>>> IDEXX Laboratories (NASDAQ:IDXX) is a global leader in veterinary diagnostics, software and water microbiology testing. The company’s innovative products and services help veterinarians deliver high-quality care and enable early detection and treatment of pet diseases. IDEXX’s strong competitive position, global presence and innovation focus position it well for continued growth. The increasing humanization of pets, the growing demand for veterinary care and the rising awareness of early disease detection’s importance are key megatrends supporting IDEXX’s long-term prospects.

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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ai-bot-predicts-7-stocks-175326496.html


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>>> Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) -- 14-day RSI: 32.16

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/11-oversold-blue-chip-stocks-195219274.html

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50

Parsippany, New Jersey-based Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) is a leading animal health company with a portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies offered in over 100 countries. Formerly a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), the company became independent through a spinoff in 2013.

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) has been continuously making efforts to increase its product franchises in major markets. During the fourth quarter, the company received approvals for Simparica Trio, the company’s triple combination oral parasiticide for dogs, in China. While the company’s injectable monoclonal antibody for the alleviation of pain associated with osteoarthritis in cats, Solensia, received approval in Brazil.

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) has paid regular dividends since its spinoff from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) with consecutive dividend increases for several years. The board of directors of the company declared a dividend of $0.432 per share for Q2 2024, on February 6.

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>>> Merck Animal Health to Acquire Elanco’s Aqua Business


Business Wire

Feb 5, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/merck-animal-health-acquire-elanco-113300093.html


Bolsters Merck Animal Health’s position in the aqua industry with comprehensive approach to ensure fish health, welfare and sustainability in aquaculture, conservation and fisheries

Complements Merck Animal Health’s broad portfolio of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and technology solutions


RAHWAY, N.J., February 05, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the aqua business of Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) for $1.3 billion in cash, consisting of an innovative portfolio of medicines and vaccines, nutritionals and supplements for aquatic species; two related aqua manufacturing facilities in Canada and Vietnam; as well as a research facility in Chile. The acquisition is expected to be completed by mid-year 2024, subject to approvals from regulatory authorities and other customary closing conditions.

Upon closing, the acquisition will broaden Merck Animal Health’s aqua portfolio with products, such as CLYNAV®, a new generation DNA-based vaccine that protects Atlantic salmon against pancreas disease, and IMVIXA®, an anti-parasitic sea lice treatment. This acquisition also brings a portfolio of water treatment products for warm water production, complementing Merck Animal Health’s warm water vaccine portfolio. In addition to these products, the DNA-based vaccine technology that is a part of the business has the potential to accelerate the development of novel vaccines to address the unmet needs of the aqua industry.

"We are excited for the acquisition of Elanco’s aqua products, solutions as well as the capabilities and expertise the team brings to our business," said Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health. "We believe this acquisition, coupled with our commercial and scientific prowess, will deliver enhanced benefits for our aqua customers. The addition of this innovative portfolio of cold water and warm water aqua products across vaccines, anti-parasitic treatments, water supplements and nutrition, will establish Merck Animal Health as a leader in aqua."

Elanco Animal Health President and CEO Jeff Simmons said, "Following a robust process over the last year, Merck Animal Health emerged as the right strategic buyer for the aquaculture business. I am confident they will continue to deliver value to the aqua customers that rely on these products and create opportunities for our team to continue to grow. We are deeply grateful to our aqua organization’s dedication to delivering for our customers and to our bigger purpose of enriching lives with animal protein."

This acquisition will represent the latest in a series of acquisitions which have augmented Merck Animal Health’s aqua business. In March 2019, Merck Animal Health acquired Scan Aqua AS, a fish health and fish welfare company based in Norway, focused on key aqua products. In April 2019, Merck Animal Health announced the completion of its acquisition of Antelliq Corporation, which included BIOMARK, a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging and tracking technology for monitoring fish and wildlife. In December 2019, Merck Animal Health acquired Vaki, a leader in aquaculture and wild fish conservation monitoring equipment and real-time video monitoring technology for fish counting and size estimation from freshwater to saltwater rearing, while collecting and analytics for each stage of fish production.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co., LLP acted as financial advisor to Merck Animal Health in this transaction and Covington & Burling LLP acted as its legal advisor.

About Merck Animal Health

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets.

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>>> Rollins, Inc. (ROL), through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife. It also provides workplace pest control solutions for customers across various end markets, such as healthcare, foodservice, and logistics. In addition, the company offers termite protection services and ancillary services. It serves clients directly, as well as through franchisee operations. Rollins, Inc. was incorporated in 1948 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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>>> Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-best-p-500-stocks-211112359.html

5-Year Average Dividend Growth: 24.5%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) is a global animal health company that specializes in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of a wide range of veterinary medicines and vaccines. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.375 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.81%, as recorded on September 11. In the past five years, it raised its dividends at an annual average rate of 24.5%, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks on our list.

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL), and PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) are some other dividend stocks to consider for growth.

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) was a popular buy among elite funds with 65 hedge fund positions at the end of Q2 2023, up from 55 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey's database. The consolidated value of stakes owned by these hedge funds is over $1.1 billion.

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And this cash interest rates is partly why stocks are struggling. This stock "bubble" was caused by bank interest rates going to "Fuck you" from inflation plus 1% in the past.

Yes, the easy / safe 5% in cash / T-Bills is a good reason to stay on the sidelines.

For the stock allocation, my dad's strategy worked well -- 'buy quality and hold long term', so that's what I've decided to do also, instead of getting too fancy, trading, etc. You pick a stock allocation you can live with long term (I chose 20% range), fill it up with conservative solid equities, and let it go. My dad barely looked at his monthly brokerage statements, and for excitement did other things (he was a pilot). Using the stock market for excitement is a mistake that most of us make. I like following the various sectors out of general interest, but active trading is out.



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Every stock I was touting in May is down. I did make out on WEAT, but lost on LAND, DBA, NEM and CDE. Glad i gout out of all of them when I did, especially CDE, who had a good day Friday, after a terrible day Thursday, so, a wash, not a buy signal.. Buying nothing. Getting bank interest again. 4.5% on everything over $25,000. Annuities , I read too much bad about the fine print details. The reason stocks have done so well is no interest like this since early this year. It has been a scam and still is, as it is below the so called real rate of inflation.

Good night

Btw, looking at the LAND chart, I had a feeling it might have to break down through the 15 support before finding its ultimate bottom. That 12.5 area was beckoning, but I wonder now if it might have to ultimately form a base in the 10-12.5 area (?) As much as I like the idea of owning farmland, LAND has been way too wild a ride, though it was great fun a few years ago. The FPI chart also looks too hairy to risk imo.

I see the nukes -- LEU, URA, URNM, NLR -- had a nice rebound after the brief selloff. I got out a while back with some modest profits, but that sector could conceivably have a lot of upside over time. Lots of landmines though, and too much Tagamet required for my nervous nellie tendencies.




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>> Going WOKE in farm country <<

Yes, but 'fruit farmers' need to buy their supplies too, so it might as well be at TSCO, lol.

I see TSCO is also in the animal sector, via their 2016 acquisition of Petsense, so that adds another dimension to the company. In trying to find some suitable agro sector stocks I came upon TSCO, but admittedly it's a stretch to call it 'agro'. But it also covers the 'animal sector' (sort of), along with Zoetis. It's a great long term chart, so I figure what's not to like :o)

I don't own TSCO at the moment, but did earlier in the year (the usual $1000 position). Fwiw, here's the current portfolio (link below). Current holdings are highlighted, and the others under consideration. There's a zillion more on my various lists, but these have the best long term charts -


https://investorshub.advfn.com/Buy-Hold-Stocks-42434



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Tractor Supply - >>> 2 Fantastic Reasons Tractor Supply Should Continue Harvesting Growth for Investors


Motley Fool

By Will Healy

Sep 22, 2023


https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/09/22/2-fantastic-reasons-tractor-supply-harvesting/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


KEY POINTS

Shares of the rural lifestyle retailer have risen by nearly 62,000% since 1994.

More people are moving to rural America, increasing its addressable market.

The rural lifestyle retailer is not done growing despite a 49-state footprint.


Tractor Supply (TSCO) is arguably an easy stock to write off for most investors. The company's stores are away from population centers, so it is not a fixture in areas where most Americans live.

Moreover, it has built approximately 2,200 stores spread across 49 states and has shown no apparent inclination to expand internationally. Thus, you might assume it is nearing market saturation.

Nonetheless, Tractor Supply has harvested massive returns for investors, and as it continues forward, its growth should continue for the following reasons.

1. Plenty of room for store growth

Tractor Supply has prospered by carving out a niche among rural lifestyle enthusiasts. Its primary demographic consists of the so-called "hobby farmers" who live on a few acres and engage in smaller-scale agriculture. This approach has taken the stock an astounding 61,500% higher since its initial public offering in 1994.

And the company has not hesitated to acquire retailers in related areas, like the separate Petsense chain for companion animals. It has also bought out other chains like Orscheln Farm & Home, which will become additional Tractor Supply locations. Hence, it remains expansion-minded through a mix of sticking to its core concept and serving the pet market.

Rural America has also begun to grow in population. More employees and contractors work remotely, and the pandemic prompted many former city dwellers to move to the countryside, a trend expanding Tractor Supply's addressable market.

2. Strong financials (relatively speaking)

Tractor Supply's financials have shown some resilience. Despite slow comparable-store sales growth in the first quarter, its net sales in the first half of 2023 were $7.5 billion, 8% more than in the same period last year. Net income was $604 million during the first two quarters of the year, though rising operating expenses meant its profits only grew 3% from year-ago levels.

Due to concerns about falling customer spending, Tractor Supply reduced its 2023 revenue estimate to $14.85 billion at the midpoint, down from $15.15 billion. It also adjusted its net income forecast to a mid-range estimate of $1.135 billion, down from $1.15 billion.

The stock has fallen slightly this year, but that did not stop Tractor Supply from raising its dividend by 12% in February, amounting to a near doubling of the payout in two years. With the dividend now at $4.12 per share annually, new shareholders will earn a 1.9% dividend yield, well above the S&P 500's 1.5% payout.

The retailer has hiked its payout every year since introducing it in 2010, raising its profile as a dividend stock, especially with the size of the aforementioned increases. So investors might want to buy it despite its price-to-earnings ratio of 21, a moderate level considering the history of the stock.

Consider Tractor Supply

Despite an extensive 49-state footprint and some recent sluggishness, Tractor Supply is not done returning bumper crops of growth and earnings. The company has many avenues related to its core business that it can take advantage of, especially with a rising rural population.

