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KR or MDLZ or MNST
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Kroger (KR) vs. Mondelez International (MDLZ) vs. Monster Beverage (MNST) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KR leads in year-to-date gains at around 19%, driven by strong Q4 earnings and e-commerce growth, though revenue slightly missed estimates.
- MDLZ shows muted performance with shares down post-earnings due to rising input costs like cocoa and cautious 2026 guidance, despite organic sales growth.
- MNST delivered robust Q4 revenue growth of 17.6% but faced a 9% stock drop amid cost pressures; international sales now represent 42% of total.
- Valuation contrasts: KR trades at a forward P/E near 13x with stable grocery demand; MDLZ and MNST at higher multiples around 19x and 34x, reflecting growth expectations.
- Market caps: MNST (~$75B) and MDLZ (~$75B) dwarf KR (~$49B), highlighting differing scale in consumer staples.
- Recent momentum favors KR for stability, while MNST offers growth potential in energy drinks.
Introduction
This stock comparison evaluates KR, MDLZ, and MNST amid shifting consumer staples dynamics. These companies span grocery retail, snack foods, and energy beverages, offering insights into defensive plays versus growth-oriented names. Grocery chains like Kroger provide essential stability, while branded snacks and drinks face input cost volatility and volume pressures. Traders seeking relative performance edges and investors eyeing sector rotations will find value in analyzing their recent earnings, momentum, and positioning in a market balancing inflation concerns with e-commerce expansion.
KR Overview and Recent Performance
The Kroger Co. (KR) operates over 2,700 supermarkets across 35 states, emphasizing fresh foods, pharmacies, and digital fulfillment. In recent market activity, shares have surged about 19% year-to-date and 18% over one year, outperforming broader indices amid resilient grocery demand. Q4 2025 results showed adjusted EPS of $1.28 beating estimates, with identical sales without fuel up 2.4% and e-commerce sales rising 20%. Total sales reached $34.7 billion, up 2.1% excluding fuel, though slightly below expectations. New CEO Greg Foran is prioritizing affordable fresh food and nimble delivery, boosting sentiment despite modest 2026 guidance. Influences include cost efficiencies and pharmacy strength, supporting a market cap near $49 billion.
MDLZ Overview and Recent Performance
Mondelez International (MDLZ) is a global snacking leader with brands like Oreo, Cadbury, and Ritz, operating in biscuits, chocolate, and gum across 150 countries. Recent weeks have seen shares lag, down about 1.2% post-Q4 amid input cost pressures, with YTD gains at 8.5% and one-year returns near 10%. Q4 net revenues grew 9.3% to $10.5 billion, driven by 5.1% organic growth, while adjusted EPS rose 4.6% to 72 cents. However, volumes declined 4.8%, and 2026 outlook signals flat to 2% organic growth due to cocoa prices and consumer caution. Market cap stands around $75 billion, with focus on acquisitions challenged by high valuations.
MNST Overview and Recent Performance
Monster Beverage Corp. (MNST) develops and distributes energy drinks like Monster Energy and Reign, with growing international presence. Shares experienced volatility, dropping 9% post-Q4 despite strong results, with one-year gains at 36% but flat YTD. Q4 net sales hit $2.13 billion, up 17.6%, marking the first $2 billion quarter; adjusted EPS rose 30% to 51 cents. International sales surged 26.9% to 42% of total, led by EMEA at 32.6%. Cost of sales climbed 17.1% from aluminum and promotions, pressuring margins. Leadership changes aim to fuel expansion, supporting a $75 billion market cap.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KR anchors grocery retail with steady essentials demand, contrasting MDLZ's snack portfolio sensitive to commodity swings and MNST's high-growth energy niche. Growth drivers differ: KR's 1-3% identical sales via e-commerce/pharmacy versus MNST's 17% revenue surge from international (42% mix) and MDLZ's 5% organic amid volume dips. Recent momentum favors KR (19% YTD) over MDLZ's caution and MNST's post-earnings pullback. Risks include KR's scale limits/competition, MDLZ's cocoa inflation, MNST's costs/promotions. Sector exposure: all consumer staples, but KR more defensive. Valuations reflect: KR forward P/E ~13x on $148B revenue; MDLZ ~19x on $39B; MNST ~34x on $8B, trading growth premiums versus KR's stability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI leans toward KR in the current environment, citing superior trend consistency, YTD outperformance, and lower valuation sensitivity amid economic uncertainty. KR's earnings beat, e-commerce momentum, and defensive positioning offer probabilistic stability over MDLZ's cost headwinds and MNST's volatility, though MNST holds upside from international catalysts.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
KR’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileMDLZ’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s), and MNST’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- KR’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- MDLZ’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- MNST’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
KR’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MDLZ’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and MNST’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KR’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- MDLZ’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- MNST’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
KR (@Food Retail) experienced а -0.21% price change this week, while MDLZ (@Food: Specialty/Candy) price change was -2.97% , and MNST (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) price fluctuated +2.74% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food Retail industry was +1.76%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.22%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2.61%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Specialty/Candy industry was -4.27%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.73%, and the average quarterly price growth was -0.55%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was -1.29%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.30%, and the average quarterly price growth was +83822.82%.
