Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) is included among the 14 Quality Stocks with Highest Dividends. Mondelez (MDLZ) Named Top Pick by Morgan Stanley as Cocoa Pressures Ease On March 16, Morgan Stanley raised its price recommendation on Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) to $70 from $66. It reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm said the market appears too focused on pricing rollback risk, while not fully recognizing the potential earnings recovery as cocoa costs begin to n ...

Once Upon a Farm shares fell 9.8% after the organic kids snacks maker forecast slowing sales growth in 2026 in its first earnings report as a public company https://t.co/5u0j5Cxyq4 ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 index faced valuation pressure as oil prices and Treasury yields rose simultaneously, with the index falling 0.42% to 6,754.55 [1][5] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.97%, while the Nasdaq Composite decreased by 0.21% [1] - The VIX index increased to 25.21, indicating elevated market volatility [1] Oil Market Dynamics - The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced the largest emergency oil reserve release in its history, totaling 400 million barrels, in response to supply disruptions caused by the Iran conflict [1][2] - Despite this release, WTI crude oil prices rose by 4.48% to $87.19 per barrel, indicating a significant supply shortage [1][2] - The geopolitical situation escalated with U.S. military actions against Iranian vessels and attacks on commercial shipping, further complicating the oil supply outlook [1][2] Inflation and Economic Indicators - The February Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.4% year-on-year, matching expectations, while core CPI increased by 2.5% [2] - Rising gasoline prices, which have increased by over 50 cents per gallon since the onset of the Iran conflict, are expected to impact future inflation readings [2] - The probability of no interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in 2026 rose to 19.3%, reflecting market concerns over sustained inflation [2][5] Company Earnings Highlights - Oracle (ORCL) reported fiscal third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.79 on revenue of $17.2 billion, marking a 22% year-over-year increase and exceeding analyst expectations [2][3] - Oracle's backlog reached $553 billion, primarily driven by large-scale AI contracts, leading to a significant positive market reaction with shares surging over 13% [2][3] - Campbell's Company (CPB) experienced a sharp decline in shares after missing earnings expectations, with a 10.5% earnings miss and a significant guidance cut for the full year [3] Sector Performance - The S&P 500 Energy Sector outperformed the broader market, rising 1.8% as oil prices increased, benefiting companies like Valero Energy (VLO) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) [3][4] - The Financials Sector fell 1.28%, reflecting concerns over rising oil prices and inflation impacting bank earnings [4] - AeroVironment and Cadre Holdings reported significant earnings misses, indicating operational challenges rather than demand issues in their respective sectors [4] Strategic Developments - UniFirst (UNF) agreed to be acquired by Cintas (CTAS) for $310 per share, representing a 20.2% premium over its previous close, with the deal expected to close in the second half of 2026 [3] - J.M. Smucker (SJM) received an upgrade from Bernstein, driven by declining coffee prices and the involvement of Elliott Investment Management as an activist shareholder [4]

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets opened cautiously on March 11, 2026, influenced by a critical inflation report and geopolitical instability in the Middle East [1] - Major indexes displayed mixed results, with the S&P 500 up 0.1%, the Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell approximately 72 points, or 0.2% [2] Inflation Data - The February Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a year-over-year increase of 2.4%, slightly down from 2.5% previously, but still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target [4] - Core CPI also met expectations at 2.5%, excluding volatile food and energy prices [4] - Market participants are closely monitoring the impact of this data on the Federal Reserve's policy decisions, with a 99.4% probability of maintaining current interest rates during the March meeting [5] Corporate Developments - Oracle (ORCL) saw a stock surge of 13.8% after reporting third-quarter fiscal 2026 results that exceeded estimates, driven by strong demand for its enterprise AI software [6] - Domo (DOMO) experienced a significant increase of over 50% in its shares after reporting a surprise profit of 3 cents per share [6] - Campbell's Company (CPB) shares fell 3.2% due to weaker-than-expected second-quarter profits and lowered full-year guidance [7] Notable Stock Movements - Among the "Magnificent Seven," Apple (AAPL) faced pressure due to margin concerns from rising component costs despite the launch of a lower-cost iPhone 17e [8] - Nvidia (NVDA) saw a slight increase as optimism about AI infrastructure spending continues, with projections of $700 billion in spending on AI hardware in 2026 [8] - Tesla (TSLA) faced challenges with a year-over-year decline in vehicle deliveries [8] - Other notable movements included Nike (NKE) rising after a "Buy" upgrade and Micron (MU) receiving a price target hike, while AeroVironment (AVAV) dropped over 9% after a third-quarter miss [9]