Even at a moderate valuation, its history of massive growth and a fast-growing dividend should help boost the retail stock. If more urban investors take notice of Tractor Supply's success in the countryside, it could reap a bountiful harvest.

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I think TSCO will be a good play, but not for my favorite reasons. Like Bayer, Target, Disney and others they came out WOKE to satisfy the big Deep State money. Going WOKE in farm country makes as much sense as selling ice cubes in Alaska. They like paid their dues.

https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/tractor-supply-makes-case-investing-bipoc-lgbtq-and-women-farmers/742681

I like to see the stock break above the major moving averages before I'd buy.

https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=TSCO&p=D&yr=5&mn=0&dy=0&id=p38102136601

>>> Zoetis -- Animal health specialist Zoetis has hit the ground running, more than quintupling its payouts since initiating its dividend in 2013. Zoetis is the largest business of its kind, creating vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics for pets and livestock, and generating $8.2 billion in sales and $2.2 billion in net income over the last year.


https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/09/07/4-top-dividend-payers-of-the-sp-500/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


The company is incredibly well-balanced with its products ranging from dermatology and osteoarthritis pain treatments to parasitic medicines and medicated feed additives. Zoetis generates 64% of its revenue from pets and 36% from livestock. Meanwhile, U.S. sales account for 54% of total revenue, while international markets comprise 46%.

Best yet for investors, Zoetis has 15 drugs that each earn over $100 million in annual revenue, highlighting the depth of its product offering and the strength of its research and development (R&D) capabilities. With 11% of its 13,800 employees working in R&D, this innovation is well-funded and should maintain a robust pipeline for decades ahead.

With Zoetis' rising ROIC of 19% and small payout ratio of 29%, look for it to provide above-average dividend growth. But with the shares trading at 40 times earnings and offering a 0.8% dividend, it may be best to buy on drops or though dollar cost averaging.

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>>> IDEXX Announces Novel Diagnostic Test for Kidney Injury, Expanding the Veterinary Industry's Most Comprehensive Renal Testing Portfolio


Yahoo Finance

June 15, 2023


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/idexx-announces-novel-diagnostic-test-110000814.html


The IDEXX Cystatin B Test can help veterinarians detect kidney injury before changes in kidney function, promoting better patient outcomes

WESTBROOK, Maine, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), a global leader in pet healthcare innovation, today announced the launch of the first veterinary diagnostic test for detecting kidney injury in cats and dogs. According to a recent IDEXX survey, as many as one-third of kidney cases seen by veterinarians are related to kidney injury, and a diagnosis can be challenging due to subtle or nonspecific signs.1 The IDEXX Cystatin B Test will be included in test panels assessing renal health, uncovering new clinical insights for an estimated two million patient visits annually. These tests will be run at IDEXX Reference Laboratories starting later this year in the U.S. and Canada, with plans to introduce the test in Europe in 2024.

The kidneys are vital to the overall health of a patient, regulating blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and red blood cell production, and removing toxins. IDEXX SDMA testing provides veterinarians with unmatched insights into kidney function, and the IDEXX Cystatin B Test will enhance their view into kidney health by detecting injury and providing additional clarity when a change in kidney function may not be apparent. Together, the IDEXX Cystatin B and IDEXX SDMA® tests offer a comprehensive view of the kidneys by uncovering structural injury and impaired kidney function.

"With the addition of the IDEXX Cystatin B Test, we are pleased to offer the industry's first biomarker for kidney injury," said Jay Mazelsky, IDEXX President and Chief Executive Officer. "The IDEXX portfolio of tests and technologies enables veterinarians to intervene earlier, advance treatment, and now detect kidney injury, resulting in better outcomes throughout the lives of their patients."

The IDEXX expanded renal testing portfolio now includes:

IDEXX Cystatin B Test, detecting kidney injury with or without changes in kidney function, providing valuable insights in cases such as early toxin exposure.

IDEXX SDMA® Test and creatinine, helping to establish a baseline for kidney function for monitoring and early kidney disease detection.

IDEXX FGF-23 Test, allowing for more confident recommendations of targeted therapy for cats diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by monitoring phosphorous overload.

Urine testing, providing a deeper understanding of total kidney health by examining the physical and chemical properties of urine.

For more information on the IDEXX Cystatin B Test and IDEXX kidney health solutions, please visit IDEXX Cystatin B.

A joint statement from three founding members of the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology accentuates the value this novel biomarker holds in the industry and aligns with a recent statement from the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS):

"The advent of diagnostic biomarkers capable to detect the presence of acute kidney injury as well as active and ongoing kidney injury in advance of or in the absence of changes in conventional markers of kidney function forecast an important advance in the evaluation of acute and chronic kidney disease in dogs. The development and validation of Cystatin-B as an active kidney injury biomarker in dogs that will be readily available to veterinarians has the potential to reshape the future diagnostic and therapeutic directions of kidney disease. As nephrologists, we anxiously await this new era of early disease discovery and management."

Dr, Gilad Segev, DVM, Dip. ECVIM-CA (Internal Medicine)
American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology, Founding Member
Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine
Head, Small Animal Internal Medicine
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Dr. Shelly Vaden, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology, Founding Member
Professor Internal Medicine (Nephrology and Urology)
Medical Director, Extracorporeal Therapies
Chief of Staff, Small Animal
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

Larry D. Cowgill, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (SAIM)
American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology, Founding Member
Professor, Department of Medicine & Epidemiology
2108 Tupper Hall
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California-Davis

About IDEXX

IDEXX is a global leader in pet healthcare innovation. Our diagnostic and software products and services create clarity in the complex, constantly evolving world of veterinary medicine. We support longer, fuller lives for pets by delivering insights and solutions that help the veterinary community around the world make confident decisions—to advance medical care, improve efficiency, and build thriving practices. Our innovations also help ensure the safety of milk and water across the world and maintain the health and well-being of people and livestock. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a member of the S&P 500® Index. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX employs nearly 11,000 people and offers solutions and products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information about IDEXX, visit: idexx.com. For media inquiries, please get in touch at media@idexx.com.

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Tractor Supply - >>> In 2009, the worst year of the Great Recession, Tractor Supply's net sales increased by almost 7%. To be fair, the company's net-sales increase was the result of opening new stores -- it opened 76 that year. By contrast, same-store sales (a measurement of sales at existing locations) fell 1.1%. But that's actually still quite resilient during an economic downturn.


https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/02/23/2-recession-proof-growth-stocks-im-loving-now/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


In my opinion, there's a simple explanation for Tractor Supply's resiliency. In 2009, 39% of net sales were in the livestock-and-pet category -- an expense animal owners will pay even during lean times. And this category is only more important for Tractor Supply now. Investors are waiting on the annual filing for 2022, but livestock-and-pet sales accounted for 47% of sales in 2021.

To put this all into perspective, Tractor Supply's supply chain moved more than 8 billion pounds of animal feed in 2022. To me, that's too much weight for e-commerce companies to want to get involved.

Moreover, on the topic of resiliency, Tractor Supply had over 28 million members in its customer loyalty program at the end of 2022, up 20% year over year. These customers accounted for 75% of the company's sales last year, suggesting its core customer base is a big fan of the brand -- something that can help it remain strong during any potential economic downturn.

With fiscal discipline, ongoing sales growth, and regular share repurchases, Tractor Supply's earnings per share (EPS) are growing at a rate capable of carrying the stock to market-beating gains. Its regular increases to the dividend are generous as well, as the chart below shows.

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Tractor Supply Company - With 27 million members in its Neighbor's Club rewards program, Tractor Supply and its 2,100 stores are a dividend growth success story in the footsteps of Home Depot and Lowe's. Since 2010, Tractor Supply has boosted its quarterly dividend payments from $0.035 per share to $0.92 today, an increase of over 2,200%. Buoyed partly by these dividends, the company has outpaced the market over the last five years.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/28/4-stocks-with-high-dividend-growth-to-buy-in-2023/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article

So how exactly does Tractor Supply do it with behemoths like Home Depot and Lowe's in its backyard? In the simplest terms, it's by being the rural version of its giant peers. Consider that almost half of the company's sales come from its livestock and pet category. Through this niche offering, Tractor Supply draws millions of farmers, ranchers, and even suburban gardeners to its stores with its adjacent, yet quite distinct, product offering and hometown feel.

Once in the company's ecosystem, these customers often sign up for its rewards program and become loyal members. For example, since the pandemic's start, Tractor Supply saw 19 million new customers -- 55% of which became repeat purchasers.

The shares trade at just 23 times earnings, and the company's 1.8% dividend only uses 35% of its total net income. Raising its last dividend by 77%, Tractor Supply makes for a fascinating dividend-growth selection to hold forever.

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Zoetis - In a recent survey by The Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Zoetis, 86% of pet owners and veterinarians said they would pay whatever was necessary for extensive vet care. While it is sad to consider any adverse outcomes concerning our beloved pets, the fact remains that Zoetis and its array of pet and livestock vaccines and medicines should only continue growing in importance.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/28/4-stocks-with-high-dividend-growth-to-buy-in-2023/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article

In fact, since going public via a spinoff from Pfizer in 2013, Zoetis posted a total return of nearly 500%. Over the last five years, the company has almost tripled the returns of the S&P 500 Index despite falling by 19% in the previous year.

In the $45 billion animal health industry, Zoetis generates 61% of its sales from companion animals (cats and dogs) and 39% from livestock. Boasting a leadership position in pets, cattle, and swine (not to mention North America, Latin America, and Asia -- geographically speaking), the company maintains a portfolio of over 300 products.

Riding this success, Zoetis has grown sales and EPS by 9% and 13%, respectively, over the last three years. Over this same time, the company raised its dividend by 25% annually and now yields 0.9% with a small payout ratio of 26%. Thanks to the megatrends working in its favor and its steady growth, Zoetis trades at a rich 37 times earnings but makes for an outstanding dividend growth stock.

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>>> Rollins, Inc. (ROL), through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife. It also provides workplace pest control solutions for customers across various end markets, such as healthcare, foodservice, and logistics. In addition, the company offers traditional and baiting termite protection, as well as ancillary services. It serves clients directly, as well as through franchisee operations. Rollins, Inc. was incorporated in 1948 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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$RIBT Premium Pet Food Still in Demand

https://www.foodprocessing.com/industrynews/2022/premium-pet-food-still-in-demand/

People may be trading down to store brands for their own food, but they’re still out to pamper their pets.

