Rossby Financial LCC Takes Position in Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS)

Rossby Financial LCC acquired a new position in shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 3,637 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $593,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC lifted its stake in Zoetis by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 104,866 shares of the company's stock worth $20,489,000 after acquiring an additional 883 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Zoetis by 17.3% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,377,403 shares of the company's stock worth $464,497,000 after purchasing an additional 351,372 shares in the last quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 2.4% in the third quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,465 shares of the company's stock valued at $872,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Zoetis by 29.1% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 34,236 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,689,000 after purchasing an additional 7,709 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its stake in Zoetis by 801.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 18,606 shares of the company's stock worth $3,635,000 after buying an additional 16,541 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.80% of the company's stock.

Zoetis Stock Up 1.3 %

NYSE:ZTS traded up $1.88 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $148.64. 4,239,788 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,552,396. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. Zoetis Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $139.70 and a fifty-two week high of $200.33. The company has a market capitalization of $66.32 billion, a PE ratio of 27.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $160.04 and a 200 day simple moving average of $169.96.

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $2.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.30 billion. Zoetis had a return on equity of 53.82% and a net margin of 26.86%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Zoetis Inc. will post 6.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Zoetis Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, April 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 21st. Zoetis's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ZTS has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Zoetis from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Zoetis from $243.00 to $238.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Barclays increased their price target on Zoetis from $242.00 to $244.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on Zoetis from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Zoetis from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $214.40.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Zoetis news, Director Willie M. Reed sold 1,210 shares of Zoetis stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.14, for a total value of $201,029.40. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,245 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,868,244.30. This trade represents a 9.71 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 326 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.18, for a total value of $55,804.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,107 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,757,196.26. This represents a 1.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 1,862 shares of company stock valued at $312,254. Insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Zoetis Profile

Zoetis Inc engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of animal health medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic products and services in the United States and internationally. The company commercializes products primarily across species, including livestock, such as cattle, swine, poultry, fish, and sheep and others; and companion animals comprising dogs, cats, and horses.