Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC Reduces Stock Position in Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ)

Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC lessened its stake in Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) by 4.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 103,009 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,738 shares during the period. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC’s holdings in Mondelez International were worth $6,153,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MDLZ. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mondelez International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mondelez International in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mondelez International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mondelez International in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mondelez International in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.32% of the company’s stock.

Mondelez International Price Performance

MDLZ stock opened at $64.51 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $61.35 and a 200-day simple moving average of $65.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.45 billion, a PE ratio of 18.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.50. Mondelez International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $53.95 and a 1 year high of $76.06.

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

Mondelez International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.91%. Mondelez International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.97%.

Mondelez International announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $9.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 10.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Mondelez International from $61.00 to $54.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Mondelez International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $75.00 to $62.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on Mondelez International from $67.00 to $62.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Mondelez International from $68.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Mondelez International from $82.00 to $70.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Mondelez International has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $69.74.

Mondelez International Company 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.