Two leading pet retailers told CNBC that they have not seen any trend away from premium food, despite inflation. Both Petco and Chewy said most of their customers are not looking to save on food, although both said that they had been drop in spending on non-food items like leashes and toys.

Petco is expanding its offerings in premium pet food. It is partnering with Clif to make snack bars for dogs, and recently launched a line of frozen dog food.

“Pet parents are driving one of the biggest trends the pet industry has seen as they increasingly seek out fresh, human-grade food for all members of the family,” Petco CEO Ron Coughlin said in a release quoted by CNBC.

In fact, both Chewy and Petco reported year-over-year sales rises of 13% and 3.2%, respectively, for the most recent quarter. Both said consumer shifts toward more premium food were a factor in those increases.

Zoetis - >>> Pet health ‘has proven to be recession resistant': Zoetis CFO


Yahoo Finance

by Ethan Kimball

August 10, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pet-health-recession-resistant-zoetis-cfo-164147497.html


While some industries have proven to be vulnerable to the recent economic downturn and record inflation, pet health care is not one of them.

“If you look at animal health historically, it has proven to be recession resistant," Wetteny Joseph, chief financial officer of Zoetis (ZTS), a global animal health company, said on Yahoo Finance Live (video above). “The demographics of pet ownership have trended towards millennials and Gen Z, and they place a higher premium on the health of their pets.”

Strong demand for animal health care products can be attributed to the increase in demand for pets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a 2021 survey from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the percentage of U.S. households that had pets increased in 2020 from 67% to an all-time high of 70% as more Americans sought out comforting companionship during the lockdown period.

Furthermore, pet owners who took the survey also stated that they spent more on their pets now than they did before the onset of COVID-19. An estimated $123.6 billion was spent on pets in 2021, with $34.3 billion used towards veterinary care.

"Despite the broader uncertainty in the economic environment, pet spending and the prioritization on pet health remains very strong," Joseph said. "And the underlying fundamentals of the industry remain strong."

'We don't see any signs of slowing down'

For Zoetis, an essential aspect of the company's business model is its medications being recommended by veterinarians.

The company reported a strong quarter, with 8% operational growth in revenue and 9% in adjusted net income, "driven by a companion animal portfolio," Joseph said, while the companion animal business grew 14% operationally on a global level.

“Puppies and kittens need to go see the vet,” he said. “That created a really high watermark, if you will, if you go back in the first half of last year. But as we tracked visits to the clinic over a number of years, the visits in the second quarter were the fourth-highest of visits that we have on record. So it's just a matter of [comparison]."

Vet visits are down 1.3% YOY but revenue is up 6.4%. showing that owners are still willing to spend money on pet health.

Although visits to the vet are down roughly 1.3% year-over-year, revenue is up 6.4% in that same time, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), meaning that when pet owners are taking their furry friends to the vet, they're willing to spend money, even as millions of Americans have started to pull back on spending in other consumer categories.

According to Joseph, that's indicative of a "much higher correlation" to how Zoetis performs due to the innovation it brings to the market.

"Given more pets and higher prioritization on the health of pets, we expect that to continue to remain robust," he said, adding: "We don't see any signs of slowing down."

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>>> Dogs might be able to 'see' with their noses, a new study suggests


Sky News

by Claire Hills

July 2022


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dogs-might-be-able-to-see-with-their-noses-a-new-study-suggests/ar-AA100sEw?OCID=ansmsnnews11


Dogs might be using their highly-sensitive noses to 'see' as well as to smell, a new study suggests.

A team of vets, including Dr Philippa Johnson from Cornell University in New York, discovered that vision and smell are actually connected in the brains of dogs - something not yet found in any other species.

The team conducted MRI scans on a number of different dogs and successfully mapped the olfactory bulb (the part of the brain dealing with smell) to the occipital lobe (the visual processing area of the brain), shedding new light on how dogs experience and navigate the world.

It revealed an "extensive pathway" connecting to the occipital lobe but also to the limbic system, which is the part of the brain involved in behavioural and emotional responses.

Related video: Dogs can sniff out 'distinct odor' in positive diagnosis of COVID-19, researchers say

The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggest smell and vision in dogs are therefore integrated in some way - implying they may use scent to work out where things are.

Dr Johnson told Sky News that when humans walk into a room, they primarily use their sense of vision to establish who is there or how furniture is positioned. But dogs seem to integrate scent into their interpretation of their environment and how they are orientated in it.

She added: "One of the ophthalmologists at the hospital here said he regularly has owners that bring their dogs in, and when he tests their eyesight, they are completely blind - but the owners literally won't believe him.

"The blind dogs act completely normally. They can play fetch. They can orientate around their environment, and they don't bump into things.

"Knowing there's that information freeway going between those two areas, could be hugely comforting to owners of dogs with incurable eye diseases."

"We've never seen this connection between the nose and the occipital lobe, functionally the visual cortex in dogs, in any species," added Dr Johnson, assistant professor of clinical sciences at Cornell, and senior author of the report.

In the course of their study, the team also found connections where a dog's brain processes memory and emotion, which are similar to those in humans.

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>>> Zoetis Completes Acquisition of Basepaws, an Innovative Leader in Petcare Genetics, to Strengthen its Portfolio of Precision Animal Health Solutions


BusinessWire

June 22, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zoetis-completes-acquisition-basepaws-innovative-123000918.html


PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 22, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) today announced the completion of its acquisition of Basepaws, a privately held petcare genetics company, which provides pet owners with genetic tests, analytics and early health risk assessments. The genetic insights from Basepaws help pet owners and veterinarians understand an individual pet’s risk for disease and can lead to more meaningful engagements and increased likelihood of early detection and treatment of disease. The acquisition was first announced on June 7th, and financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"When we first met Basepaws CEO Anna Skaya and the team, we were immediately drawn to their passion for pets and the role that genetic testing and data analytics can have in advancing animal care – a purpose that drives us every day," said Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck. "The addition of Basepaws will enhance our portfolio in the precision animal health space and inform our future pipeline of petcare innovations. Working together, we can continue to provide veterinarians and pet owners with more comprehensive ways to proactively manage the health, wellness and quality of care for their animals."

About Basepaws

Basepaws is a petcare genetics company that builds early detection health risk tests based on genetic and microbiome data. Basepaws is committed to companion animal health research, and it has the world’s first at-home genetic testing platform for cats. Founded in 2017 by Anna Skaya, the company is based in Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit www.basepaws.com.

About Zoetis

As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After 70 years innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from livestock farmers to veterinarians and pet owners. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $7.8 billion in 2021 with approximately 12,100 employees.

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>>> The 3 Best Pet Stocks to Buy Now


InvestorPlace

by Larry Ramer

July 4, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-best-pet-stocks-buy-150031558.html


During the pandemic, many Americans got pets to keep them company when the lockdowns forced people to stay at home. Surveys and common sense indicate that most people will keep their new pets. With pets having become an integral part of millions of more American families, many companies are benefiting financially. Investors can hop on that trend by buying the best pet stocks.

As someone who works from home, doesn’t have children, and has two pets, I can attest that pets can certainly help fill the social void caused by a lack of physically present co-workers and children. I can also tell you that pets can be somewhat costly. All together, the food, health care, health insurance, grooming, and pet sitting services my wife and I purchase for our dog, Dallas, and our cat, Strawberry, are far from cheap. So, companies are making a great deal of money from us and from the millions of other pet owners out there.

Three of the best pet stocks to buy benefit from Americans’ increased spending on their pets. Let’s take a look:


Petco Health and Wellness (WOOF)

One of the largest retail chains focused on selling products for pets, the company has about 1,500 stores in the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. In addition to selling almost every pet product you could think of both online and in stores, Petco also offers grooming services, sells pet insurance, and provides veterinary services at 200 of its locations.

Moreover, in March, the retail chain announced that it would partner with Rover.com, which it described as “the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care, to connect Petco customers to pet sitting, boarding and dog walking services.”

It’s hard for other companies to compete with Petco’s tremendous physical footprint and brand recognition, while the barriers of entry are high for veterinary services and pet insurance. Therefore, I’m not surprised that Petco is quite profitable, while its top and bottom lines have been growing impressively in recent years.

On the revenue front, the company reported $4.9 billion for 2020 and $5.8 billion for 2021.

WOOF stock has a reasonable forward price-earnings ratio of 16.08.


Elanco Animal Health (ELAN)

Elanco (NYSE:ELAN) sells medicine for both pets and farm animals. In 2020, it acquired Bayer’s animal health business, enabling it to become one of the world’s leaders in the space.

In the last year, the company has been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, which kept people from taking their pets to veterinarians. It also faced headwinds by an outbreak of bird flu among chickens and turkeys. But in the last several quarters, the company seems to have regained its momentum.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, for example, its revenue growth, excluding the impact of the Bayer deal, came in at about 7%. Meanwhile, the expansion of its pet medicine business boosted its overall gross margin by 4.6 percentage points, raising it to 56.6% overall. And its fiscal 2021 earnings per share came in at $1.05, way up from just 58 cents during the previous year, which was negatively impacted by the pandemic.

In the first quarter of 2022, Elanco’s net income came in at $48 million, versus a net loss of $61 million during the same period a year earlier. For all of 2022, Elanco expects to generate $1.15 to $1.21 of earnings per share. At the midpoint of that range, its forward price-to-earnings ratio would be an attractive 17.

Elanco is still facing challenges, including problems with its businesses in Ukraine and China. Over the longer term, however, those issues should dissipate. Meanwhile, the company expects to seek approvals for a few of its propriety drugs in major markets this year. By next year, the proceeds from those drugs should significantly boost its top and bottom lines.


Idexx Laboratories (IDXX)

Idexx Laboratories (NASDAQ:IDXX) provides diagnostic tools for pets and farm animals. Like Elanco, barriers of entry for Idexx’s sector are likely to be very high, since accurate medical diagnostic tools are not easy to produce.

What’s more, Idexx is well-established in the sector, as its top line in 2021 came in at a robust $3.2 billion, up from $2.7 billion in 2020.

Idexx expects to generate earnings per share of $8.11 to $8.35 this year. Additionally, it expects its revenue, excluding acquisitions, to increase at a healthy 7.5% to 10% pace in 2022.

Finally, conferring a great deal of respect upon IDEXX stock, Credit Suisse named it one of 25 names whose stocks are down a great deal, but whose earnings are rebounding. Additionally, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) included it on a list of “stable stocks.”