Core Insights - BranchOut Food Inc. has announced a partnership with Zesty Snackz to launch a new line of single-ingredient Fruit Chips, leveraging BranchOut's GentleDry™ dehydration technology [1][3][4] Group 1: Partnership Overview - The collaboration combines BranchOut's GentleDry™ technology with Zesty Snackz's growing snack platform and the digital reach of creators Brenten Szekely and Paul Cuffaro, who have millions of followers across various social media platforms [2][4] - The new product line will feature 100% real fruit chips that are free from added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients, with initial offerings including mango, pineapple, strawberry, and banana [3][4] Group 2: Market Positioning - The partnership is positioned to tap into a rapidly expanding market for premium, single-ingredient snacks, utilizing the strong community engagement of the creators to drive consumer interest and purchasing behavior [4][5] - Zesty Snackz aims to deliver high-quality products to modern consumers through both retail and digital channels, integrating influencer-driven engagement into its brand strategy [6] Group 3: Technology and Production - BranchOut's GentleDry™ technology preserves up to 95% of the original nutrition of fresh produce, distinguishing the company as a trusted brand and ingredient supplier [7] - The first full container of the new product line is expected to be shipped to Zesty Snackz in April, with additional orders anticipated thereafter [3]

Core Insights - Dot's® has launched Dot's Original Snack Mix, featuring its signature buttery-rich pretzels and bold seasoning, aiming to elevate the snack experience with no fillers and bold flavors [1][1][1] Product Details - Dot's Original Snack Mix includes four distinct components: Savory Garlic Rye Chips, Dot's® Bold Cheese Seasoned Pita Chips, Dot's® Original Seasoned Corn Cereal, and Dot's® Original Seasoned Mini Pretzels [1][1][1] - The product is designed to stand out in the snack aisle, transforming traditional snack mixes into memorable experiences with intentional flavor and texture [1][1][1] Target Audience and Usage - The snack mix is crafted for various occasions, including movie nights, game day parties, and everyday snacking, appealing to both hosts and casual snackers [1][1][1] - Dot's Original Snack Mix is positioned as a conversation starter, encouraging guests to engage and enjoy the unique flavors [1][1][1] Availability and Packaging - The snack mix is being rolled out nationwide in three sizes: 31 oz, 14 oz, and 4.4 oz bags, with pricing determined by individual retailers [1][1][1] Company Background - The Hershey Company, which owns Dot's, is a leading snacks company with over 20,000 employees and more than 90 brand names, generating over $11.2 billion in annual revenues [1][1][1] - Hershey has a long-standing commitment to ethical and sustainable operations, focusing on community support and educational access [1][1][1]

Core Insights - Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ) is recognized as a promising investment opportunity, particularly highlighted during the 2026 CAGNY Conference where the company outlined its long-term strategy [1][6] Group 1: Long-Term Strategy - The company is focusing on four main pillars: profitable growth in the salty snack category, margin expansion, accelerated free cash flow, and leveraging leading capabilities [2] - Utz Brands aims to achieve organic net sales growth of 2% to 3% faster than the overall category, with a long-term net sales potential of $1.9 billion and an additional $500 million opportunity from Boulder Canyon and expansion geographies [3] Group 2: Financial Projections - The company projects adjusted EBITDA growth of 6% to 8% annually, with profit margins expected to exceed 17% [3] Group 3: Product Portfolio - Utz Brands markets, manufactures, and distributes a variety of branded snacks, including pretzels, potato chips, veggie chips, cheese, and pork skins, under brands such as Utz, Golden Flake, Zapp's, Good Health, Hawaiian, and Boulder Canyon [4]

