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Mondelez International, Inc. is a global leader in the snack food industry, operating in over 150 countries. The company specializes in the production and sale of chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks, with additional ventures in gum & candy, cheese & grocery, and powdered beverages . Mondelez's product categories are organized into five main segments, with a strategic focus on generating the majority of its revenue from its core snacking categories .
- Biscuits & Baked Snacks - Produces a wide range of biscuits and baked snack products, contributing significantly to the company's revenue.
- Chocolate - Offers a variety of chocolate products, playing a crucial role in the company's core business strategy.
- Gum & Candy - Engages in the production and sale of gum and candy products, complementing its core snack offerings.
- Beverages - Involves the production and distribution of powdered beverages, expanding the company's product portfolio.
- Cheese & Grocery - Includes cheese and grocery items, providing additional variety to the company's product lineup.
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Given that volume declines in North America have moderated but still need to improve, and considering the ongoing softness in the U.S. biscuit business, how confident are you in achieving the expected volume growth in the second half and reaching the upper end of your revenue guidance? ,
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With cocoa prices being a material headwind in the second half and your expectation of higher costs related to cocoa, how are you planning to manage margins in your chocolate business, and are you considering further price increases that might impact volume and market share? ,
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In North America, consumers are seeking products at lower absolute price points, impacting brands like Chips Ahoy!, and you are introducing new packs in the $3 to $4 range; how will this strategy affect your profitability, and what risks do you see in balancing value offerings with margin protection? ,
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Despite strong earnings growth and cash flow running at $4 billion plus, your long-term free cash flow guidance remains at $3 billion; what are the key factors preventing you from raising this guidance, and how should investors think about your capital allocation priorities? ,
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With the ERP transition and SAP implementation planned over the next four years, what risks does this pose to your business operations and financial performance, particularly in 2025, and how are you mitigating potential disruptions associated with such a significant system change? ,
Competitors mentioned in the company's latest 10K filing.
- Campbell Soup Company
- The Coca-Cola Company
- Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Danone S.A.
- General Mills, Inc.
- The Hershey Company
- Kellanova (formerly Kellogg Company)
- The Kraft Heinz Company
- Nestlé S.A.
- PepsiCo, Inc.
- The Procter & Gamble Company
- Unilever PLC
Recent developments and announcements about MDLZ.
Financial Reporting
- Revenue and Profit: Mondelez reported organic net revenue growth of 4.3% for 2024, with adjusted gross profit dollar growth of 5.1%. However, the company anticipates a 10% decline in adjusted EPS for 2025 due to unprecedented cocoa cost inflation.
- Regional Performance: North America grew 1.5% for the year, with Q4 growth at 0.4%. Emerging markets like China and Brazil showed strong growth, while India experienced softness in biscuits.
- Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns: Mondelez generated $3.5 billion in free cash flow in 2024 and returned $4.7 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. A new $9 billion share repurchase authorization was announced for 2025-2027.
- Cocoa Costs: Elevated cocoa prices are expected to persist throughout 2025, with potential for additional pricing actions in the second half of the year depending on market conditions.
- 2025 Outlook: Mondelez expects top-line growth of approximately 5% and plans to mitigate profit pressures through pricing strategies, cost-saving measures, and supply chain productivity improvements.
- 2026 Projections: Management is committed to EPS growth in 2026, regardless of cocoa price trends. If cocoa prices remain high, further pricing actions will be taken; if prices decline, earnings power will improve.
- Product Innovation: Mondelez launched new fresh snack packs for brands like Oreo and Ritz, and announced a partnership with Post Malone for a limited-edition Oreo product.
- Sustainability: The company reduced carbon emissions by 38% since 2018 and achieved 96% recyclable packaging. Approximately 80% of its snacks now feature mindful portion recommendations.
- Digital Expansion: E-commerce grew double digits in 2024, with continued investments in digital snacking capabilities.
- Market Conditions: Analysts inquired about the impact of health trends and GLP-1 drugs on snacking. Management stated that indulgent snacking remains robust, with no significant shift away from snacking observed.
- Cocoa Pricing: Analysts questioned the structural changes in cocoa supply and demand. Management acknowledged speculative market behavior but remains optimistic about eventual price normalization.
- Elasticities: Mondelez reported benign elasticities of 0.4% for chocolate, indicating strong consumer loyalty despite price increases.
Earnings Call
Mondelez International (MDLZ) recently released its earnings call transcript, providing insights into its financial performance, strategic initiatives, and market outlook for 2025. Below is a summary of the key points:
Financial Performance
Management’s Forward Guidance
Strategic Initiatives
Analyst Questions and Management Responses
Key Takeaways
Mondelez is navigating a challenging environment marked by record cocoa prices and economic uncertainty. The company is leveraging pricing strategies, cost efficiencies, and product innovation to maintain category health and shareholder value. While 2025 will be a transitional year with profit pressures, Mondelez remains optimistic about long-term growth prospects.
For further details, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Corporate Leadership
Leadership Change
Who is leaving? Michael Call will step down as Chief Accounting Officer on February 10, 2025, but will remain with the company as Senior Vice President, Finance for the North America region.
Who is stepping up? Brian Stevens has been appointed as Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller & Chief Accounting Officer, effective February 10, 2025.
Why? The document does not specify the reason for the leadership change but outlines the transition plan and new roles for both individuals.
Leadership Change
Vinzenz Gruber is retiring as Executive Vice President and President, Europe, at Mondelēz International, effective April 1, 2025. Volker Kuhn will step up to replace him, joining the company on January 6, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition. Kuhn brings extensive experience from Reckitt and Procter & Gamble, where he led significant growth and transformation initiatives .