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While RIBT sounds interesting, I wouldn't get married to it or any other stock. I used to follow a some small caps very closely (I thought), but in the end my analysis turned out to be wrong and the companies ultimately bombed out. So I no longer trust my own ability to accurately analyze a stock, at least not well enough to have a big position. That was the logical conclusion to come to, so now I stick to broad index funds, with some sector funds and individual stocks thrown in, but with $1000 limits, and all within a disciplined asset allocation model. The results have been much better, with individual stocks relegated to a fun hobby, so it's a win-win. No chance to get rich quick, but 'get poor quick' is also eliminated as a possibility :o)

That said, RIBT might end up being a great turnaround stock, but remember what Warren Buffett said about turnarounds in general - “turnarounds almost never turn around”.




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They have not had a CEO since 11/19. Bradley paid mainly in warrants to make losses look better? But also, he must have some faith in the company. Mitchel was only the CFO. Late last year he got like 1,000,000 warrants at "0"., not exerciseable for 1 year from the date for 5 years the stock was .35 then. And he became the COO with no salary. So, he must believe in the company too. If they keep putting out good info, all the attention the Reddit dudes gave RIBT coul dhelp get it over $1 by 9/12.

My thought only , heard no hints. >>>>> Bradley has talked a lot about partnerships. Some may be coming, AIDP is the only one now and not a big deal, so far. Bradley at the last CC and especially at the Instutuional show last month, was not all excited about owneing the rice mill at Golden Ridge. they paid $7.9M for it and some improvements made since. They'd keep their stabilizing attachment and an all bran human addition and get maybe $8.5 in a sale for a partnership of some sort. The had plenty of cash on hand after Q1 and only lost $500,000. They are not cash strapped. What and with who, no idea. maybe more than one partnership.

The pet food side seems to be the most promising. They did talk about a new horse product based on SRB and Oats. Horses love both. Both sites, Mermentau and MGI are being expanded. Can only guess, Chewy or such as a partner. Their SRB horse feed, made by someone else, has been sold for years at Tractor supply. Either of them as a partner, probaly not. Just thinking out loud.

I put more money in my Schwab account today. If they lose their listing, I will pile it in on the announcement.

Bedtime for Bonzo, thank for your support gfp!!

That was an interesting interview. It sounds like they are operating with a temporary replacement at CEO (a senior member of the BOD). So the company is in transition, not only with new management but also they'll be concentrating more on the higher margin segments.

Having a significant animal feed side to the business seems like a great idea. Both livestock and domestic pet sectors tend to be steady and resistant to recessions. I remember years ago Peter Lynch said he looked for profitable but relatively dull/ boring niches and businesses since they are often both steady and undervalued.

The trendy sectors are fun to follow, but when it's time to actually invest real money, I like the boring areas like consumer staples, waste management, utilities, water related, etc. Funeral services is another great area (Service Corp - SCI). Lynch said that one of his all time best investments was in a company that owned a rock quarry. No other analysts bothered covering it, so it had very low valuation combined with steady/growing profits, plus low beta/volatility.




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Good post gfp.

To add, Mitchel said in the past that one hold back in new products in manufactores need time to change labels. They need to make sure the company has enough product because label changing costs money. But now label changes have been made and orders are coming in.

Yeast is getting to be hard to get and SRB can replace it in pet food, almost all pet food uses it.

1. It is healthier for for the animals
2. It does the same thing
3. It is cheaper.

Not hard to guess what this means>>>

1. An extruder is being added at the louisian plant now
2. New equipment is being added at the MGI oat and baley mill in Minnesota
3. Golden Ridge that has been 50% capacity give or take can double revenue and RIBT addto the othe plant increased capacity.
4. Since all plant can possible doube capoacity or even 50% gain, price per share on the pet food only will make RIBT VERY PROFITABLE SOON.

https://equity.guru/video/ricebran-technologies-ribt-q-first-glance-with-jody-vance-e99/

RIBT interview - animal feed market is growing -


https://equity.guru/video/ricebran-technologies-ribt-q-first-glance-with-jody-vance-e99/


>>> RiceBran Technologies (RIBT), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty ingredient company. It focuses on producing, processing, and marketing of value-added healthy, natural, and nutrient dense products derived from rice and other small grains. The company converts raw rice bran into stabilized rice bran (SRB) and high value derivative products, including RiBalance, a complete rice bran nutritional package derived from further processing of SRB; RiSolubles, a nutritious carbohydrate and lipid rich fraction of RiBalance; RiFiber, a protein and fiber rich insoluble derivative of RiBalance; and ProRyza products, which includes derivatives composed of protein and protein/fiber blends. Its SRB and derivative products are nutritional and beneficial food products that contain a combination of oil, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants that enhance the nutritional value of consumer products. The company's SRB products are also marketed as feed ingredients in the animal nutrition markets. It serves food and animal nutrition manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in the United States and internationally. The company was formerly known as NutraCea and changed its name to RiceBran Technologies in October 2012. RiceBran Technologies was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Tomball, Texas.

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RIBT - >>> PENNY STOCKS #4 - RIBT


Insider Financial

by Jim Bloom

6-12-22


https://insiderfinancial.com/4-penny-stocks-to-buy-amid-high-inflation-husa-nine-impp-ribt/183285/


RiceBran Technologies is another NASDAQ stock on our list, although it is not related to the energy sector. The $40 million company has had a great year so far, maintaining the bullish trend that took off in January. RIBT has gained 40% over the month and has doubled in price since the beginning of the year. The stock is now trading at $0.77. On Wednesday, it peaked at $0.90, which is the highest since September.

RIBT operates as a specialty ingredient company. It focuses on producing, processing, and marketing of value-added healthy, natural, and nutrient-dense products derived from rice and other small grains. The company converts raw rice bran into stabilized rice bran (SRB) and high-value derivative products, including:


RiBalance – a complete rice bran nutritional package derived from further processing of SRB;

RiSolubles, a nutritious carbohydrate and lipid-rich fraction of RiBalance;

RiFiber, a protein and fiber-rich insoluble derivative of RiBalance;

ProRyza products, which include derivatives composed of protein and protein/fiber blends.


The company’s SRB products are also marketed as feed ingredients in the animal nutrition markets. It serves food and animal nutrition manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in the US and internationally.

RIBT has benefited from surging food prices, especially after the Russia-Ukraine conflict caused serious concerns about the wheat shortage that could push prices higher. Nevertheless, it’s not only about wheat – there is a food shortage worldwide, and many regions are preparing to face famine.

RIBT is in a position to benefit from the increasing demand for foods, including rice. On top of that, the company is leveraging the companion animal market.

At the beginning of the month, RIBT said that it would start expanding its Core-SRB facility in Mermentau, Louisiana. The expansion is expected to increase the capacity of the facility’s SRB stabilizing capabilities, enabling RiceBran to meet the growing demand for North American-sourced ingredients for the companion animal market. The project, which will be completed in Q3, will add a fifth extruder to the RiceBran’s Mermentau, Louisiana facility.

The move comes about two weeks after the company announced the start of a significant capacity expansion of its MGI Grain Incorporated (MGI) facility in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. The expansion is expected to double the capacity of the pearling mill, enabling RiceBran to meet growing demand for North American-sourced, grain-based ingredients and with a minimal capital investment and a limited increase in labor.

We like that RIBT is expanding its production capacity, with the company benefiting from higher food prices as well. In April, it reported a revenue of $10.6 million in the first quarter, up 23% year-on-year and 31% q/q. The increase was driven by higher core-SRB sales and strong growth for MGI and Golden Ridge. Improved results for MGI and Golden Ridge supported a return to gross profits from gross losses in 4Q21, although gross profits of $502,000 in 1Q22 were off from $672,000 a year ago due to lower Value-Add SRB derivative sales.

While RIBT might be overbought, we think it has solid fundamentals and is a good penny stock to hold in the long term.

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>>> RiceBran Technologies Expands Mermentau, LA Facility to Meet Increasing Demand from the Rapidly Growing Companion Animal Market


Yahoo Finance

June 1, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ricebran-technologies-expands-mermentau-la-120000824.html


Company Plans to Add Fifth Extruder to Expand Capacity for Companion Animal Market

TOMBALL, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 1, 2022 / RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT) (the "Company") a global leader in the development and manufacture of nutritional and functional ingredients derived from rice and other small and ancient grains for human food, nutraceutical, pet care and equine feed applications, today announced the initiation of a capacity expansion of the Company's Core-SRB facility in Mermentau, Louisiana. The expansion is expected to increase capacity of the facility's SRB stabilizing capabilities, enabling RiceBran to meet growing demand for North American-sourced ingredients for the companion animal market.

The project which will be completed in the third quarter, will add a fifth extruder to the RiceBran's Mermentau, Louisiana facility. In addition to the additional extruder, RiceBran has also competed remediation of the company's warehouse and distribution facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, after it was damaged in Hurricane Laura. Upgrades to this facility completed in this remediation will support the increase in capacity at Mermentau with enhanced logistics and loadout capabilities. The project at Mermentau, which is being executed by RiceBran's own internal engineering team, is repurposing equipment from one of RiceBran's other facilities and is expected the be completed at a minimal cost to the company, while the remediation of Lake Charles was entirely funded by insurance proceeds.

"These upgrades provide important redundancy and will allow our rice bran stabilizing facility in Mermentau to match the full capacity of our supply partner, who in turn has made investments over the past two years to minimize historical seasonal downtime," said core-SRB business lead Garry Primeaux. "Together, with the remediation and enhancement of Lake Charles, these factors add significant to overall capacity to our Louisiana operations, ensuring that we will be able to meet the rapidly growing demands of new and existing customers the companion animal market, with only a modest capital investment."

"The companion animal market is experiencing tremendous growth due to the high volume of people that acquired animal companions during the Covid epidemic," said RiceBran Chairman Peter Bradley. "This growth has been further accelerated by the popularity of companion animals in higher-demographic households, and these new owners' desire to feed their pets healthy and natural products. Combined, these factors are driving a structural shift in the industry toward stabilized rice bran ingredients, and we are able to respond. This relatively modest investment at Mermentau, along with the remediation and enhancement of our Lake Charles facility, provides RiceBran with a unique opportunity to capitalize on the current macro-environment."

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Virtu and Two Sigmas are suspicious, but maybe nothing comes of it.

