The last time I covered Mondelez International ( MDLZ ), I rated them a Buy thanks to the stock trading below their intrinsic value, offering a solid entry point for a powerhouse of theI've been researching companies in-depth for over a decade, from commodities like oil, natural gas, gold and copper to tech like Google or Nokia and many emerging market stocks, which I believe could help me provide useful content for readers. After writing my own blog for about 3 years, I decided to switch to a value investi ...

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Core Insights - The OREO brand is launching the MARVEL OREO Stuf of Doom Cookies featuring a new Masked Decadence flavor, set to hit shelves on March 2, 2026 [1][7] - This product is part of a collaborative marketing strategy with Marvel, enhancing brand engagement through interactive storytelling [5][6] Product Details - The MARVEL OREO Stuf of Doom Cookies include chocolate graham and toasted marshmallow-flavored creme, with an embossment of Doctor Doom's mask [3][4] - The cookies utilize innovative color-changing technology, where the black creme turns the tongue green when licked [3] - The packaging features Marvel Comic-style illustrations by artist Todd Nauck, adding a collectible aspect to the product [4] Marketing Strategy - The launch is positioned as an interactive experience, allowing fans to engage with the story and complete a collection of cookie packs [5] - A promotional event will take place on February 21 in Brooklyn, offering fans an exclusive first taste of the cookies and signed merchandise [6] - Special-edition packs will be available for presale starting February 23, with a nationwide retail launch on March 2 [7] Company Background - OREO is recognized as America's favorite cookie, with over 60 billion cookies sold annually, and more than 20 billion sold in the U.S. alone [8] - Mondelz International, the parent company, reported net revenues of approximately $38.5 billion in 2025, emphasizing its leadership in the global snacking market [11]

Group 1 - The company is well positioned to capitalize on growing trends in snacking, with consumers snacking more than 3.5 times a day and a significant portion believing that snacking contributes to their well-being [3][5] - The company holds a leading global position in key categories, with a 17% share in the $128 billion Biscuits market, a 12.4% share in the $147 billion Chocolate market, a 3.9% share in the $100 billion Cakes and Pastries market, and an 8.6% share in the nearly $20 billion Snack Bars market [4] - Core snacking categories are growing at a rate 1.4 times faster than other food categories, indicating strong market potential [5]

Summary of Conference Call for Mondelēz International Company Overview - **Company**: Mondelēz International - **Industry**: Global snacks, particularly chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks Key Points and Arguments Industry Dynamics - The global chocolate market is described as dynamic, with significant challenges due to cocoa input cost inflation impacting performance in developed markets, particularly in the U.S. and Europe [2][19] - Despite these challenges, the company has maintained solid top-line growth and free cash flow, continuing to invest in its business [2][11] Growth Strategy - Mondelēz aims to improve performance through strategic actions focused on core categories: chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks, which currently account for about 80% of net revenues [3][10] - The company is targeting a long-term organic net revenue growth of 3%-5%, with high single-digit adjusted EPS growth and over $3 billion in free cash flow [10][39] Market Position - Mondelēz holds a leading position in the global snacks market, with a 17% share in biscuits (valued at $128 billion) and a 12.4% share in chocolate (valued at $147 billion) [4][5] - The company has a strong presence in emerging markets, which are expected to grow at a CAGR of 9% over the next five years, driven by rising disposable incomes and urbanization [28][29] North American Market Insights - The North American business has delivered a 4% CAGR over the past five years, with net revenue projected at about $11 billion for 2025 [11][18] - Key brands like Oreo and Chips Ahoy are performing well, with Oreo generating $2 billion in net revenue [11][12] - The company is addressing changing consumer behaviors by increasing investments in marketing and optimizing product offerings to meet price sensitivity [13][14] European Market Insights - The European business has shown robust growth of about 8% over the past five years, with net revenue of approximately $15 billion for 2025 [18][19] - Chocolate remains a strong category, with a CAGR of 7% over the past five years, despite challenges from cocoa cost inflation [19][22] - Strategic actions include broadening offerings across chocolate segments and enhancing brand presence in under-indexed channels [21][24] Emerging Markets Strategy - Emerging markets represent a $15 billion business for Mondelēz, with significant growth potential in countries like China, India, Brazil, and Mexico [28][30] - The company plans to expand its presence in these markets through localized strategies, product innovation, and enhanced distribution networks [30][37] Supply Chain and Operational Improvements - A multi-year supply chain capability improvement program is underway to optimize operations and increase margins [17][39] - The company is investing in local supply chains to enhance efficiency and service delivery, which is crucial for capturing growth in emerging markets [29][39] Financial Performance and Capital Allocation - Despite pressures from cocoa inflation, Mondelēz managed to deliver strong free cash flow and is targeting over $4 billion in free cash flow generation moving forward [39][40] - The company has prioritized returning capital to shareholders, with significant share repurchases and dividend growth over the past decade [39][40] Future Outlook - The company remains optimistic about its growth prospects, with expectations of strong EPS growth driven by improved performance in developed markets and continued growth in emerging markets [41] - Mondelēz is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet while executing its growth strategies across various markets [41] Additional Important Insights - Consumer trends indicate a growing preference for snacking, with consumers snacking more than 3.5 times a day and showing interest in new flavors [4][5] - The company is focusing on health-conscious products and premium offerings to cater to evolving consumer preferences [15][16] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the conference call, highlighting Mondelēz International's commitment to growth and adaptation in a challenging market environment.

