Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS) Lowered to Hold Rating by StockNews.com

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS) was downgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Tuesday.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Zoetis from $243.00 to $238.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Barclays boosted their target price on Zoetis from $242.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Zoetis to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Zoetis from $210.00 to $200.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Zoetis in a research note on Monday, December 9th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $196.00 price target on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $215.40.

Zoetis Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of ZTS traded up $3.29 on Tuesday, hitting $168.60. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 4,003,268 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,329,930. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.90. Zoetis has a fifty-two week low of $144.80 and a fifty-two week high of $200.53. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $166.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $177.66.

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Zoetis will post 6.07 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 326 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.18, for a total transaction of $55,804.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,107 shares in the company, valued at $2,757,196.26. The trade was a 1.98 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Zoetis

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Zoetis in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. First Personal Financial Services acquired a new position in Zoetis in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of Zoetis during the third quarter valued at $33,000. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Finally, Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Zoetis by 482.8% in the fourth quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 169 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. 92.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.