Mondelez’s top brands give it an edge

Article Excerpt

Mondelez’s sales have suffered lately as consumers moved to cut their spending in response to elevated inflation and interest rates. However, the company’s top brands are not losing ground to private label products. Its sales volumes should continue to improve as inflation continues to ease. The company should also benefit as rising production lowers the price it pays for cocoa, a key ingredient. MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INC. $74 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol MDLZ; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $96.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.mondelezinternational.com) mainly makes snack foods such as cookies and chocolate bars. Top brands include Oreo cookies, Cadbury chocolate, and Ritz crackers. Biscuits (and cookies) supplied 52% of its revenue in the latest quarter, followed by chocolate (27%), candy (12%), cheese and grocery (6%), and beverages (3%). Mondelez sells those products in over 150 countries, and emerging markets account for about 40% of its total revenue. Overall revenue rose…