CAGNY 2026 A PROVEN GROWTH MODEL, POSITIONED TO REACCELERATE GROWTH February 17, 2026 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This presentation and accompanying prepared remarks contain forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws. Words, and variations of words, such as "will," "may," "expect," "would," "could," "might," "intend," "plan," "believe," "likely," "estimate," "anticipate," "objective," " ...

Core Insights - Mondelēz International is committed to long-term value creation through its global portfolio of iconic snack brands, focusing on growth in both Developed and Emerging Markets [1][2] Group 1: Strategic Priorities - The company aims to reignite growth in Developed Markets while maintaining momentum in Emerging Markets, supported by significant investments in innovation and brand activation [2][4] - Mondelēz International reaffirms its long-term growth algorithm of 3 to 5 percent organic net revenue growth, high-single-digit adjusted EPS growth, and over $3 billion in free cash flow [3] Group 2: Market Positioning - The company has a strong portfolio of consumer-loved brands and a diversified global footprint, which provides confidence in delivering consistent growth and resilience [2][8] - Approximately 80 percent of net revenues come from core categories of chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks, with a goal to increase this to 90 percent over time [9] Group 3: Action Plans - Specific action plans are in place to improve volumes in Developed Markets, particularly in U.S. biscuits and European chocolate, while also expanding growth in Emerging Markets like China, India, Brazil, and Mexico [9] - The company is focused on disciplined capital allocation to support brand reinvestment and growth-accretive mergers and acquisitions, while maintaining balance sheet flexibility [9]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding the company or industry [1]

Core Viewpoint - Hershey Company demonstrates strong financial performance with a notable increase in stock price following its quarterly earnings announcement, reflecting investor confidence and growth potential in the confectionery industry [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - Hershey's stock rose from a closing price of $205.79 to a last traded price of $220.93 after the earnings announcement, with a trading volume exceeding 1.5 million shares [3]. - The company reported quarterly revenue of $3.09 billion, surpassing the anticipated $2.97 billion, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period last year [4]. - Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $1.71, exceeding analysts' expectations by $0.31 [3][6]. - Hershey achieved a net margin of 11.84% and a return on equity of 32.08%, indicating strong financial health [4][6]. Future Guidance - For fiscal year 2026, Hershey has set an EPS guidance range of 8.20 to 8.52 [5]. - The company announced an increase in its quarterly dividend, which is scheduled to be paid on March 16th [5]. Market Position - Morgan Stanley has set a new price target for Hershey at $238, indicating a potential increase of about 3.42% from the current stock price of $230.12 [2][6]. - Hershey competes with major players in the confectionery industry, including Mars, Nestlé, and Mondelez International [1].

Employee and Organizational Structure - The company had approximately 91,000 employees as of December 31, 2025, with 12,000 in the U.S. and 79,000 internationally[39]. - The company conducts annual engagement surveys to enhance its culture and improve employee engagement[46]. - The company’s last global pay equity analysis in 2025 found a pay gap of less than 1% between male and female employees performing similar work[50]. - The company has a diverse executive team with extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, enhancing its strategic leadership[64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72]. Product and Innovation Focus - The company focuses on five product categories: Biscuits & Baked Snacks, Chocolate, Gum & Candy, Beverages, and Cheese & Grocery[26]. - The company aims to enhance its innovation capabilities through the expansion of R&D Innovation and Consumer Research Centers in 2025[30]. - The company has a robust framework for innovation to drive a technology pipeline supporting new product development across various time horizons[30]. - The company has established a dedicated innovation hub, SnackFutures, to leverage emerging consumer trends in mindful snacking[32]. Sustainability and Compliance - The company is committed to sustainability, focusing on mindful snacking and reducing its environmental footprint[51]. - The company is subject to various laws and regulations affecting its operations, including workplace safety, data privacy, and environmental compliance[60][61][62]. - The company has implemented programs to meet environmental compliance requirements, including adherence to the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act in the U.S.[62]. - The company is subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies in the EU, making it responsible for recycling costs of food and beverage packaging[61]. Financial Risk Management - The company monitors currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and interest rates as part of its risk management program to mitigate financial volatility[308][311]. - The company utilizes derivative instruments to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and interest rates[309][312]. - The company regularly evaluates its debt structure and uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rate fluctuations[312]. - The company employs a Value at Risk (VAR) model to estimate potential losses in the fair value of its financial instruments[314]. - The VAR computation is a risk analysis tool designed to estimate maximum expected daily loss under specified confidence intervals[316]. - The computation does not represent actual losses and does not consider favorable changes in market rates[316]. - The company cannot predict actual future movements in market rates[316]. - The VAR results are not indicative of future movements in market rates or their impact on future financial results[316]. Cost and Pricing Strategy - The company has experienced input cost volatility due to international demand and macroeconomic conditions, prompting it to take pricing actions to mitigate impacts on earnings[311]. - As of December 31, 2025, the estimated potential one-day loss in fair value for interest rate-sensitive instruments is between $42 million (low) and $84 million (high)[316]. - For foreign currency rates, the estimated potential one-day loss in pre-tax earnings is $27 million (low) to $44 million (high) as of December 31, 2025[316]. - The potential one-day loss in commodity prices ranges from $22 million (low) to $104 million (high) as of December 31, 2025[316]. - As of December 31, 2024, the estimated potential one-day loss in fair value for interest rate-sensitive instruments is between $76 million (low) and $95 million (high)[316]. - For foreign currency rates, the estimated potential one-day loss in pre-tax earnings is $22 million (low) to $46 million (high) as of December 31, 2024[316]. - The potential one-day loss in commodity prices ranges from $14 million (low) to $99 million (high) as of December 31, 2024[316].