Virtu first showed up 12/17/21

Another questionable M&M is Two Sigmas. They have been in and out the last year and 1/2. They were in and out before the big 162,000,000 volume day, 4/27/21 but back in after. But, do they have to own stocks to be and M&M. I don't think so. Suspicious? Why are they here now and they also lighened up holdings. To make it look like they are not inrterested?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PNc0JkGvQM&t=6s&ab_channel=FINAiUS

>>> NEOGEN Launches Prozap® Protectus Pour-On Insecticide - IGR


Yahoo Finance

April 11, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/neogen-launches-prozap-protectus-pour-124500393.html


Unique combination of active ingredients provides beef producers a triple-action option for insect control


LEXINGTON, Ky., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NEOGEN Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) announced today that it has added a new product to the trusted Prozap® insect control line.

Prozap Protectus Pour-On Insecticide – IGR is a ready-to-use triple-active formula for use on beef cattle and calves that kills chewing and sucking lice, horn flies, stable flies, horse and deer flies. The product is formulated with a unique combination of active ingredients, including an insect growth regulator (IGR), adulticide, and a synergist, which provides cattle with relief from infestations and kills louse eggs before they hatch, providing season-long control of lice in one application.

The formula, which contains 3% diflubenzuron, 2.5% piperonyl butoxide, and 0.5% lambda-cyhalothrin, is applied along the back of the animal being treated utilizing a graduated applicator gun.*

"We are incredibly excited to offer this new, premium insect control product to producers," said Elizabeth Wonsowski, NEOGEN's Ruminant Product Marketing Manager. "The formulation of the new Prozap Protectus Pour-On product provides beef cattle producers with a unique option compared to existing products currently on the market and will help minimize cattle handling, time, and labor costs associated with treatment."

NEOGEN offers a complete insecticide product portfolio for farm, home, and ranch settings, including products for horses and livestock within barns, stables, kennels, and more. For more information on the full Prozap Coordinated Insect Management line of products, contact NEOGEN at 800.621.8829 (U.S./Canada), 859.254.1221, or visit https://www.neogen.com/prozap.

About NEOGEN

NEOGEN Corporation develops and markets comprehensive solutions dedicated to food and animal safety. The company's Food Safety segment markets dehydrated culture media and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases, and sanitation concerns. NEOGEN's Animal Safety segment is a leader in the development of genomic solutions along with the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of animal healthcare products, including diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, veterinary instruments, wound care, and disinfectants, as well as rodent and insect control solutions.

*It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with labeling. Read the entire label and follow all use directions, use restrictions, and precautions.

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>>> Neogen, 3M announce blockbuster merger to create ‘global leader’ in food safety


MiBiz

BY MARK SANCHEZ

December 15, 2021


https://mibiz.com/sections/manufacturing/neogen-3m-announce-blockbuster-merger-to-create-global-leader-in-food-safety


Lansing-based food and animal safety products manufacturer Neogen Corp. plans to combine with conglomerate 3M’s food safety business.

The two companies say they signed a definitive agreement for a deal to create a new global food safety and security company valued at $9.3 billion. Shareholders at Neogen (Nasdaq: NEOG) would hold about 49.9 percent of the combined company. Shareholders 3M (NYSE: MMM), which is spinning off its food safety business, would get approximately 50.1 percent.

The deal could close by the end of the third quarter in 2022, pending approval by regulators and Neogen shareholders.

Neogen President and CEO John Adent and the company’s existing management team would run the combined company, which would retain a global headquarters in Lansing “with a strong local presence,” he said. The combined company would have revenues approaching $1 billion with $300 million in adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization).

The combined company would put Neogen “at the forefront of the new era in food security with the resources, capabilities and solutions to be a global food security provider,” Adent said in a Tuesday conference call with brokerage analysts to discuss the deal.

“At a time where we’re seeing robust growth trends in sustainability, food security and the heightened focus on supply chain integrity, we are right there in the center, ensuring the global food supply remains safe and robust,” he said. “This combination will help us do an even better job to capitalize on these long-term tailwinds, creating a global leader in food security and establishing a platform from which we are well positioned to accelerate growth and drive significant additional value for customers, employees and shareholders.”

Both Neogen and 3M “serve large, attractive and growing categories,” Adent said.

The food safety market has a value of $18 billion to $25 billion with a long-term growth rate of 6 percent to 8 percent, he said. The animal safety market has a value of $50 billion to $60 billion with a long-term growth rate between 4 percent and 6 percent, Adent told analysts.

Centerview Partners LLC serves as financial adviser and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as legal counsel to Neogen. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC serves as financial adviser and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as legal counsel to 3M. Goldman Sachs Bank USA and JP Morgan Securities will provide committed financing for the transaction.

“Neogen and 3M share a deep commitment to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction and long histories of industry leadership,” 3M Chairman and CEO Mike Roman said in a statement. “By combining our Food Safety business with Neogen, we will create an organization well positioned to capture long-term profitable growth. This transaction further evolves our strategy, focuses our health care business and benefits our stakeholders, as we actively manage our portfolio to drive growth and deliver shareholder value.”

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>>> The pet industry is still booming


Yahoo Finance

Brian Sozzi

March 23, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-pet-industry-is-still-booming-191614335.html


Concerns about soaring gas prices walloping consumer wallets and leading to a recession may be overblown, especially if you look through the prism of the pet products market.

By all accounts, the industry — which has seen a major lift as households adopted pets during the pandemic — continues to see strong demand. Pet food sales for the trailing four-weeks ended Feb. 26 (the latest available) surged 12.7%, according to the latest data from Nielsen. Dog and cat food sales rose 12.3% and 15.8%, respectively.

Sales of pet supplies rose a solid 6.9%, led by cat litter and pet toys.

"I'm no economist. It's my job to be prepared if there is a recession. We start from the history. And the history is that the pet industry has been one of the most resilient of any industry," Petco CEO Ron Coughlin said on a new episode of Yahoo Finance Presents.

Here are a few other signs the pet spending boom that began during the COVID-19 is very much alive and well.

Petco crushes its quarter

The pet products retailer reported earlier in March that fourth quarter sales rose 13% from a year ago. Adjusted operating profits increased 16%. The company notched its seventh straight quarter of double-digit percentage sales growth.

Coughlin says consumers aren't balking at higher merchandise prices in part driven by inflationary pressures on manufacturers.

"If you go back to the Great Recession, there was almost no impact to the pet industry. People really don't change their practices in the industry. That said, it's our job to make sure that we have offers for customers in a recessionary environment. That's why things like Vital Care can help. We have mega bags and other solutions for them. But the pet industry has been relatively resilient to any macros," added Coughlin.

Blue Buffalo for Sparky?

One of the strongest businesses for cereal giant General Mills in its most recent quarter wasn't Honey Nut Cheerios, it was its Blue Buffalo pet food business.

The company said Wednesday sales in its pet food business skyrocketed 30% from a year ago. Adjusted operating profits for the division was 8% year-over-year.

"We anticipate the category [pet food] will continue to perform well, and we think that our segment will continue to perform quite well. And even through the last recession, which was a long time ago, one of the things before we even bought Blue Buffalo, we looked at how the category performed during a recession, and it turns out it performs very well. The last thing you want to do in tough times is sub-optimize what you're going to give your pet. And I would tell you that on top of that, the predominant trend in pet food now, and I think will be going forward, is the humanization of pet food. And we're clearly very well positioned in that area given that we're the number one natural pet food in the pet category by a long, long way," General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening said on an earnings call.

General Mills purchased Blue Buffalo for $8 billion in 2018.

Fresh food for Fido

Fresh pet food maker Freshpet is coming off a strong quarter of its own.

Sales in the most recent quarter rose 37.1%, accelerating from the 33.5% pace seen in all of 2021.

Demand has been so strong for fresh pet food, Freshpet continues to have difficulty keeping shelves stocked.

"And the biggest challenge we've had is we've had periods where we are completely out of stock on cat food. We're completely out of stock on bags or completely out of stock on rolls," explained Freshpet COO Scott Morris on an earnings call. "Now what I can tell you is when those products come back in stock, the growth rate is extraordinary and it's explosive. So when we finally get all of our products in, I think we're going to have a really, really significant explosion in our penetration."

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>>> FDA approves GMO cattle for food


Food Dive

3-10-22


https://www.fooddive.com/news/fda-approves-gmo-cattle-for-food/620061/#:~:text=The%20FDA%20has%20determined%20that,food%20use%2C%20the%20department%20said.


Dive Brief:

The FDA has determined that meat from cattle bioengineered to have shorter hair — known as a slick coat — poses a low risk to consumers who eat it. This is the first time the FDA has made a low-risk determination in a bioengineered animal for food use, the department said.

The bioengineered cattle has a genetic trait that is naturally occurring and is sometimes passed on to offspring. Cattle with a slick coat tend to do better in warmer climates. In the case of the bioengineered cattle, the genes were altered using CRISPR technology by precision breeding firm Acceligen.

While there are several ingredients and food items from bioengineered plants on the market today, there have been more regulatory hurdles for animals to be approved. Since 2017, animals genetically modified for food have been under the FDA's purview and regulated with the same scrutiny as new drugs.

Dive Insight:

While genome editing using CRISPR has been done for nearly a decade, the technology has largely not come to the animals people in the United States eat. Just two other genetically modified animals have been approved for use as food — AquAdvantage salmon in 2015 and GalSafe pork in late 2020. AquAdvantage salmon, which has been modified with DNA from an ocean pout fish to grow faster, first hit the market last May, and is only currently available through one U.S. distributor. While GalSafe pork is FDA-approved for use in food, the pigs were primarily developed for medical uses.

Considering that the "slick" gene was first pinpointed by USDA scientists in 2008, who found developing shorter hair to be a potential boon to cattle in warm temperatures, it's no surprise that this genetic modification is the first to make it through the full regulatory process. The Associated Press reported that the regulatory process for this genetic modification was shorter than that for AquAdvantage salmon and GalSafe pigs because the genetic makeup is similar to other cattle and the slick coats are found naturally in some breeds.

This low-risk determination from the FDA — a tacit approval from a regulatory standpoint — could be game-changing. Or it could be something that biotech advocates put on a timeline, but it doesn't make a difference in the food system. The impact of the decision depends largely on what meat companies, food distributors, retailers and foodservice outlets decide to do with it.

In a statement, Steven Solomon, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, said that the safety decision on this intentional genomic alteration — abbreviated by the department as IGA — underscores the federal government's commitment to using a science and data-based process focused on the health and safety of both animals and consumers to analyze this type of product.

"We expect that our decision will encourage other developers to bring animal biotechnology products forward for the FDA's risk determination in this rapidly developing field, paving the way for animals containing low-risk IGAs to more efficiently reach the marketplace," Solomon said in the statement.

From the biotech standpoint, it sounds promising. But among consumers, there is a vocal and active community that opposes genetically modified and bioengineered foods of all kinds.