Group 1: PepsiCo - PepsiCo is a Dividend King with over five decades of dividend increases and a current dividend yield of 3.3%, which is three times larger than the S&P 500's yield of 1.1% [3][6] - The company has a strong market position in consumer staples, particularly in beverages, salty snacks, and packaged food products, and excels in innovation, distribution, and marketing [4] - Despite facing challenges due to changing consumer tastes and cost-conscious buyers, PepsiCo's long history suggests that management may continue to deliver on dividend growth [5] Group 2: Realty Income - Realty Income is the largest net lease REIT with over 15,500 properties, primarily generating rents from single-tenant retail assets, linking its performance to consumer spending [8] - The REIT offers a high dividend yield of 4.8%, supported by three decades of annual dividend increases, with an average growth rate of around 4% that slightly outpaces inflation [10] - Realty Income is expected to maintain steady growth in its business and dividends, even as it explores new business lines to enhance its growth profile [11] Group 3: Investment Considerations - Both PepsiCo and Realty Income present solid options for dividend investors, with PepsiCo offering growth potential and Realty Income providing a higher yield, suggesting that a combination of both could optimize income and growth [12]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street began 2026 positively after a significant bull run over the past three years, with optimism that the upward trend in U.S. stock markets will persist this year despite fluctuations in February due to concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) trade [1] Group 1: Investment Opportunities - It is advisable to invest in U.S. giants with a market capitalization over $30 billion and a favorable Zacks Rank, with five highlighted stocks: The Hershey Co. (HSY), Tapestry Inc. (TPR), FedEx Corp. (FDX), Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM), and Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) [2] - Each of the selected stocks carries either a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [2] Group 2: The Hershey Co. (HSY) - Hershey is focused on innovation, supply-chain agility, and commercial execution, expanding its presence in the snacking category [5] - The company is undergoing a multi-year transformation to modernize its supply chain and enhance demand forecasting, supported by investments in data and digital tools [6] - HSY's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 4.4% and 27.1%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 2.62% [7] Group 3: Tapestry Inc. (TPR) - Tapestry is strengthening its position as a global house of brands, driven by strong performance from Coach, particularly among Gen Z consumers [9] - TPR's adjusted gross margin increased by 110 basis points in Q2 of fiscal 2026, with projected revenues above $7.75 billion and EPS between $6.40 and $6.45 [10] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for TPR are 9.6% and 23.7%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 1.02% [11] Group 4: FedEx Corp. (FDX) - FedEx is implementing cost realignment initiatives under the DRIVE program, achieving annual cost savings of $2.2 billion in fiscal 2025 [12] - The company returned $4.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks in fiscal 2025, exceeding its target [13] - FDX's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 5.6% and 1.5%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 1.49% [14] Group 5: Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) - Howmet Aerospace is benefiting from strong momentum in the commercial aerospace market and rising defense budgets [15] - The company has a solid liquidity position supporting shareholder-friendly policies, with robust orders for defense aerospace units [16] - HWM's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 11% and 20.7%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 0.19% [17] Group 6: Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) - Southwest Airlines is experiencing improved air travel demand, with expectations for solid revenue trends continuing into 2026 [18] - The company is focused on cost-cutting initiatives and fleet modernization, supported by a strong balance sheet [19] - LUV's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 12.8% and over 100%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 1.38% [21]

Core Insights - Utz Brands is presenting at CAGNY for the first time, highlighting its robust savory snacking portfolio which includes brands like Boulder Canyon, On The Border, and Zapp's [1][2] - The company has achieved consistent top-line growth in a challenging snacking environment while enhancing productivity across its supply chain [2] - Looking ahead, Utz aims to build on its commercial momentum and drive a significant free cash flow inflection [2] Company Overview - Utz Brands offers a diverse range of savory snacks, contributing to its strong market presence [2] - The leadership team includes CEO Howard Friedman and CFO BK Kelley, who are actively engaging with stakeholders [3]