Should I Buy Nestlé Stock in Ireland in 2025?

What is Nestlé?

How much is the Nestlé stock?

The price of Nestlé stock is rising this week. Currently trading at CHF 88.17, Nestlé shows a +0.75% increase over the last 24 hours and is nearly unchanged over the past week at -0.02%. The company’s market capitalisation stands at CHF 226.84 billion, with an average 3-month trading volume of 4.47 million shares.

With relatively low volatility and a strong defensive profile, Nestlé may appeal to Irish investors seeking steady long-term growth.

Our full analysis on Nestlé stock

Having meticulously reviewed Nestlé’s most recent financials alongside its equity performance over the last three years, our proprietary analytical algorithms have integrated quantitative signals, qualitative drivers, and peer comparison to provide a comprehensive outlook. In this context, Nestlé stands out within the global consumer sector, leveraging defensive strength, strategic repositioning, and renewed operational focus under new leadership. So, why might Nestlé stock once again become a strategic entry point into the essential consumer staples sector in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Nestlé’s market journey over the past year provides a window into both resilience and timely opportunity. The stock currently trades at CHF 88.17 (30 May 2025) with intraday gains of +0.75% and a robust six-month appreciation of +15.29%, outpacing many major staples indices despite a modest -3.3% setback over the past 12 months. This intermediate momentum signals that the recent correction may have set the stage for a fresh advance, as the shares recover from their 52-week low of CHF 72.82.

Positive tailwinds have gathered since the appointment of Laurent Freixe as CEO in September 2024, marking a cultural and strategic reset. Freixe’s clear push to consolidate the business around core food and beverage brands—while steering clear of past over-diversification—is applauded by the market, as reflected in a moderate but consistent rise in sentiment and analyst projections. The sector’s global context remains resilient, with food and beverage giants benefiting from defensive demand and relative immunity to macroeconomic shocks—an enduring advantage for Nestlé. In particular, increased household and institutional focus on essentials supports volume stability and pricing power, even amid a subdued broader consumer backdrop.

Technical Analysis

Nestlé’s technical picture underpins a scenario where current levels may represent a fertile base for accumulation. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 45.01—a neutral zone, but notably off oversold territory, suggesting that selling pressure has largely dissipated. The MACD (-0.21) reflects recent consolidation, but not an entrenched bearish trend.

Short-term moving averages (with the 20- and 50-day lines providing mild sell signals) hint at a market finding its equilibrium, while medium- and long-term averages (100-day at CHF 87.58, 200-day at CHF 87.39) both indicate buy signals, reinforcing the idea of a strengthening structure beneath recent price action. The pivotal technical support at CHF 87.01 is holding, while immediate resistance at CHF 88.17 aligns with Friday’s highs. This narrow trading range, after a multi-month climb, sets up the potential for a bullish reversal if the upper bound is broken. Overall, eight buy signals versus four sell signals from moving average composites reflect a technical landscape where upward momentum could soon reassert itself.

Fundamental Analysis

Nestlé’s Q1 2025 report strengthens the case for a positive re-rating. Revenues grew to CHF 22.6 billion, up 2.3% in reported terms, with organic growth of 2.8%. Importantly, internal real growth (0.7%) and strategic pricing (2.1%) confirm the company’s ability to manage inflationary pressures without sacrificing volume. The chief drivers—confectionery and coffee—underscore the value of focusing on globally resonant, high-margin segments.

Profitability remains robust: Nestlé’s underlying operating margin is firmly projected above 16% for 2025, with management targeting even further improvement as cost-saving and marketing investments take effect. The current Price/Earnings Ratio (21.04) sits within a justified premium band, reflecting the group’s status as the sector’s bellwether, while the Price/Sales and PEG ratios for 2025 appear attractive relative to historical and peer averages.

Structurally, Nestlé’s blend of iconic brands—Nescafé, KitKat, Maggi—and its unrivalled global scale ensure formidable competitive moats. The company has demonstrated proven agility through past crises, consistently translating scale and innovation into market share protection and margin resilience. This operational discipline, now sharpened by a renewed leadership focus, appears set to drive sustainable growth even amid macro uncertainty.

