Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) Shares Sold by Sigma Planning Corp

Sigma Planning Corp lessened its stake in shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) by 44.9% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 5,167 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,208 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp’s holdings in Zoetis were worth $1,020,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Zoetis during the 3rd quarter worth $176,219,000. Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 214.7% during the 4th quarter. Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd now owns 824,148 shares of the company’s stock worth $162,662,000 after purchasing an additional 562,259 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 27,671.0% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 479,328 shares of the company’s stock worth $94,605,000 after purchasing an additional 477,602 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 34.8% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,562,044 shares of the company’s stock worth $271,764,000 after purchasing an additional 403,164 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 53.9% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 941,219 shares of the company’s stock worth $163,753,000 after purchasing an additional 329,543 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.80% of the company’s stock.

Zoetis Trading Up 2.8 %

NYSE:ZTS opened at $149.56 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $173.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $179.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 3.36 and a quick ratio of 2.00. Zoetis Inc. has a 12 month low of $144.80 and a 12 month high of $201.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $68.40 billion, a PE ratio of 29.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.85.

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.19 billion. Zoetis had a net margin of 27.43% and a return on equity of 51.25%. The firm’s revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.15 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Zoetis Inc. will post 5.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Zoetis Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.432 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 18th. This represents a $1.73 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.16%. Zoetis’s dividend payout ratio is presently 34.12%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Barclays cut their target price on Zoetis from $260.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Zoetis from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 2nd. StockNews.com lowered Zoetis from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Zoetis from $190.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $195.00 target price (down from $220.00) on shares of Zoetis in a research report on Tuesday, April 16th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $218.00.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 363 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.74, for a total transaction of $71,779.62. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 20,417 shares in the company, valued at $4,037,257.58. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders sold 2,209 shares of company stock worth $371,293 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.15% of the company’s stock.

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.