Reported Earning Dates
KR is expected to report earnings on Jun 11, 2026.
MDLZ is expected to report earnings on Apr 28, 2026.
MNST is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Food Retail (+1.76% weekly)The food retail industry includes companies that sell food, beverage and household products. Items sold include grocery, gourmet food, fresh produce, and frozen food. Kroger Co., George Weston Ltd., Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., and Sprouts Farmers Markets, Inc. are examples of major food retailers. While e-commerce companies like Amazon have increasingly been ramping-up offerings in the food retail space, several traditional players have also been expanding their online presence to stand their ground against rising competition.
@Food: Specialty/Candy (-4.27% weekly)A specialty/candy manufacturer specializes in one or more of the following: chocolate, candies, pasta, condiments, seasonings, among other items. Hershey Company, McCormick & Company and J.M. Smucker Company are some of the major firms in this segment. Demand for this industry’s products comes from both institutions/restaurants as well as households.
@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic (-1.29% weekly)Non-alcoholic drinks include traces of alcohol or low alcohol content or without alcohol or alcohol removed. Functional Beverages, Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs), Sports Drinks, Fruit Beverages, and Bottled Water are some common types of non-alcoholic beverages. The largest segment in this market is soft drinks (think Pepsi and Coke). Many established companies in this space have also been stepping up production of low to zero-calorie varieties in recent years, to cater to a rising number of health-conscious consumers. Coca-Cola Company, Pepsico Inc, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Monster Beverage Corporation are some major non-alcoholic beverage makers.
| KR | MDLZ | MNST | |
| Capitalization | 41.6B | 73.6B | 75.5B |
| EBITDA | 5.76B | 4.97B | 2.53B |
| Gain YTD | 9.204 | 7.387 | 0.730 |
| P/E Ratio | 44.08 | 30.32 | 39.81 |
| Revenue | 148B | 38.5B | 8.29B |
| Total Cash | 4.58B | N/A | 2.77B |
| Total Debt | 24.7B | 21.8B | 199M |
KR | MDLZ | MNST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 55 Fair valued | 26 Undervalued | 92 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 24 | 81 | 24 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 56 | 72 | 35 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 59 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 10 | 23 | 62 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 | 85 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MDLZ's Valuation (26) in the Food Major Diversified industry is in the same range as KR (55) in the Food Retail industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for MNST (92) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MDLZ's stock grew similarly to KR’s and significantly faster than MNST’s over the last 12 months.
KR's Profit vs Risk Rating (24) in the Food Retail industry is in the same range as MNST (24) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for MDLZ (81) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that KR's stock grew similarly to MNST’s and somewhat faster than MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
MNST's SMR Rating (35) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as KR (56) in the Food Retail industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for MDLZ (72) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MNST's stock grew similarly to KR’s and somewhat faster than MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
MNST's Price Growth Rating (50) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as KR (59) in the Food Retail industry, and is in the same range as MDLZ (59) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MNST's stock grew similarly to KR’s and similarly to MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
KR's P/E Growth Rating (10) in the Food Retail industry is in the same range as MDLZ (23) in the Food Major Diversified industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for MNST (62) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that KR's stock grew similarly to MDLZ’s and somewhat faster than MNST’s over the last 12 months.
| KR | MDLZ | MNST | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 57% | 5 days ago 71% | 4 days ago 79% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 66% | 4 days ago 51% | 4 days ago 44% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 49% | 4 days ago 52% | 4 days ago 52% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 54% | 4 days ago 58% | 4 days ago 60% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 62% | 4 days ago 56% | 4 days ago 58% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 51% | 4 days ago 49% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 57% | 4 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 58% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 46% | 8 days ago 50% | 6 days ago 47% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 57% | N/A | 4 days ago 51% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 44% | 4 days ago 39% | 4 days ago 50% |
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MDLZ and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MDLZ has been loosely correlated with GIS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 65% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MDLZ jumps, then GIS could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MDLZ | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDLZ | 100% | +0.10% | ||
| GIS - MDLZ | 65% Loosely correlated | -0.62% | ||
| CAG - MDLZ | 59% Loosely correlated | -0.13% | ||
| CPB - MDLZ | 58% Loosely correlated | +1.29% | ||
| KHC - MDLZ | 58% Loosely correlated | -1.16% | ||
| MKC - MDLZ | 58% Loosely correlated | -1.86% | ||
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