The concerns from this community is why it took six years from the time AquAdvantage salmon was approved for safe consumption to the time it first appeared on the market. In 2016, a coalition of groups representing fishermen, environmental and salmon advocates and food sustainability proponents sued the FDA for approving the salmon for consumption. The advocacy groups argued that the FDA had not spent enough time analyzing what threat AquAdvantage salmon would pose to wild populations if accidentally released. In November 2020, a federal judge ruled that the FDA should have given more consideration to these potential risks and ordered the department to reconsider the environmental assessment, but did not nullify the government's approval.

Outside the court, however, non-GMO advocates had done other work to slow sales of AquAdvantage salmon. Petition drives and protests that came shortly after FDA approval of the fish led many retailers to ban the GMO fish years before it became available. In 2017, The Center for Food Safety released a list of 81 retailers, six seafood companies and six restaurants and chefs that made policies against selling genetically engineered seafood.

It will take a minimum of two years for the bioengineered cattle to be available for food, the FDA said in the statement. That's plenty of time for an opposition campaign to mount or for biotech activists to launch a PR campaign about the benefits of bioengineered food animals. It's also plenty of time for more genome edited food animals to receive FDA approval. The fight over GMOs has mellowed somewhat since 2015, with the federal government now mandating disclosure of the presence of some bioengineered ingredients on labels, but there are still deep feelings among consumers and advocates. What happens next will show how much — or how little — sentiments have changed.

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Chewy - >>> 3 Top E-Commerce Stocks to Buy Right Now


There's no letup in online shopping's potential.


Motley Fool

by Rich Duprey

Sep 3, 2021


https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/09/03/3-top-e-commerce-stocks-to-buy-right-now/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


Key Points

E-commerce stocks were hit as retailers reported slower growth guidance.
Results still remain ahead of 2019, meaning investors can buy internet retail stocks more cheaply.

Online retail had a surprisingly difficult month in August as consumers got out of the house and went shopping in local stores instead. As a result, e-commerce stocks posted strong second-quarter results, but their guidance for the next reporting period was muted.

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), for example, enjoyed revenue growth of 27% in the period compared to a year ago, but that was down from about 44% in the first quarter, and it forecast third-quarter growth would be around 13% at the midpoint of management's guidance range.

If mighty Amazon is seeing its growth slow, what hope do other internet retailers have?

Actually, e-commerce growth estimates remain robust for the current year and beyond, and the three internet retailers below should capitalize handsomely on the opportunity.


Chewy

Last year's lockdowns caused many consumers to acquire new pets, with veterinarians reporting a 50% increase in new pet visits between March and August last year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The American Pet Products Association says consumers bought $103.6 billion worth of food, goods, and services for their pets in 2020, a 6.7% increase, with 47% of pet owners spending more online last year than they had previously.

That bodes well for online pet supplies retailer Chewy (NYSE:CHWY), which sold more than $7 billion worth of goods last year, up 47% from 2019 and more than double 2018's total.

With 20 million active customers, almost 6 million gained last year alone, Chewy will undoubtedly keep most of those even as the ability to shop in a physical store returns. It notes online penetration rates in food and supplies have grown from 7% in 2015 to 30% in 2020 and are expected to reach 53% by 2025.

Chewy's stock has bounced off the lows it hit earlier this year but remains 26% below the highs it hit in February. With a long runway of opportunity, Chewy is just waiting to be unleashed.


Etsy

Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) has also battled higher from its lows as it struggles against enormous pandemic-era gains. The COVID-19 outbreak had consumers racing to their keyboards to search for face mask availability. This online platform for handmade goods, vintage items, and craft supplies was the go-to destination. Reprising that starring role won't be easy, but Etsy is trying to make it look like it will be.

The online marketplace added almost 12 million new and reactivated buyers last quarter. The year-over-year growth rate was lower than in 2020, but the 8 million new buyers it added in the period was double the number it added in 2019.

Arguably more important was the number of so-called habitual buyers, or those consumers with six or more purchase days on the site, surged 115% in the quarter, also nearly double the pre-pandemic rate. Consumers who found Etsy are now using the site more often.

Wall Street is looking for Etsy to expand earnings at a compound rate of 53% annually for the next five years, suggesting the internet retailer's stock still has enormous growth potential.


JD.com

After China's latest crackdown on tech companies, investors were rightly nervous about e-commerce giant JD.com (NASDAQ:JD), particularly after the intense scrutiny Alibaba Group Holding underwent.

Yet JD.com has a different business model than its rival, actually more like eBay than Amazon, because it's a platform for third-party sellers rather than selling stuff itself. So while Beijing could go after it as regulators have with other tech stocks, JD.com believes the areas the government is targeting, such as user privacy, don't apply to the company. JD.com already has stringent protocols in place, after all. It could also benefit from the price controls regulators are contemplating, as this regulatory framework may protect JD.com's prices from being undercut by the competition.

After it reported robust second-quarter results, the market seems to have had a change of heart and is running JD.com's stock higher. Shares are up 10% over the past month and 30% above the lows they registered just days ago.

That's still OK for investors as Wall Street sees 30% or more potential upside in its shares. It was admittedly trading higher in the winter, but even analysts got cold feet and lowered their price targets on the stock after the crackdown. It's difficult to recommend Chinese stocks at the moment, but as JD.com continues to exhibit strength, we may very well see them hike their outlooks once more. This internet retailer could easily pick up where it left off.

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>>> Chewy


Motley Fool

by Rick Munarriz

Aug 29, 2021



https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/08/29/3-stocks-to-avoid-this-week/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


Pet supplies was all the rage as an investing theme last year, and it's easy to see why. We were adopting pets in droves during the early days of the pandemic, deciding to weather the storm with furry friends that we wouldn't have to leave behind during the day as workplaces and classrooms went virtual.

Chewy was an obvious winner as a fast-growing, customer-focused online retailer. Stocks in this niche may have gotten ahead of themselves last year, which would explain why they're trailing the market in 2021. Chewy enters the new week trading 27% below its February all-time high. It reports its fiscal second-quarter results after Wednesday's market close.

There's a lot to like here. Chewy is growing, with its active customer base expanding by 32% over the past year. It has a sticky platform where shoppers save money by placing subscription orders to be perpetually replenished with their pet faves. However, the first-quarter net sales of $2.14 billion that it posted in early June merely matched the 32% year-over-year increase in active customers. Earlier guidance calls for $2.15 billion to $2.17 billion on the top line for the quarter it will report this week, barely nudging higher on a sequential basis. We've seen other providers of pet supplies, food, and meds languish after reporting earlier this earnings season, and it's hard to be optimistic that Chewy will break the mold this week.

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Rollins - >>> 2 Stocks I'm Never Selling

It's the only way to take advantage of what makes each of these businesses special.


Motley Fool

by Jason Hawthorne


https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/07/21/2-stocks-im-never-selling/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


Rollins


Rollins can trace its roots back to a small pest control business in the late 19th century. These days, it has 2.8 million customers across 900 locations worldwide. The last few decades have proven that getting rid of unwanted pests and wildlife is not something people cut back on even when the economy struggles. Rollins has seen 23 consecutive years of revenue growth and has averaged 20% annual earnings growth over the past two decades. That's not likely to change.

The company has a pristine financial profile, with immense cash generation and little debt. But what convinces me to hold for the next few decades is the impact a warming climate will have on the pests Rollins makes its money removing. A few examples prove the point.

Cockroaches love the hot humid air during summer. It's their breeding season. As the temperatures rise, they also get more active. In fact, they even cover more territory. Although they don't move much when it's cold, they begin to walk and run when it heats up. Real migration can happen when the temperature climbs above 100 degrees Fahrenheit -- they take flight. If you are expecting dry conditions to stand in the way of their progress, think again. Unlike humans, they can hold their breath for 40 minutes at a time in arid conditions to prevent dehydration.

Warmer winters and hotter summers also provide a great breeding environment for rats. With a gestation period of only 14 days, and an ability to start reproducing at only one month old, one pregnant rat can lead to more than 15,000 babies in a year. That's both impressive and disgusting. With global temperatures rising, rats brazenly meandering towns and cities like they did during the COVID lockdowns could become more prevalent.

Another result of rising temperatures has been an increase in mosquito-borne illnesses. Scientists believe over the next 30 years, the bloodsuckers will expand their territory to reach half of the world's population. Recent data suggests various species are spreading north at about 37 miles-per-year in the U.S. and 93 miles-per-year in Europe. Although there are multiple factors behind the migration, it all adds up to an expanded opportunity for Rollins. It's a change that will occur over the next 30 years. For me, it's a good reason to hold shares and never sell.

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>>> NEOGEN, Gencove Extend Animal Genomics Partnership


June 28, 2021

Yahoo Finance


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/neogen-gencove-extend-animal-genomics-124500599.html


LINCOLN, Neb., June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NEOGEN Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) announced today that they have extended their strategic partnership with genomics software company Gencove, Inc. to continue providing robust and innovative animal genomic testing.

NEOGEN, the global leader in animal genomics, first entered into a partnership with Gencove in January 2020 and has since developed innovative solutions that offer the complete sequencing of entire breeding populations and provide in-depth analysis at high value to the customer.

"We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Gencove and continue working together to develop innovative animal genomics solutions," said Marylinn Munson, NEOGEN's Vice President of Genomics. "The continuation of this agreement demonstrates our dedication to providing cutting-edge genomics services that provide valuable information, analysis, and exclusive benefits to agricultural professionals around the world."

The multi-year global agreement allows NEOGEN to offer their next generation SkimSeek™ low-pass sequencing technology to customers across the agricultural community, including those in the bovine, canine, poultry, and swine industries. Utilizing Gencove's unique sequence imputation platform, NEOGEN can deliver increased genomics data with enhanced accuracy and flexibility, allowing customers to make more educated breeding decisions.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with NEOGEN to continue providing software services for their SkimSeek product offering," says Joe Pickrell, Gencove's CEO and co-founder. "The combination of Gencove's informatics and NEOGEN's operational excellence and global reach allows us to make sequence level information routinely available to customers on a global basis."

To learn more about NEOGEN Genomics, visit https://genomics.NEOGEN.com/.

About NEOGEN

NEOGEN Corporation develops and markets comprehensive solutions dedicated to food and animal safety. The company's Food Safety Division markets dehydrated culture media and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases, and sanitation concerns. NEOGEN's Animal Safety Division is a leader in the development of genomic solutions along with the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of animal healthcare products, including diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, veterinary instruments, wound care, and disinfectants.

