Appleton Partners Inc. MA Decreases Position in Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS)

Appleton Partners Inc. MA lowered its stake in shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) by 3.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 84,757 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,832 shares during the quarter. Zoetis accounts for about 1.0% of Appleton Partners Inc. MA’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Appleton Partners Inc. MA’s holdings in Zoetis were worth $13,809,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Zoetis during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. First Personal Financial Services acquired a new position in shares of Zoetis during the third quarter worth about $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Zoetis during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Zoetis by 80.6% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 168 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC raised its holdings in Zoetis by 1,387.5% in the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 238 shares of the company’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. 92.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Zoetis Stock Performance

Shares of ZTS opened at $171.37 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $169.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $179.28. The firm has a market cap of $77.32 billion, a PE ratio of 32.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.90. Zoetis Inc. has a 12-month low of $144.80 and a 12-month high of $200.53. The company has a current ratio of 3.69, a quick ratio of 2.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26.

Zoetis Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 21st will be paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 21st. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. Zoetis’s dividend payout ratio is presently 37.59%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ZTS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Zoetis in a research report on Monday, December 9th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $196.00 price objective on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Zoetis from $210.00 to $180.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Leerink Partnrs raised Zoetis to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Leerink Partners initiated coverage on Zoetis in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $215.00 target price on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Zoetis from $225.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $215.00.

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.