Mondelez International (NasdaqGS:MDLZ) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 03, 2026 05:00 PM ET Speaker9Good afternoon and welcome to the Mondelēz International 2025 fourth quarter and full year earnings question and answer session. Your lines have been placed on listen only until it's your turn to ask a question. In order to ask a question, please press the star key followed by the number 1 on your touch tone phone at any time. To remove yourself from the queue, press star 2. On today's call are Dirk Van de Put ...

U.S. consumer confidence fell sharply in January, sinking to its lowest level since 2014 as worries about personal finances and the broader economy intensified, per Associated Press, as quoted on Yahoo Finance.Confidence Index CratersThe Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index plunged 9.7 points to 84.5 in January. All five components of the index deteriorated during the month. Consumers’ assessment of present economic conditions declined 9.9 points to 113.7.Expectations Signal Recessio ...

University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers has issued a sobering “B-minus” grade for the U.S. economy, warning that inconsistent trade policies by the Donald Trump administration and a historic collapse in consumer morale are masking deeper systemic instabilities.‘Grade Inflation’ WarningAppearing on CNN, Wolfers—author of the widely used Principles of Economics textbook—offered a blunt assessment of the nation's financial health.While the data suggests the economy is “not terrible,” Wolfers argued tha ...

The Fed leaves rates unchanged… when we might get the next cut… consumer confidence plummets… but 401(k) wealth soars… how to be on the right side of this divideAs I write on Wednesday afternoon, the Federal Reserve just wrapped up its January FOMC meeting. The decision went exactly as expected – no rate cut.The Fed held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75%, marking the first pause after three straight cuts in the back half of last year.Now, the real question wasn’t what the Fed would do today. It wa ...

Core Insights - U.S. consumer sentiment has sharply declined, with the consumer confidence index dropping to 84.5 in January from 94.2 in December, marking the lowest level since 2014 [1][2] Consumer Sentiment and Economic Outlook - Persistent concerns about high living costs and limited affordability are eroding consumer optimism, compounded by rising geopolitical tensions and aggressive trade policies that amplify business uncertainty [2] - With consumer sentiment at a decade low, households may adopt a more defensive spending approach, potentially leading to softer consumer spending and impacting sales and earnings growth for consumer-facing sectors [3] Retail Sector Resilience - Despite weakening consumer confidence, companies like Dollar General, Walmart, Dollar Tree, and TJX are well-positioned to navigate a cautious consumer environment, benefiting as households prioritize essentials and seek greater value [4][8] - Dollar General's remodel strategy and digital growth are expected to support sales and earnings acceleration, while Walmart's omnichannel strength and profit mix shift are driving market share gains [6][12] Company-Specific Insights Dollar General - Dollar General is solidifying its market position through extreme value and convenience, with a focus on market share gains across consumable and non-consumable categories [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar General's current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 4.8% and 9.6%, respectively, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.9% [10] Walmart - Walmart leverages its scale and diversified business model, focusing on high-growth initiatives that shift its profit mix, resulting in consistent double-digit e-commerce growth [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart's current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 4.5% and 4.8%, respectively, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.8% [13] Dollar Tree - Dollar Tree is enhancing its focus as a pure-play value retailer, broadening its consumer appeal and strengthening operational discipline [15] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree's current financial-year EPS implies growth of 12.4%, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.1% [16] TJX Companies - TJX's off-price business model and disciplined inventory management drive consistent foot traffic and market share capture [18] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TJX's current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 6.5% and 9.6%, respectively, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.5% [19]

Core Insights - Consumer confidence has significantly declined, reaching its lowest level since 2014, with the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index showing a 20% drop compared to the same time last year, driven by concerns over jobs, inflation, and health insurance [1][6] Economic Context - Despite the drop in consumer confidence, spending remains robust, indicating a potential disconnect between consumer sentiment and actual spending behavior [2][5] - The economy is experiencing expansion, primarily supported by high-income households, which may mask the struggles of lower-income consumers [3][4] K-Shaped Economy - The current economic landscape is characterized as a "K-shaped economy," where high-income earners are increasing their spending, while lower-income groups are reducing their expenditures [3][4] - For instance, individuals earning over $125,000 increased their holiday spending by nearly 30%, contrasting with lower-income groups who have pulled back [4] Future Expectations - Economists anticipate that consumer spending and economic growth will remain strong in 2026, despite the current pessimistic consumer sentiment [5][6] - Factors contributing to this optimism include expected government stimulus from tax changes and increased spending driven by advancements in AI and productivity gains [7]

Key Takeaways Markets Diverged Today, with UNH Sagging the Dow -400 pointsCase-Shiller Home Prices Were Fairly In-Line, Chicago & NYC LedConsumer Confidence Posted a Large Decline in JanuaryTXN Misses, F5 and STX Beat Quarterly EstimatesTuesday, January 27th, 2026Markets kept flattish along their separate trajectories today, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 opening the session in the green, the small-cap Russell 2000 riding the zero-balance for most of the day, and the blue-chip Dow, led downward by a -19% loss ...

Following the upward move seen in the previous session, the major U.S. stock indexes moved in starkly opposite directions during trading on Tuesday. While the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 saw further upside, the narrower Dow showed a notable pullback.The Nasdaq jumped 215.74 points or 0.9 percent to a nearly three-month closing high of 23,817.10, and the S&P 500 climbed 28.37 points or 0.4 percent to a record closing high of 6,978.60.Meanwhile, the Dow ended the day off its worst levels of the session but still ...

Core Viewpoint - The US dollar index has reached a 4.25-month low, primarily influenced by speculation regarding potential currency intervention with Japan and domestic political uncertainties [1][2]. Group 1: Currency Market Dynamics - The dollar index (DXY00) has decreased by 0.79%, hitting a 4.25-month low [1]. - Speculation about US coordination with Japan for currency intervention has contributed to the dollar's decline, as it aligns with President Trump's view that a weaker dollar benefits US exports [2]. - The yen has appreciated to a 2.5-month high against the dollar, influenced by reports of US authorities checking dollar/yen prices, indicating possible intervention [2]. Group 2: Political and Economic Factors - Political risks are prompting foreign investors to withdraw capital from the US, exacerbating the dollar's weakness [3]. - President Trump's threat of 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada if Canada signs a trade agreement with China has added to the uncertainty surrounding the dollar [4]. - The potential for another partial US government shutdown is creating additional pressure on the dollar, with Senate Democrats threatening to block funding deals [5]. - Concerns regarding the Federal Reserve's independence, a growing US budget deficit, and increasing political polarization are also contributing to the dollar's decline [5]. Group 3: Economic Indicators - ADP reported that US private payrolls increased by an average of 7,750 per week in the four weeks ending January 3, marking the smallest job growth in six weeks [6]. - The Conference Board's US January consumer confidence index unexpectedly fell by 9.7 points to an 11.5-year low of 84.5, which is weaker than anticipated [6].

The monthly survey's primary index dropped from 94.2 in December to 84.5 in January as the economic mood worsened across ages and income levels. ...