New York, Feb 11, 2026, 15:29 (EST) — Regular session
- Mondelez climbed roughly 1.3% in afternoon action, riding gains seen across consumer staples stocks.
- This week, cocoa futures slumped to their lowest levels in two years, following a steep drop on Tuesday.
- Friday’s U.S. CPI lands on trader radars, while Mondelez’s Feb. 17 appearance at CAGNY is up next for clues on costs and consumer appetite.
Shares of Mondelez International, Inc. climbed 1.3%, changing hands at $61.46 on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier in the session, the stock slipped to $59.89 before rebounding to a high of $61.72. Volume reached roughly 5.4 million shares.
That shift caught attention, since investors were favoring defensive sectors. Mondelez, squarely in the consumer staples camp—typically a haven for those chasing reliable earnings—got a boost. The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund rose about 1.3%.
Cocoa futures swung back into the spotlight for snack and chocolate companies. On Tuesday, New York cocoa tumbled more than 7%, hitting a two-year low as unsold stockpiles mounted in Ivory Coast and Ghana, according to Reuters. Prices ended the day near $3,978 per metric ton, Investing.com data showed.
Cocoa is the key variable for Mondelez. When bean prices dip, chocolate margins might get some relief. Still, with large food companies hedging far in advance, any upside from cheaper cocoa tends to land late—if it shows up during the year at all.
CEO Dirk Van de Put didn’t mince words in the Feb. 3 release—U.S. consumer confidence, he said, “remains weak.” Pricing picked up speed for Mondelez, while volumes slowed, according to Michael Gunther, ConsumerEdge’s vice president of research and market intelligence. The company also revealed it has already locked in cocoa for 2026 at prices higher than what’s currently available, so cheaper futures won’t bring immediate cost relief. Reuters
Staples stocks saw mixed action. Hershey tacked on about 1.1% and PepsiCo ended roughly 1.0% higher. General Mills and Kraft Heinz slipped.
Eyes are now on Friday’s U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, set for an 8:30 a.m. ET release. A hot or soft print could jolt rate bets and ripple through defensive shares.
The cocoa drop’s a double-edged sword. Prices have carried on falling for weeks, fueled by chatter about big supplies and sluggish demand—though cheaper beans don’t guarantee higher volumes if buyers stay cautious.
Mondelez steps up next on Feb. 17, set to present at the CAGNY Conference at 2:00 p.m. ET. Investors typically watch this slot for updated commentary around pricing, volumes, and input costs.
