5 Must-Read Analyst Questions From Mondelez's Q1 Earnings Call

Mondelez’s first quarter results prompted a positive response from the market, as the company’s profit surpassed analyst expectations despite flat sales. Management attributed this performance to strong pricing execution in the chocolate segment, successful product launches, and disciplined cost management. CEO Dirk Van de Put highlighted that effective price increases, particularly in Europe, and continued brand loyalty for core products like Oreo and Cadbury Dairy Milk offset the volume pressures caused by record cocoa costs and softer consumption in certain regions. The quarter also benefited from improved free cash flow and ongoing productivity initiatives.

Is now the time to buy MDLZ? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions Mondelez’s Q1 Earnings Call

• Andrew Lazar (Barclays) asked about regional performance trends and outlook. CEO Dirk Van de Put detailed that Europe remained stable due to successful pricing actions, while North America faced softness from lower consumer confidence and destocking.
• Kenneth Goldman (JPMorgan) questioned the balance between pricing and revenue growth management (RGM) strategies. Van de Put responded that while pricing has been largely successful, continued vigilance and flexibility in RGM are necessary in case of further cost pressures.
• Peter Galbo (Bank of America) inquired about the impact of Easter timing on chocolate elasticity. CFO Luca Zaramella noted that elasticity was slightly more favorable than expected, but full effects of recent price increases will be clearer in Q2.
• Megan Clapp (Morgan Stanley) sought clarification on profit trends and tariff impacts. Zaramella explained that profit outperformance was driven by better pricing and productivity, while tariff effects are expected to be manageable and phased in later in the year.
• Christopher Carey (Wells Fargo) asked if potential cocoa cost relief would be passed to consumers or reinvested. Zaramella stated that any cost savings would likely be reinvested into the business to strengthen category leadership.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

Our team will be watching (1) the effectiveness of Mondelez’s pricing and promotional strategies in offsetting input cost inflation, (2) signs of stabilization or recovery in U.S. biscuit and snacking demand, and (3) the pace of innovation rollouts, especially in chocolate and biscuits. Progress in emerging markets and agility in responding to evolving consumer behaviors will also be critical to sustaining performance.

Mondelez currently trades at $68.93, up from $65.58 just before the earnings. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free).

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