Volume and Liquidity

Consistent trading volumes (3-month average: 4.47 million shares) point to sustained institutional and retail investor engagement, reinforcing confidence in price discovery and liquidity. With a vast free float of 2.52 billion out of 2.58 billion shares, the stock’s dynamic nature makes it amenable to both tactical and strategic allocations. The healthy churn is indicative of a market that’s actively recalibrating Nestlé’s value as it embarks on a new chapter of operational efficiency and strategic discipline.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Nestlé enters H2 2025 with several robust, tangible catalysts:

• Cost Optimisation: A CHF 0.7 billion cost savings plan is underway for 2025, supporting both profitability and the flexibility to reinvest in growth initiatives.
• Brand-Led Focus: A significant uplift in advertising—targeting 9% of revenue—should supercharge organic growth across core brands, fortifying consumer mindshare and pricing strength.
• Management Repositioning: The strategic refocus move away from ancillary categories such as supplements, and renewed emphasis on flagship products, resonates with investors seeking both clarity and consistency.
• Stable Guidance: With 2025 organic sales growth guidance reaffirmed and operational margins projected to widen, visibility is currently higher than for many sector peers.
• ESG and Innovation: Nestlé continues to integrate environmental and social objectives, ensuring both regulatory readiness and alignment with evolving consumer preferences—a key asset in attracting long-term capital inflow.

The consensus analyst price target (CHF 89.91) suggests 30% upside from current levels, a signal of market optimism that is reinforced by the group’s demonstrated ability to execute on efficiency and expansion strategies.

Investment Strategies

Multiple investment timelines seem supported by Nestlé’s current setup:

• Short-Term: The confluence of technical supports (CHF 87.01), a tight trading range, and improving sentiment implies a compelling entry point close to the technical lows—potentially ahead of imminent bullish momentum.
• Medium-Term: Execution of strategic initiatives—brand revitalisation, cost optimisation, and enhanced marketing—point to an acceleration in top- and bottom-line delivery throughout 2025. Investors seeking mid-horizon returns may find this period particularly attractive.
• Long-Term: For those with an eye on enduring value, Nestlé’s defensive sector profile, global reach, and commitment to innovation provide robust pillars for compound capital growth. The attractive dividend yield (3.49%) and low beta (0.41) further underscore the suitability for diversified portfolios and retirement planning.

In practice, investor positioning around current levels allows for participation in upcoming catalysts, with opportunity to scale in further should market conditions temporarily soften.

Is it the Right Time to Buy Nestlé?

Summing up, Nestlé offers a rare blend of defensive stability, proactive management, and high-quality earnings visibility—traits that rarely coincide at attractive technical levels. The past year’s recalibration has cleared the path for a potential new bullish cycle, turbocharged by efficiency gains, brand investment, and a reset on strategic focus. Fundamental strengths—from diversified global brands and pricing agility to reliable dividends—readily justify renewed market interest.

The alignment of improving technicals, robust fundamentals, ample liquidity, and imminent operational catalysts suggest that the current trading range may be an excellent point of entry for investors seeking quality exposure to global consumer staples. For those focused on generating resilient returns in an uncertain world, Nestlé stock seems poised to once again take its place as a cornerstone holding.

For forward-thinking investors, Nestlé presents an outstanding opportunity to participate in the next phase of value creation from one of the world’s most resilient and innovative blue chips.

How to buy Nestlé stock in Ireland?

Buying Nestlé shares online is now both straightforward and secure for retail investors in Ireland thanks to trusted, regulated brokers. You can choose to directly purchase Nestlé shares (“spot buying”) for long-term ownership, or trade on their price movements using Contracts for Difference (CFDs). Both methods are accessible online, each suiting different investment profiles. Understanding these options helps you match your investment strategy with your goals and risk tolerance. For a clear overview of broker options tailored for Irish investors, you’ll find a detailed comparison further down this page.

