Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS) Price Target Cut to $180.00 by Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS - Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from $195.00 to $180.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays cut their price target on Zoetis from $260.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 23rd. Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating and set a $195.00 price target (down previously from $220.00) on shares of Zoetis in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Zoetis from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Zoetis from $190.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $216.13.

Zoetis Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of Zoetis stock traded down $0.53 on Tuesday, reaching $159.17. 3,647,859 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,147,432. The firm's 50-day moving average is $170.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $179.12. The company has a market capitalization of $72.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a current ratio of 3.36. Zoetis has a 52 week low of $144.80 and a 52 week high of $201.92.

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.08). Zoetis had a return on equity of 51.25% and a net margin of 27.43%. The company had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.15 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 8.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Zoetis will post 5.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Zoetis Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 4th. Investors of record on Friday, April 19th will be given a dividend of $0.432 per share. This represents a $1.73 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 18th. Zoetis's payout ratio is currently 34.12%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 363 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.74, for a total value of $71,779.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 20,417 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,037,257.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 2,209 shares of company stock valued at $371,293. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Zoetis

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in Zoetis by 7.4% in the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 93,735 shares of the company's stock valued at $16,308,000 after acquiring an additional 6,457 shares during the last quarter. Peak Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Zoetis in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,776,000. BLB&B Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Zoetis by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. BLB&B Advisors LLC now owns 60,872 shares of the company's stock worth $10,591,000 after acquiring an additional 1,107 shares during the period. Ninety One UK Ltd boosted its position in Zoetis by 13.1% during the fourth quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 108,293 shares of the company's stock worth $21,374,000 after purchasing an additional 12,537 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Zoetis by 10.9% in the fourth quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 183,564 shares of the company's stock worth $36,230,000 after purchasing an additional 17,976 shares in the last quarter. 92.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Zoetis Company 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.