Morningstar Investment Management LLC Increases Stock Position in Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ)

Morningstar Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) by 5.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 21,964 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 1,195 shares during the period. Morningstar Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Mondelez International were worth $1,312,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mondelez International during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Mondelez International in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC acquired a new stake in Mondelez International during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in Mondelez International by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 400 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Mondelez International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.32% of the company’s stock.

Mondelez International Trading Up 1.3 %

Mondelez International stock opened at $61.96 on Thursday. Mondelez International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $53.95 and a 12-month high of $76.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.14 billion, a PE ratio of 18.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 0.54. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $58.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $65.97.

Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66 by ($0.01). Mondelez International had a net margin of 12.68% and a return on equity of 16.75%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Mondelez International, Inc. will post 2.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mondelez International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.47 per share. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Mondelez International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.97%.

Mondelez International declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $9.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 10.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on MDLZ. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Mondelez International from $75.00 to $69.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Mondelez International from $64.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Mondelez International from $61.00 to $54.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Mondelez International from $78.00 to $71.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, DZ Bank downgraded Mondelez International from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $52.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Friday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mondelez International presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $69.74.

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.