The Impact of the Iran Conflict on Consumer Staples Companies
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 12 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy MDLZ?
Source: Barron's
- Impact on Supply Chains: The Iran conflict may disrupt global supply chains, leading to logistical challenges for businesses.
- Rising Costs: Increased energy and freight costs are anticipated as a result of the conflict, affecting various industries.
- Consumer Demand Pressure: The situation could weaken consumer demand, particularly impacting U.S. consumer staples companies.
- Economic Implications: Overall, the conflict poses significant economic risks that could ripple through multiple sectors.
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Analyst Views on MDLZ
Wall Street analysts forecast MDLZ stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 61.580
Low
62.00
Averages
66.82
High
84.00
Current: 61.580
Low
62.00
Averages
66.82
High
84.00
About MDLZ
Mondelez International, Inc. is a snack company. The Company’s core business is making and selling chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks. The Company also has additional businesses in adjacent, locally relevant categories including gum and candy, cheese and grocery and powdered beverages. Its portfolio includes global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate’s Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. The Company’s segments include Latin America, AMEA, Europe and North America. It sells its products in over 150 countries and has operations in approximately 80 countries, including 147 principal manufacturing and processing facilities across 46 countries. It sells its products to supermarket chains, wholesalers, supercenters, club stores, mass merchandisers, distributors, convenience stores, gasoline stations, drug stores, value stores and other retail food outlets.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Price Collapse: Cocoa futures have plummeted nearly 70% from an all-time high of around $12,000 per ton in late 2024 to below $3,000 as of early March, significantly impacting the cost structure for chocolate manufacturers.
- Demand Shift: Elevated prices over the past two years have led consumers to switch to private-label brands or reduce purchases, resulting in a notable decline in chocolate demand, with industry analysts warning that this demand destruction could have long-term implications for market structure.
- Surplus and Tariff Issues: A global cocoa surplus is forecasted for the 2025/26 crop year, but exporters at West African ports are reportedly rejecting some new crop arrivals due to quality concerns, while U.S. tariffs of 21% on Ivory Coast cocoa further compress profit margins for American producers.
- Future Risks: Despite current price declines, farmers and governments face losses that may lead to supply restrictions, risking future shortages, while the market remains vulnerable to climate impacts, increasing the likelihood of supply disruptions.
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- Impact on Supply Chains: The Iran conflict may disrupt global supply chains, leading to logistical challenges for businesses.
- Rising Costs: Increased energy and freight costs are anticipated as a result of the conflict, affecting various industries.
- Consumer Demand Pressure: The situation could weaken consumer demand, particularly impacting U.S. consumer staples companies.
- Economic Implications: Overall, the conflict poses significant economic risks that could ripple through multiple sectors.
See More

- Investment Strategy: Investors are encouraged to shift their focus towards defensive stocks for better stability in uncertain markets.
- Sector Shift: The recommended approach is to sell off consumer staples and invest in the healthcare sector.
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Investor Behavior: Investors are moving away from struggling software companies and seeking stability in stocks less likely to be affected by the rise of artificial intelligence.
Market Insights: Goldman Sachs reports that this shift in investment strategy appears to be yielding positive results.
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