-quarter volumes deteriorate

Core Viewpoint - Mondelez International has reduced its full-year sales growth expectations and anticipates a larger decline in earnings per share due to a decrease in third-quarter volumes [1][2]. Financial Performance - For the third quarter, Mondelez reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.73, a decline of 24.2% in constant currency compared to the same period last year [5]. - Headline diluted EPS fell 9.5% to $0.57 [5]. - Organic net sales increased by 3.4% to $9.74 billion for the third quarter, with reported sales up 5.9% [5]. Sales Growth Projections - The company now projects organic growth in the 4%-plus range, down from a previous forecast of around 5% [2]. - Adjusted EPS is expected to decline by about 15% on a constant-currency basis, compared to an earlier estimate of a 10% decrease [2]. Volume and Pricing Trends - Volume/mix declined by 4.6 percentage points, while pricing contributed an 8 percentage point increase [5]. - The steepest volume/mix decline was observed in Europe at -7.5%, significantly higher than the 1.8% drop in North America [6]. - Pricing in Europe was 12.6%, compared to 1.5% in North America, with organic growth in Europe at 5.1% and a slight decline of 0.3% in North America [6]. Market Conditions and Future Outlook - The CEO noted that the company faced record-high cocoa cost inflation but expressed optimism due to recent moderation in cocoa prices and signs of a strong cocoa crop this fall [4]. - The outlook is influenced by greater than usual volatility, including geopolitical, trade, regulatory uncertainties, and commodity prices [3].