Chicago, Illinois-based Mondelez International, Inc (MDLZ) manufactures,\u00a0markets, and sells snack food and beverage products. Valued at\u00a0$76.2 billion by market cap, the company offers a wide range of products such as biscuits, baked snacks, chocolates, gums, candies, cheese, and powdered beverages under brands like Oreo, Ritz, LU, CLIF Bar, Tate\u2019s Bake Shop, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, and Toblerone.<\/p>\n
Shares of this\u00a0global snacking giant\u00a0have underperformed the broader market over the past year.\u00a0MDLZ has gained 1.4% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has\u00a0rallied nearly 15%. However, in 2026, MDLZ stock is up 7.3%, surpassing the SPX\u2019s 1.9% rise on a YTD basis.<\/p>\n
Narrowing the focus, MDLZ\u2019s outperformance is apparent compared to the First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG). The exchange-traded fund has\u00a0declined about 1.7% over the past year. Moreover, MDLZ\u2019s returns on a YTD basis outshine the ETF\u2019s 5.2% gains over the same time frame.<\/p>\n Mondelez International’s underperformance is driven by rising input costs, weakening consumer demand, and downward earnings revisions. Unprecedented cocoa price inflation has squeezed margins, forcing price hikes that dampened volume growth. Soft demand in Europe and North America, coupled with competition, are also weighing on the stock.<\/p>\n For the current fiscal year, ended in December 2025, analysts expect MDLZ\u2019s\u00a0EPS to decline 13.7% to $2.90 on a diluted basis.\u00a0The company\u2019s earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on another occasion.<\/p>\n Among the 25 analysts covering MDLZ stock,\u00a0the consensus is a \u201cModerate Buy.\u201d That\u2019s based on 15 \u201cStrong Buy\u201d ratings, three \u201cModerate Buys,\u201d six \u201cHolds,\u201d and one \u201cStrong Sell.\u201d<\/p>\n The configuration has been fairly stable over the past three months.<\/p>\n On Jan. 27,\u00a0Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF)\u00a0analyst\u00a0Scott Marks CFA\u00a0reiterated a \u201cBuy\u201d rating on MDLZ and set a price target of\u00a0$70, implying a potential upside of 21.3% from current levels.<\/p>\n The mean price target of $67.09 represents a 16.2% premium to MDLZ\u2019s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $84 suggests a notable upside potential of 45.5%.<\/p>\n On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally\u00a0published on Barchart.com <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
<\/div>\n<\/div>