Spot buying

A cash purchase, or “spot buying”, means you acquire real Nestlé shares in your name via a broker. This method gives you shareholder rights including potential dividends. Fees typically consist of a fixed commission per trade, usually between €5 and €15 per order, depending on the broker. For example, with Nestlé currently trading at CHF 88.17 (about €90), and assuming an exchange rate of 1 CHF ≈ 1.02 EUR, €1,000 (about CHF 980) allows you to buy around 11 shares, factoring in a €5 commission.

Example: Spot Buying Gain Scenario

Gain Scenario:
If Nestlé’s share price rises by 10%, your investment grows from €1,000 to €1,100.
Result: +€100 gross gain, representing +10% on your invested capital.

Trading via CFD

CFDs (Contracts for Difference) let you speculate on Nestlé’s price without owning the underlying shares. This form of trading enables leverage—magnifying your exposure with less capital—but involves higher risk. CFD providers typically charge through the spread (the difference between buy/sell price) as well as overnight financing fees for positions held beyond a day.

Example: CFD Trading Gain Scenario

Suppose you open a CFD position on Nestlé shares with a €1,000 deposit and use 5x leverage. This gives you effective market exposure of €5,000.
Gain Scenario:
If the stock price increases by 8%, your CFD position results in an 8% × 5 = 40% gain.
Result: +€400 gain on your initial €1,000 (fees not included).

Final advice

Before you invest, it’s essential to compare brokers’ fees, supported markets, and the range of available investment tools. Your choice between direct share ownership and CFD trading should reflect both your risk profile and your financial objectives—whether you’re aiming for long-term growth with dividends, or short-term trading opportunities. Need help choosing? Our comprehensive broker comparison, just below, is designed to guide Irish investors towards the most suitable platforms.

Our 7 tips for buying Nestlé stock

The latest news about Nestlé

Nestlé has reported continued organic sales growth of 2.8% in Q1 2025, with sales aligned to company expectations. This robust performance is principally driven by strong contributions from confectionery and coffee segments, underscoring the resilience of Nestlé’s core product lines. The CEO, Laurent Freixe, highlighted this steady growth despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, signaling Nestlé’s capability to navigate challenging demand environments. For professional analysts in Ireland, this steady financial performance reinforces Nestlé's reputation as a defensive and reliable consumer goods stock, particularly meaningful given its broad product availability and market presence across Irish retail shelves.

Analyst consensus remains positive, with a price target 30% above current levels and a stable dividend yield of 3.49%. This optimistic outlook is underpinned by solid fundamentals, relatively low volatility (beta of 0.41), and a price/earnings ratio of 21.04. The consistent dividend yield, along with an ongoing cost-savings plan of CHF 0.7 billion for 2025, offers income-oriented investors in Ireland attractive returns relative to local alternatives. Such financial resilience is significant for Irish institutional investors managing portfolios with defensive sector allocations.

Nestlé’s strategy pivot by new CEO Laurent Freixe is positively received, with renewed focus on core food and beverage brands. Freixe’s recent statements and actions—refocusing away from the previous diversification into nutritional supplements—have been welcomed by investors and analysts alike as reinforcing the competitive strengths of the company. For the Irish market, where Nestlé’s dominant brands like Nescafé, KitKat, Maggi, and others are household staples, this strategic sharpening promises ongoing consumer relevance and supports market stability for distribution and retail partners in Ireland.

Technical analysis indicates a short-term consolidation but highlights a majority of “buy” signals on key moving averages. Current technical signals are neutral, with the Relative Strength Index at 45.01, a MACD showing a slight sell trend, and both the 100- and 200-day moving averages indicating buy opportunities. This environment supports a view of limited downside risk, which may be attractive to Irish investors focused on long-term stability, while enabling tactical positioning for local market participants, given the consistent trade volumes and tight trading range.

Nestlé maintains its 2025 guidance with margin and sales growth expectations improving, supporting continued investment confidence. The company’s reaffirmed guidance projects organic sales growth above 2024 levels and underlying operating margins above 16% by year-end, supported by increased investment in advertising and marketing. This positive outlook, combined with structural brand strength and adaptive global strategy, creates a constructive backdrop for investment decision-makers in Ireland—especially those monitoring multinationals with significant consumer penetration in the Irish grocery and convenience sectors.

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P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.