Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) Downgraded to “Hold” Rating by Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has $62.00 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of $75.00.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Mondelez International from $79.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on shares of Mondelez International from $79.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $61.00 target price (down previously from $74.00) on shares of Mondelez International in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Mondelez International in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $82.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Mondelez International from $84.00 to $70.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $73.81.

Mondelez International Price Performance

MDLZ opened at $56.96 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $61.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $67.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The stock has a market cap of $76.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.20, a P/E/G ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.54. Mondelez International has a 12 month low of $55.97 and a 12 month high of $77.20.

Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.14. Mondelez International had a return on equity of 17.53% and a net margin of 10.58%. The company had revenue of $9.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.82 earnings per share. Mondelez International’s revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Mondelez International will post 3.46 EPS for the current year.

Mondelez International Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.30%. Mondelez International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 66.67%.

Mondelez International announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, December 11th that permits the company to buyback $9.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 10.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mondelez International

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MDLZ. Caprock Group LLC raised its stake in Mondelez International by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 40,464 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,436,000 after acquiring an additional 431 shares during the period. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Mondelez International by 25.6% in the fourth quarter. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC now owns 23,623 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,411,000 after purchasing an additional 4,819 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its position in shares of Mondelez International by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 214,034 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,784,000 after purchasing an additional 3,216 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Mondelez International by 51.9% during the 4th quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 99,028 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,884,000 after buying an additional 33,830 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Crews Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Mondelez International during the 4th quarter worth about $122,000. 78.32% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Mondelez International Company Profile

Mondelez International, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and sells snack food and beverage products in the Latin America, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It provides biscuits and baked snacks, including cookies, crackers, salted snacks, snack bars, and cakes and pastries; chocolates; and gums and candies, as well as various cheese and grocery, and powdered beverage products.