Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) is Freshford Capital Management LLC's 7th Largest Position

Freshford Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS - Free Report) by 57.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 150,438 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 55,025 shares during the period. Zoetis makes up about 7.0% of Freshford Capital Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Freshford Capital Management LLC's holdings in Zoetis were worth $24,511,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Zoetis by 11.0% in the fourth quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,627 shares of the company's stock valued at $591,000 after buying an additional 358 shares during the last quarter. MGO One Seven LLC increased its holdings in shares of Zoetis by 64.5% during the fourth quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 11,401 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,858,000 after acquiring an additional 4,469 shares in the last quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. raised its position in shares of Zoetis by 64.1% in the 4th quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 167,301 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,258,000 after purchasing an additional 65,342 shares during the last quarter. Alta Advisers Ltd boosted its stake in Zoetis by 26.9% in the 4th quarter. Alta Advisers Ltd now owns 1,523 shares of the company's stock worth $248,000 after purchasing an additional 323 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Soros Capital Management LLC grew its position in Zoetis by 82.4% during the 4th quarter. Soros Capital Management LLC now owns 13,211 shares of the company's stock worth $2,152,000 after purchasing an additional 5,970 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.80% of the company's stock.

Zoetis Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ZTS opened at $150.17 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $67.00 billion, a PE ratio of 27.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.75. The company's fifty day moving average price is $159.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $169.22. Zoetis Inc. has a 1 year low of $139.70 and a 1 year high of $200.33.

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

Zoetis Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 21st. Zoetis's payout ratio is 36.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Insider Activity

In other Zoetis news, Director Willie M. Reed sold 1,210 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.14, for a total transaction of $201,029.40. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,245 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,868,244.30. This trade represents a 9.71 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 326 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total transaction of $55,420.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 15,781 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,682,770. This represents a 2.02 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 1,862 shares of company stock worth $312,254 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

About Zoetis

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.

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