About Gencove

Gencove, Inc. is dedicated to making genomic data more accessible and interpretable through the development of molecular and computational tools. Gencove operates a laboratory in New York City and offers both low-pass sequencing and analytics software as a service, with customers that include top academic institutions, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies. More information is available at www.gencove.com.

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>>> Zoetis to Acquire Jurox, a Leading Provider and Manufacturer of Livestock and Companion Animal Products


Business Wire

August 4, 2021


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zoetis-acquire-jurox-leading-provider-120000434.html


Increases Zoetis’ range of products, with potential for greater global expansion

Provides future growth opportunities, manufacturing capacity, and increased capabilities in Australian animal health market

Strengthens Zoetis’ anaesthetic portfolio for companion animals with addition of Alfaxan®

Continues Zoetis’ strategic use of capital to achieve long-term growth


PARSIPPANY, N.J. & RUTHERFORD, Australia, August 04, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Jurox, a privately held animal health company, which develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of veterinary medicines for treating companion animals and livestock. Jurox’s operations are based in Australia, with additional regional offices and subsidiaries in New Zealand, U.S., Canada and the UK. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Once completed, the acquisition of Jurox will bring Zoetis a range of important products primed for greater global expansion; a valuable animal health portfolio, including Alfaxan®, a leading anaesthetic product for companion animals; and high-quality, local manufacturing operations in Australia, a critical region for growth. Australia is Zoetis’ fifth largest market, based on $207 million in revenue in 2020.

"Jurox’s portfolio plays to the strengths of our core business and will be a complementary fit with the solutions we deliver to veterinary professionals, livestock producers and pet owners," said Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck. "We continue to look for investment opportunities where we can combine a terrific business with the strengths of Zoetis and enhance the combined value to our business and customers. With Zoetis’ global sales and regulatory expertise in more than 45 direct markets, we look forward to expanding the impact and reach of the entire Jurox portfolio." Jurox manufactures and commercializes more than 150 products, including parasiticides, anti-infectives, anaesthesia, cardiology and reproduction for animals.

"Jurox and Zoetis share similar beliefs about the important role animal health plays in the world, as well as the high standards we must keep to bring meaningful solutions to our customers," said Jurox CEO John O’Brien. "We look forward to the future that Jurox and Zoetis can build together in Australia and around the world."

"Beginning as a small Australian family business, we have been able to grow and become a trusted partner to our customers, based on our dedicated people and high-quality products," said Jurox CFO Gwen O’Brien. "We have come to know Zoetis over the years as a business partner, and this agreement marks an exciting, new chapter in our history, bringing global scale and capabilities to our operations and team."

"We are grateful to the O’Brien family for entrusting the future of their business to Zoetis," said Lance Williams, Senior Vice President, Australia and New Zealand, for Zoetis. "We both appreciate the important role animal health plays for nurturing the world, as well as the performance and passion that comes from colleagues with an entrepreneurial spirit and mindset."

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and the satisfaction of regulatory requirements. Zoetis expects to complete the acquisition in the first half of 2022. Upon closing, Jurox is expected to continue operations in its Rutherford, Australia, headquarters and manufacturing location.

About Zoetis

As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After nearly 70 years innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide -- from livestock farmers to veterinarians and pet owners. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. In 2020, Zoetis generated revenue of $6.7 billion with approximately 11,300 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.

About Jurox

Founded in 1992, Jurox formulates, manufactures, and distributes companion and commercial animal health products from its cGMP-compliant facility located in the Hunter Valley region, New South Wales, Australia. Jurox products, including a leading anaesthetic product Alfaxan®, are currently distributed in Australia, the US and more than 20 other countries around the world. For more information, visit www.jurox.com.au

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JBS pays US$11M ransom to criminal hackers to resolve cyber attack

When does this chit end?

https://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/jbs-pays-us11m-ransom-to-criminal-hackers-to-resolve-cyber-attack.html

-- Brazilian meat giant JBS has paid US$11 million in ransom to end a cyber attack that saw its operations hacked and disrupted by “one of the most specialized and sophisticated cybercriminal groups in the world.” The ransom was paid to shield the world’s largest meat processing company from further attacks.

“This was a very difficult decision to make for our company and for me personally,” says Andre Nogueira, CEO, JBS USA. “However, we felt this decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk for our customers.”

JBS, headquartered in São Paulo, fell victim to hackers earlier this month.

Operations were temporarily disrupted and some of its beef, pork and poultry facilities in Australia, Canada and the US were unoperational for the short term. JBS, which produced around one-fifth of the meat supply in the US, was also forced to stop cattle slaughtering at all of its US facilities for one day.

The hack initially caused concern over meat availability and potential price pressure.

However, now JBS has said that it was necessary to pay the ransom money to protect customers and that the sophistication of the attack was very concerning.


During ransomware attacks like this, hackers threaten to delete files unless a ransom is paid in cryptocurrency.
JBS’ subsidiary Pilgrim’s Pride, which is the second-largest US poultry processor, after Tyson Foods, was also impacted by the attack.

Paying cybercriminals in Bitcoin
The FBI stated that this is one of the most specialized and sophisticated cybercriminal groups in the world, according to the latest JBC statement.

During ransomware attacks like this, hackers threaten to delete files unless a ransom is paid in cryptocurrency.

The ransom is believed to have been transferred using Bitcoin.

“At the time of payment, the vast majority of the company’s facilities were operational. In consultation with internal IT professionals and third-party cybersecurity experts, the company made the decision to mitigate any unforeseen issues related to the attack and ensure no data was exfiltrated,” the JBS statement continues.

“JBS USA’s ability to quickly resolve the issues resulting from the attack was due to its cybersecurity protocols, redundant systems and encrypted backup servers. The company spends more than US$200 million annually on IT and employs more than 850 IT professionals globally,” it says.

The White House has also weighed in on the JBS incident, saying that it believes the ransomware attack is linked to a criminal organization that is “likely based in Russia.”

This attack on JBS is the latest in a string of similar hacks focusing on essential service providers, using ransomware where companies are held to ransom for hefty payments to regain control of their operations.

Good sector. I live in a condo that is half retirees. and they allow cats, but no dogs. I am looking around for a townhouse and they all allow dogs and cat, with some restriction. 10 years ago is was like 50/50 would allow any pets at all, unless a doctors order for a companion. My older sister lives in a 175 unit, 11 story 55+ condo that was doctor's order pets only when she moved in like 5 years ago. Now small dogs and cats allowed for anybody. She hates in. When some owners leave their dog barks at anybody walking by their door, all times of the day and night.

But there has to be far more pets per capita than 10 years ago and growing? I never looked up any info to support that.

>>> NEOGEN Analytics Helps Food Processors Accelerate Data-driven Safety and Quality During Pandemic


April 6, 2021


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/neogen-analytics-helps-food-processors-140000997.html


Intelligent analytics platform available at no financial risk to help food and beverage brands automate environmental monitoring and improve food safety compliance

NEOGEN Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) has made its NEOGEN Analytics environmental monitoring program (EMP) available to qualified food and beverage manufacturers for a full year, at no cost.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210406005089/en/


NEOGEN Analytics enables remote, automated EMP management across all production facilities, providing centralized data gathering and 'always on' reporting and analytics.? For a limited time, we are offering this groundbreaking technology to qualified food suppliers at no cost for the first full year of service. ?(Graphic: Business Wire)

NEOGEN, a leading provider of environmental monitoring solutions for the food and beverage industry, is helping companies reduce risk by increasing access and visibility to food safety testing results. The NEOGEN Analytics EMP, powered by Corvium, enables remote monitoring of multiple processing plant sites, centralizes environmental testing data, automates reporting for compliance and conformance and improves food safety and quality for food companies and consumers.

Customer needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as demands for greater transparency in food safety and initiatives such as the FDA’s Blueprint for a New Era of Smarter Food Safety, point toward increasing expectations, rules, and eventual mandates requiring food and beverage companies to implement data-driven environmental monitoring programs.

"COVID-19 has accelerated the food industry’s movement toward its goal of automating and centralizing data collection for immediate visibility and response," said John Adent, president and CEO of NEOGEN. "Disruption of the industry over the last 12 months has made it even more imperative to move away from manual safety and quality monitoring and adopt intelligent platforms that offer visibility into all of a company’s facilities, whether around the block or around the globe."

Intelligent Tools Drive Fast Return on Investment

Food processors using NEOGEN Analytics EMP can eliminate time-consuming and error-prone manual data entry, reducing risks associated with delays or mishandled lab communications. Through the digital cloud-based platform, food safety and quality assurance (FSQA) teams gain transparency into company-wide food safety testing metrics in order to immediately address any safety or quality issues. The solution automates testing and response workflows, assuring the right corrective actions are assigned and completed. The platform also analyzes diagnostic lab data and generates real-time alerts and management reports.

For Colorado Premium, a large manufacturer of premium protein products, NEOGEN Analytics will lead to better visibility and control over the safety and quality programs: "By providing new visibility and control of our food safety programs, it allows us to improve resource allocation and empower our food safety professionals to maintain our high food safety standards and continue to reduce risk," said John Ruby, vice president of Food Safety and Quality at Colorado Premium. "Having complete control of our sanitation and pathogen testing programs gives us more confidence in the entire process."

Reports needed for audits and inspections are accessible and accurate in real-time. This fundamentally changes the way brands work with auditors and regulatory inspectors, providing, for the first time, access to fully transparent processes and documentation at a moment’s notice.

Return on investment for the platform is significant, as customers find immediate value with reduced food risk, improved production efficiencies, better consistency of product quality, and increased employee and customer satisfaction.

No-Cost 12-Month Licenses Available to Qualified Food and Beverage Brands

NEOGEN will waive the NEOGEN Analytics EMP workflow automation module licensing fee for a period of one year, removing the up-front financial uncertainty associated with adopting new technology, such as automating EMP functions. During this time, NEOGEN will provide full-service support of the platform to help FSQA teams maximize the value of the platform for their businesses. There is no commitment required. Visit https://www.NEOGEN.com/NEOGEN-analytics/ to learn more.

About NEOGEN and NEOGEN Analytics

NEOGEN Corporation develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. The NEOGEN Analytics platform is used by leading food and beverage suppliers to streamline and optimize key functions within food safety programs including environmental monitoring, product testing, sanitation management, compliance and conformance, and reporting and analytics. NEOGEN Corporation has an exclusive development and licensing agreement with Corvium, Inc. to market software under the NEOGEN Analytics brand.

