Motco Boosts Stake in Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ)

Motco lifted its stake in shares of Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) by 2.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 134,256 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,720 shares during the period. Motco’s holdings in Mondelez International were worth $8,019,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MDLZ. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. grew its position in shares of Mondelez International by 16.5% during the 3rd quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 1,058 shares of the company’s stock valued at $78,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Canopy Partners LLC lifted its position in Mondelez International by 1.2% during the third quarter. Canopy Partners LLC now owns 13,335 shares of the company’s stock valued at $982,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. Hardy Reed LLC grew its holdings in Mondelez International by 1.4% during the third quarter. Hardy Reed LLC now owns 11,511 shares of the company’s stock valued at $848,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the period. Interchange Capital Partners LLC increased its position in Mondelez International by 4.9% in the third quarter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,490 shares of the company’s stock worth $257,000 after buying an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC increased its position in Mondelez International by 2.2% in the third quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 7,641 shares of the company’s stock worth $563,000 after buying an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. 78.32% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mondelez International Price Performance

MDLZ stock opened at $63.98 on Friday. Mondelez International, Inc. has a 52 week low of $53.95 and a 52 week high of $76.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $59.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $65.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $0.65 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%. Analysts anticipate that Mondelez International, Inc. will post 2.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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

Mondelez International Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.47 per share. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.94%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Mondelez International’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MDLZ has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Mondelez International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Mondelez International from $82.00 to $70.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Mondelez International from $69.00 to $63.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Mondelez International from $75.00 to $69.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Dbs Bank lowered Mondelez International from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $69.74.

About Mondelez International

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.