Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 13,742,200 shares, a growth of 26.3% from the December 15th total of 10,884,389 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,589,155 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days. Approximately 3.1% of the company’s stock are short sold. Approximately 3.1% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,589,155 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days.

Zoetis Stock Performance

NYSE:ZTS traded down $0.49 on Monday, hitting $124.79. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 7,047,282 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,849,923. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $123.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $139.35. The company has a current ratio of 3.64, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.97. Zoetis has a one year low of $115.25 and a one year high of $177.40.

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.42 billion. Zoetis had a net margin of 28.21% and a return on equity of 57.19%. Zoetis’s revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.58 EPS. Zoetis has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.300-6.400 EPS. Research analysts predict that Zoetis will post 6.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Zoetis Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 20th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This is a positive change from Zoetis’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 20th. Zoetis’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.67%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on ZTS. Morgan Stanley set a $160.00 price target on Zoetis in a report on Thursday, December 18th. KeyCorp began coverage on shares of Zoetis in a report on Thursday, November 20th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Zoetis from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Zoetis from $158.00 to $141.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Zoetis from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $160.18.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Zoetis

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Zoetis by 496.6% in the 3rd quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 173 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates bought a new stake in Zoetis in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Zoetis during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. REAP Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 201.5% during the 2nd quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 196 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new position in Zoetis in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.80% of the company’s stock.

Zoetis Company Profile

Zoetis Inc (NYSE: ZTS) is a global animal health company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products and services for companion animals and livestock. The company’s offerings include pharmaceuticals, vaccines and biologics, parasiticides and anti-infectives, as well as diagnostic instruments, consumables and laboratory testing services. Zoetis serves the veterinary community, livestock producers and other animal-health customers with products designed to prevent, detect and treat disease and to support animal productivity and welfare.

Zoetis traces its roots to the animal health business of Pfizer and became an independent, publicly traded company following a 2013 separation and initial public offering.