Stock Comparison
MDLZ vs PEP: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of Mondelez International, Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc. covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated July 21, 2026
Side-by-side snapshot
| MDLZ | PEP | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mondelez International, Inc. | PepsiCo, Inc. |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $60.27 as of July 21, 2026 | $135.46 as of July 21, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 3.28% | 4.15% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 99 | 100 |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Manufactures, markets, and sells snack food and beverage products worldwide including Oreo, Ritz, Cadbury, and Toblerone brands. | Manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells beverages and convenient foods worldwide under brands including Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade, and Quaker. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.408 | 0.368 |
| Last dividend | $0.5000 | $1.4800 |
| Ex-dividend date | 06/30/2026 | 06/05/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose MDLZ if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee. Choose PEP if you want higher current income (4.15% vs 3.28% for MDLZ).
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Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
MDLZ has lagged PEP over the trailing twelve months, posting a -10.16% total return against -1.65%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — MDLZ has compounded at 5.30% a year, ahead of PEP at 5.21%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Jun 2001 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDLZ | 14.26% | -10.16% | -3.82% | 1.45% | 5.30% | 5.29% | 20.8% | -0.40 | -0.55 | -29.0% |
| PEP | -3.91% | -1.65% | -7.70% | 0.16% | 5.21% | 7.30% | 19.9% | -0.63 | -0.87 | -29.2% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jun 2001” measures every fund from June 13, 2001 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
MDLZ (Mondelez International, Inc.) and PEP (PepsiCo, Inc.) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
PEP offers the higher yield at 4.15% vs 3.28% for MDLZ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, MDLZ would generate roughly $27.33/month, while PEP would produce $34.58/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
MDLZ is a stock, while PEP is a stock. Beta is 0.408 for MDLZ and 0.368 for PEP, indicating PEP is less volatile relative to the market.
Security details
MDLZ (Mondelez International, Inc.) is a stock. PEP (PepsiCo, Inc.) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
Is MDLZ or PEP better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. PEP currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between MDLZ and PEP?
MDLZ (Mondelez International, Inc.) is a stock, while PEP (PepsiCo, Inc.) is a stock. They are issued by — and — respectively.
Can I hold both MDLZ and PEP?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
How much income does $10,000 in MDLZ vs PEP generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in MDLZ would generate roughly $27.33 per month ($328.00 annually). The same in PEP would produce about $34.58 per month ($415.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, MDLZ or PEP?
MDLZ has lagged PEP over the trailing twelve months, posting a -10.16% total return against -1.65%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — MDLZ has compounded at 5.30% a year, ahead of PEP at 5.21%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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MDLZ vs PEP — at a glance
Generated July 2026 from current fund data.
Overview
MDLZ and PEP are both large-cap dividend payers in the global packaged food and beverage space, but they operate in meaningfully different corners of it. Mondelez is a pure-play snack company—Oreos, Ritz, Cadbury—with exposure primarily to chocolate and salty snacks. PepsiCo is a more diversified beverage and snack conglomerate anchored by carbonated soft drinks (Pepsi, Mountain Dew) but with substantial exposure to salty snacks (Lay's, Doritos) and sports drinks (Gatorade). The key distinction: PepsiCo's beverage portfolio and larger scale create different growth and margin dynamics than Mondelez's snack-only focus.
How they differ
PepsiCo has a higher yield—3.99% versus Mondelez's 3.36%—reflecting its more mature market position and cash generation profile. More importantly, PepsiCo's revenue base is roughly 50% larger and heavily diversified across beverages (roughly half of revenue), which carry different pricing power and margin characteristics than snacks alone. Mondelez, by contrast, operates in faster-growing international snacking categories, particularly in emerging markets, which historically has supported higher growth rates but with less pricing cushion than beverages. On valuation terms, PepsiCo trades at a higher absolute price ($137.38 vs. $58.83) and commands premium multiples typical of its defensive profile. Mondelez has a higher beta (0.408 vs. 0.368), reflecting some additional sensitivity to economic cycles, though both are well below 1.0—both are materially less volatile than the broad market.
Who each is best for
MDLZ: Fits investors seeking exposure to international consumer discretionary growth with snacking tailwinds, particularly in emerging markets, while accepting modestly higher economic sensitivity in exchange for above-average dividend growth potential.
PEP: Fits investors prioritizing stable, inflation-resistant cash flows from a diversified beverage and snack platform with strong pricing power and a higher current yield, accepting lower growth rates in exchange for predictability and defensive characteristics.
Key risks to know
- Beverage category headwinds: Both face secular pressure from declining carbonated soft drink consumption and rising health consciousness, though PepsiCo's broader portfolio and scale provide more levers to offset this exposure than Mondelez can deploy within snacks alone.
- Commodity and input cost exposure: Mondelez's snack-only positioning concentrates its P&L to cocoa, sugar, and grain volatility; PepsiCo's beverage mix (higher water content, lower commodity intensity) provides some structural insulation but not complete protection.
- Foreign exchange and emerging-market risk: Mondelez derives a larger share of revenue from emerging markets, creating material FX headwinds during dollar strength; PepsiCo's geographic and product diversification dampens this effect.
- Pricing power and margin sustainability: Both rely on brand strength to pass through inflation; if consumer resistance to price increases intensifies, margin expansion stalls—a meaningful risk in a persistent high-inflation environment.
Bottom line
If you want higher current income and defensive characteristics anchored in established scale and beverage pricing power, PepsiCo's 3.99% yield and lower volatility stand out. If you prioritize growth potential and emerging-market exposure within a snacking megatrend, Mondelez's higher beta and international concentration fit that profile, accepting lower income in the near term. Both have long dividend histories and face similar secular headwinds in their categories; past performance does not guarantee future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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