Stan Wong Zoetis Inc ZTS-N DON'T BUY Oct 10, 2024

2/3 pet pharma, 1/3 livestock. Time to market is lower than for human pharma, not as much generic competition. Overhang from negative press about unwanted effects from painkillers -- anecdotal, not based on data. Good growth going forward. Yield is 1%.

A bit disappointing. Headwind from near-term, cyclical pressures as economy weakens and vet visits decline. Company sees itself as defensive -- people prioritize their pets, aging population, younger generation having pets instead of children. Competition on drugs, adverse press to dog pain management drug. Still likes longer, secular trend.

Shares are declining because they now face competition. It's no longer a one-horse race.

Likes the industry in general. A leader. Vets like its products. Not a lot of generic competition. Diversified in types of care. Studies show that pet spending is resilient even during slowdowns. Attractive entry point.

Librela's actually been on the market for a while, launched in Europe before US. Debate whether it helps or does it cause adverse effects. Company still tags very strong growth for this drug, vets are still recommending it. Reports in a week or two, so we'll get more visibility. If growth stalls on this one, a negative for the stock. So far, things seem on track.

Librela is important, as company thinks it can be a blockbuster. Their other drugs are doing quite well, pipeline is healthy.

ZTS looks 'decent' with good growth expected still and a reasonable valuation. Sales and earnings are expected to show growth over the next two years. We think it is buyable and would prefer it to the much smaller and riskier PAHC. 
Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free