MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INC Common Stock (MDLZ)

(Past Top Pick Oct. 10, 2017, Up 4%) Hasn't done much in the past year. A global leader in snacks, which grow faster than other consumer staples. Likes it as secular play for growth in emerging markets, with 40% of revenues there, and 60% outside North America. Starting to see some improvement, but watch the strength of the US dollar which pressure EM. Got a new CEO in December, who is reinvesting the business to grow the topline.

(A Top Pick July 12, 2017. Down 0.3%). 40% of their revenues are from emerging markets, which are buying more snacks. Emerging markets’ economies over the past year have been weaker but they are picking up. Developed economies are more mature and it is harder to increase business in them in this category. Among food products, the snacking category has the highest growth. Their brands include Cadbury, Oreo and Ritz Crackers: household names. She would buy at this level.

It is quite a trading stock. There is a floor around the high thirties and some technical resistance at the high forties. It is not a bad range. Don't buy and hold it.

A global leading snacks company. 40% is in emerging markets. They are in chocolates, biscuits and candy. It has pulled back from prior years, because emerging markets economies have not been doing as well. Things are starting to improve. They have a program in place to improve margins and thinks the volume growth will start to improve. Dividend yield of 2.1%. (Analysts’ price target is $48.00.)

(A Top Pick June 12/17. Down 6%.) This tends to move in a bit of a channel, and seems to find support somewhere in the $38-$39 range. It is in consumer staples, a sector that normally does very well in the summer, but this year didn't. It reported last night with pretty good numbers and the stock was up about 5% today. His view is that this could get back into the $44-$45 area, and then he will get out.

About 25% of revenues come from the US and about 40% is from emerging markets. The stock hasn’t done that well this past year, which is why it is a Top pick. As disposable income increases in emerging markets, it is going to increase the sale of more packaged foods. They are the global leading snack food manufacturer. Have been building out their footprint in the emerging markets. The last year has been difficult with a strong US$. We are starting to see improving economic movements in those markets. The long-term trend of increasing consumption of packaged foods and goods plays into this company very well. Dividend yield of 2.1%. (Analysts’ price target is $49.50.)

(A Top Pick Aug 16/16. Up 5.28%.) Owns this for the long-term sector of the consumer in emerging markets. As people make more money, they are increasing demand for packaged goods. This is the global leader in chocolate, biscuits, candy and gum. About 40% of their revenue comes from emerging markets which are starting to see some growth.

(A Top Pick June 12/17. Down 3.15%.) Somewhere around $43 is a good time to Buy, and somewhere around $46 is a good time to Sell. A pretty decent stock to hold with very little downside from $43.

A leading manufacturer of biscuits, candy, chocolate and gum. She likes this because they are positioning in emerging markets where 35% of their revenues come from. As personal income levels increase, this company is very well positioned to participate in the growth. They are very focused on improving margins. Dividend yield of 1.8%. (Analysts’ price target is $50.)

It could be taken out. It has been rage bound. It is testing the breakout point. Staples tend to be hanging in there. (Analysts’ target: $50.00).

(Top Pick Dec 24/15, Up 2.41%) It is up today because there is speculation that Kraft Heinz may be interested. It was not a particularly well run company so he bought it on expectation of improving. An activist coming in can expedite this.

(A Top Pick Oct13/15. Down 2.59%.) Because of its whole favourable attributes, it has a relatively high valuation. A good company and it is fine to continue to Hold it, but he has reduced some of his exposure to consumer package companies, and this was one of them. If you own, he would continue holding it.

One of the issues is that they don’t see where they are going to grow, which is why they tried to acquire Hershey’s recently. If they don’t do an acquisition, he doesn’t think they can stay as an independent company, and somebody will buy them.

(A Top Pick Sept 9/15. Up 3.32%.) The largest global snacking company. The real growth is in the emerging markets, where about 40% of their revenues come from. The leader in chocolate, biscuits, gum and candy. Consumption of those categories is very low in emerging markets. She likes the story long-term.

This has been a very good stock, but along with food prices in general he thinks it will be topping out here. It is probably not going to go anywhere for a little while.