Stock price when the opinion was issued
Down YOY, but has actually held up well during recent market uncertainty. 40% of revenue from EMs, which tend to have stronger long-term, secular growth. Cocoa prices spiked, and chocolate is 30% of its business, so they guided earnings down. Long-term outlook still attractive, expanding into adjacent categories.
This is 44% emerging markets. They are the number 1 player in biscuits, chocolates, candy and number 2 in gum. Most of those categories have very little private label competition, which is good for pricing. This is really a play on emerging markets for their growing consumer middle class. She sees a lot of runway. FX has been a headwind but she thinks the market has chosen to look through that and to recognize the long-term growth opportunities. The company has been embarking on a margin improvement program as their margins are quite a bit lower than their peers. Yield of 1.6%.