Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) Stake Boosted by Daiwa Securities Group Inc.

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its stake in Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) by 44.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 360,886 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 111,819 shares during the quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.’s holdings in Mondelez International were worth $21,556,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MDLZ. Canopy Partners LLC lifted its stake in Mondelez International by 1.2% in the third quarter. Canopy Partners LLC now owns 13,335 shares of the company’s stock valued at $982,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the period. Hardy Reed LLC lifted its stake in Mondelez International by 1.4% in the third quarter. Hardy Reed LLC now owns 11,511 shares of the company’s stock valued at $848,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Mondelez International by 1.1% in the third quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 15,396 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,134,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the period. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of Mondelez International by 7.4% during the third quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 2,542 shares of the company’s stock worth $187,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Mondelez International by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 10,499 shares of the company’s stock worth $627,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.32% of the company’s stock.

Mondelez International Stock Performance

MDLZ opened at $68.15 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $88.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.93, a PEG ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.50. The business has a 50 day moving average of $60.23 and a 200-day moving average of $65.50. 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, Inc. has a 12-month low of $53.95 and a 12-month high of $76.06.

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

Mondelez International declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $9.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 10.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Mondelez International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.76%. Mondelez International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 54.97%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MDLZ has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on 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 decreased 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. Mizuho increased their price objective on Mondelez International from $64.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Argus downgraded Mondelez International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Mondelez International from $68.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $69.74.

Mondelez International 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.