Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) Sees Large Volume Increase - Should You Buy?

Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ - Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 4,018,446 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 42% from the previous session's volume of 6,968,583 shares.The stock last traded at $59.54 and had previously closed at $59.27.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Mondelez International from $75.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Mondelez International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $78.00 to $67.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Mondelez International in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $82.00 target price on the stock. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Mondelez International from $79.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Mondelez International from $80.00 to $78.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Mondelez International currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $79.07.

Mondelez International Stock Up 0.2 %

The business's fifty day simple moving average is $66.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.43. The stock has a market cap of $79.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59.

Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.14. Mondelez International had a return on equity of 17.53% and a net margin of 10.58%. The business had revenue of $9.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $9.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.82 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Mondelez International, Inc. will post 3.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mondelez International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.17%. Mondelez International's dividend payout ratio is 66.67%.

Mondelez International announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Wednesday, December 11th that permits the company to repurchase $9.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 10.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mondelez International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MDLZ. Axiom Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Mondelez International by 1.6% during the third quarter. Axiom Advisory LLC now owns 9,152 shares of the company's stock worth $643,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Sachetta LLC raised its holdings in shares of Mondelez International by 14.0% during the second quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 1,215 shares of the company's stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the period. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mondelez International by 16.5% during the third quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 1,058 shares of the company's stock worth $78,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Carnegie Investment Counsel lifted its position in Mondelez International by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 11,007 shares of the company's stock valued at $811,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich boosted its stake in Mondelez International by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich now owns 14,727 shares of the company's stock worth $963,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. 78.32% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.