Investors Should Adopt a Defensive Strategy: Offload Staples and Invest in Healthcare.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 26 2026
0mins
Should l Buy MDLZ?
Source: Barron's
- Investment Strategy: Investors are encouraged to shift their focus towards defensive stocks for better stability in uncertain markets.
- Sector Shift: The recommended approach is to sell off consumer staples and invest in the healthcare sector.
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Analyst Views on MDLZ
Wall Street analysts forecast MDLZ stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 61.380
Low
62.00
Averages
66.82
High
84.00
Current: 61.380
Low
62.00
Averages
66.82
High
84.00
About MDLZ
Mondelez International, Inc. is a snack company. The Company’s core business is making and selling chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks. The Company also has additional businesses in adjacent, locally relevant categories including gum and candy, cheese and grocery and powdered beverages. Its portfolio includes global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate’s Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. The Company’s segments include Latin America, AMEA, Europe and North America. It sells its products in over 150 countries and has operations in approximately 80 countries, including 147 principal manufacturing and processing facilities across 46 countries. It sells its products to supermarket chains, wholesalers, supercenters, club stores, mass merchandisers, distributors, convenience stores, gasoline stations, drug stores, value stores and other retail food outlets.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Dividend Stock Resurgence: In 2026, dividend stocks are off to a strong start, particularly in higher-yield sectors like consumer staples, utilities, and oil, indicating a shift towards income-generating investments that appeal to income-focused investors.
- Domino's Challenges: Domino's Pizza (DPZ) reported disappointing first-quarter results, leading to a 19% decline year-to-date, with a current P/E ratio of 17, the lowest in three years, suggesting it may now be viewed as a value stock despite its 14-year dividend growth streak.
- Mondelez's Growth Potential: Mondelez International (MDLZ) has risen 14% year-to-date with a dividend yield of approximately 3.3%, triple that of the S&P 500, and while facing low consumer confidence, it is projected to generate free cash flow equivalent to 13% of sales, supporting future dividend growth.
- Campbell's Risks and Opportunities: Campbell's (CPB) stock has fallen over 25% this year, yet its 7.5% dividend yield and 51 consecutive years of dividend payments make it appealing for risk-tolerant investors, although its high payout ratio of 85.3% raises concerns about future dividend sustainability.
See More
Domino's Pizza Announces 15% Dividend Increase
- Dividend Growth: Domino's Pizza raised its dividend by 15% in February, marking its 14th consecutive year of increases, despite a 19% decline in stock price due to disappointing Q1 results, indicating stability in its dividend payments.
- Market Performance: Mondelez International has shown strong performance in 2026 with a 14% stock price increase and a 3.3% dividend yield, maintaining a competitive edge in the consumer staples sector, although it faces challenges from low consumer confidence.
- Investment Opportunity: Campbell Soup Company's stock has dropped over 25%, yet its current 7.5% dividend yield appeals to risk-tolerant value investors, as the company leverages technology to adapt to market changes, potentially laying the groundwork for future growth.
- Long-Term Outlook: Experts predict Mondelez will generate free cash flow equivalent to 13% of sales, supporting high single-digit dividend growth over the next decade, despite uncertainties in the short-term market environment.
See More
Analysis of XLP ETF's 52-Week Price Fluctuations
- Price Range Analysis: The XLP ETF's 52-week low is $75.16 per share, with a high of $90.14, and a recent trading price of $83.67, indicating relative stability in the ETF that may attract investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable technical insights for investors, aiding in better market trend assessment and timing of investments.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the ETF's liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs helps identify those experiencing significant inflows or outflows, which can affect the underlying stocks held within the ETFs and influence overall market dynamics.
See More
The Importance of Market Capitalization for Investors
- Market Capitalization Comparison: Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ) has a market cap of $78.78 billion compared to CRH plc (CRH) at $77.14 billion, illustrating their relative value in the market and aiding investors in making more informed decisions.
- Investor Misconceptions: Many beginners mistakenly believe that a higher stock price indicates greater value; however, market capitalization provides a more accurate comparison of company worth, thus enhancing the effectiveness of investment decisions.
- Size Impact: Market capitalization determines a company's tier among peers, directly influencing which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock, particularly as large-cap funds tend to favor companies valued over $10 billion.
- Market Performance: At Monday's close, MDLZ was down about 0.3% while CRH fell approximately 4.5%, reflecting differing investor sentiment and performance between the two companies, further emphasizing the significance of market capitalization in investment analysis.
See More
LUNA Bar Launches New Campaign and Product Innovation
- Brand Ambassador: LUNA Bar has announced actress Jessica Alba as its first brand ambassador, deepening the emotional connection with consumers and potentially enhancing brand awareness and market influence.
- Campaign Launch: The newly launched 'Easy to Love' creative campaign aims to attract more consumer attention, leveraging celebrity influence to significantly boost product sales and enhance brand loyalty.
- Product Innovation: Accompanying the campaign is the first product innovation in years, with LUNA Bar planning to introduce new flavors to meet the growing consumer demand for healthy snacks, thereby strengthening its market competitiveness.
- Market Strategy: By collaborating with Jessica Alba, LUNA Bar not only elevates its brand image but also expands its target consumer base through celebrity influence, which is expected to drive further growth in the healthy snack market.
See More
LUNA Bar Launches New Brand Ambassador and Product Innovation
- Brand Ambassador Partnership: LUNA Bar collaborates with long-time fan Jessica Alba to launch the 'Easy to Love' creative campaign, marking the brand's first major creative effort in seven years, aimed at enhancing consumer brand affinity through genuine passion.
- New Product Launch: LUNA Bar introduces Berry Bars, its first product innovation in nearly six years, featuring 7-9 grams of plant-based protein and 4 grams of fiber, addressing consumer demand for delicious and healthy snacks while expanding the brand's product lineup.
- Multi-Platform Promotion: The new campaign will be promoted across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, combining organic and paid content to leverage Jessica Alba's influence and attract more consumers, thereby increasing brand visibility in the market.
- Market Strategy Transformation: This campaign represents a significant step in LUNA Bar's brand transformation and reflects parent company Mondelēz International's commitment to the healthy snacking market, which is expected to drive future sales growth and brand loyalty.
See More