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Chewy - >>> 2 Growth Stocks That Tripled in 2020 and Are Still Worth Buying

Secular end-market growth should help these high-flying stocks sustain their momentum.


Motley Fool

by Harsh Chauhan

Dec 23, 2020


https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/12/23/2-growth-stocks-that-tripled-2020-still-worth-buy/


Chewy (NYSE:CHWY) and Twilio (NYSE:TWLO) have set the stock market on fire in 2020, as shares of both companies more than tripled this year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, which gave their businesses a nice shot in the arm.

While Chewy benefited from a rise in online purchases of pet supplies during the pandemic, Twilio's tailwind came in the form of an acceleration in the adoption of cloud-enabled contact centers.

Let's take a closer look at how the year unfolded for these two high-flyers, and why they look like solid bets for 2021.

1. Chewy has stepped on the gas and it can sustain its growth
Chewy started the year on the front foot with solid first-quarter guidance, driven by favorable shopping behavior that led to an increase in purchase size and a sharp increase in customers. In fact, Chewy has seen tremendous growth in its active customer count during the first nine months of the year.


Metric

Q1 2020

Q2 2020

Q3 2020

Active customers (millions)

15

16.6

17.8

Year-over-year growth

32.6%

37.9%

39.8%

Net sales per active customer

$357

$356

$363


A combination of higher customer count and an increase in net sales per active customer has helped Chewy clock impressive revenue and margin growth in 2020, as the chart below shows.

Chewy is on track to end the year on a high, as the company's guidance for this quarter indicates. It projects year-over-year revenue growth between 43% and 45% this quarter, while full-year sales are expected to land between $7.04 billion to $7.06 billion -- an increase of 45% to 46% over the prior year. That would be better than the 40% revenue growth Chewy achieved in 2019.

Chewy believes that it can keep up this momentum in the new year -- its customer retention rate has spiked 600 basis points so far in 2020. The company doesn't expect to incur additional spending on customer retention in 2021 because the new customers it has acquired this year are likely to continue purchasing in a post-pandemic scenario, as the increase in the average order value suggests.

Chewy's expectation isn't out of place. Online sales of pet products were growing at a much faster pace than physical sales even before the pandemic. For instance, the online pet retail market in the U.S. jumped a whopping 275% in 2018 compared to just 14.4% growth in the physical retail channel, according to third-party estimates.

The good news for Chewy investors is that this market still has a lot of room for growth. The e-commerce channel reportedly accounted for just 13% of pet products sales last year. The share of the online channel is expected to grow to 27% in 2020 and 34% next year, according to asset management firm Needham & Company's estimates.

Chewy has become a major player in this space in 2020. Management pointed out on the second-quarter earnings conference call earlier this year that online sales of pet products are on track to increase $3.9 billion in 2020, as per pet industry data provider Packaged Facts.

Chewy's full-year 2020 guidance suggests that it could add $2.2 billion in revenue this year, cornering a lion's share of the incremental revenue of the overall market and putting itself in a nice position to tap into the long-term opportunity. Throw in the fact that Chewy has been diversifying into new, multibillion-dollar verticals, and this should give investors more reasons to be bullish about this growth stock in the long run. <<<


>>> Chewy, Inc. (CHWY), together with its subsidiaries, engages in the pure-play e-commerce business in the United States. The company provides pet food and treats, pet supplies and pet medications, and other pet-health products, as well as pet services for dogs, cats, fish, birds, small pets, horses, and reptiles through its chewy.com retail Website, as well as its mobile applications. It offers approximately 60,000 products from 2,000 partner brands. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida. Chewy, Inc. is a subsidiary of PetSmart, Inc.

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>>> Freshpet (FRPT) -


https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/12/06/3-stocks-that-can-double-again-in-2021/


It's a not a surprise to see Freshpet shares up 128% in 2020 through Friday's close. Freshpet has the supermarket cornered in the realm of refrigerated food for dogs and cats with 22,371 branded fridges in its growing network. The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in an understandable spike in pet adoptions, and we're pampering our dogs and cats more than ever.

Freshpet is at the intersection of all of these favorable headwinds. The humanization of pets that finds us wanting to feed our furry friends more than dry kibble is a dinner bell for Freshpet's refrigerators across grocery stores, warehouse clubs, and mass market superstores. Net sales rose 29% in its latest quarter.

Demand for Freshpet's products is so strong that it had to scale back its advertising budget to make sure that its existing production can keep up with demand from existing clients. It's building out a new facility that will more than double its production by the middle of 2022. There are plenty of "stay-at-home" stocks that will slip in popularity once we're out and about more often, but Freshpet won't be one of them. We're not going to stop spoiling our pets when hunger pains strike.


>>> Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT) manufactures and markets natural fresh products, refrigerated meals, and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company sells its products under the Freshpet brand; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online. Freshpet, Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey. <<<

>>> Zoetis is Higher Than Ever Thanks to Pet (and Farm) Spending


InvestorPlace

Neil George

September 11, 2020


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zoetis-higher-ever-thanks-pet-130451230.html


As we discussed yesterday, spending on pets hasn’t slowed down during the pandemic.

According to a survey from TD Ameritrade, 33% of Americans have considered adopting pets because of the pandemic.

For dog and cat owners alike, the cost can be higher than expected. Respondents to the survey who owned dogs said they spent $1,201 a year on their pets. Cat owners spent $687 per year.

Now, this survey data isn’t exactly news to you if you read yesterday’s article. I already mentioned that the American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (ASPCA) estimates the average annual cost of caring for a dog at $1,843.

But you know what “average cost” doesn’t cover? What people are willing to spend on their furry friends — particularly when it concerns their health.

I would do anything to keep my miniature dachshund, Blue, healthy, and in the TD Ameritrade survey, dog owners said they were willing, on average, to pay $3,307 treating their dogs’ health conditions. Cat owners were willing to pay an average of $1,991.

So, just as we know there is money in human health care, we also know there’s money in pet health care too.

Formerly Pfizer, Still Just as Profitable

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS), a class-leading animal health and vaccine company, including animal-to-human virus vaccines, used to be a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), but it spun off in 2013.

It sells products in over 100 countries, and it doesn’t just serve pet owners. In addition to caring for cats and dogs, the company makes products to support cows, chickens, pigs, fish and horses.

Farmers were hit hard because of the pandemic, partially because of the disruption to our supply chain. Often, farmers had products they simply couldn’t sell to their commercial buyers, and unfortunately, there wasn’t a way to get those excess products to consumers.

But the USDA stepped in to help, providing $16 billion in direct payments and another $3 billion helping to get those commercially grown products to the mouths of consumers.

All this is to say, the impact on farmers hasn’t kept ZTS from thriving. And with more people considering buying pets now, you’d expect ZTS to climb higher, which it has.

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Zoetis - >>> How This Animal Health Company Was Disrupted by the Coronavirus


Food supply chains were disturbed by the pandemic, but Zoetis is confident looking into the future.


Motley Fool

by Luis Sanchez CFA

Sep 1, 2020


https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/09/01/how-this-animal-health-company-was-disrupted-by-co/


The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of life, and one of the most surprising may have been the food and agricultural supply chain. With restaurants shut down and no market to serve, farmers literally poured milk into rivers and discarded tons of otherwise good food.

As a supplier to the food industry, Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) felt the heat from these disturbances. Zoetis is an animal health company that sells medicine, vaccines, and diagnostics for domestic pets and livestock animals. Because of uncertainty stemming from the pandemic, many farmers stopped investing in their livestock and crops and therefore purchased less from Zoetis. This resulted in a rough patch for the company and its financial results.

How COVID-19 disrupted the food supply chain

Lockdowns and social distancing guidelines around the world have disproportionately affected the food industry. Pre-pandemic, as much as half of all food spending happened at restaurants. Many farmers built their businesses to focus on the restaurant supply chain, which is distinct and separate from the grocery-store supply chain.

But when coronavirus hit, spending quickly shifted away from restaurants and toward grocery stores, many of which had to ration the sales of certain food items because of the increased demand. The rapid shift left many farmers with no way to sell their livestock and produce. Many food processing plants were shut down and couldn't take supplies, and others were operational but had no one to buy their products. Given few other options, many farmers resorted to simply throwing away their goods.

Because Zoetis sells many pet-health products into the livestock market, farmers shutting down production meant the company saw a decrease in demand. Zoetis predicts that U.S. livestock will continue to be affected by COVID-19 for the rest of the year.

How the food disruption impacts Zoetis

Despite the challenging business environment, Zoetis delivered stronger-than-expected financial results. This is largely thanks to the fact that it serves both the livestock and the pet industries. While livestock product sales suffered, pet-related medicine sales grew, likely because pet owners had more time to take care of their pets and take them to the vet. Veterinary hospitals are considered essential and have been open during the pandemic with curbside pickup and mobile clinic services.

Financial Metrics Q2 2020 Q2 2019 Year-Over-Year Change %

Total revenue $1,548 million $1,547 million 0%
Pet product revenue $882 million $798 million 11%
Livestock product revenue $649 million $724 million (10%)
Net income $377 million $371 million 1%

DATA SOURCE: ZOETIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Overall, the company's revenue was flat. However, this is a good result given the weakness in the livestock business line, showing how the company's diversification gives it strength. Zoetis saw its pet-product revenue rise 11% compared to the previous year, while livestock-product revenue fell 10%.

Although the economy is still suffering from the effects of the pandemic, Zoetis gave fairly upbeat financial guidance. Management believes pet-product sales should continue to perform well and that while livestock-product sales will be affected for the remainder of 2020, they should stage a comeback in 2021 as people return to restaurants.

Long-term growth from animals, both friendly and yummy

Despite short-term headwinds in the food supply chain, the long-term growth forecast for Zoetis is bright, particularly in pet products. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), $74.5 billion was spent on U.S. pets in 2019, and that number has grown every year for at least 25 years. Pet owners increasingly see their pets as members of the family and are willing to spend on expensive healthcare treatments and medicines when their furry friends are sick.

And after the pandemic is over, the livestock business should rebound, too. People will eventually come back to restaurants, and they will order food that was treated with Zoetis products. In addition, protein consumption per capita is on the rise, which benefits Zoetis's livestock business.

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Elanco Animal Health - >>> This Pet Stock Just Bought an Animal Health Business for $7.6 Billion


by Luis Sanchez CFA

The Motley Fool

September 2, 2020


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pet-stock-just-bought-animal-131000198.html


Based in Indiana, Elanco Animal Health (NYSE: ELAN) develops products and services that treat diseases in pets and commercial animals around the world. Just two short years after being spun off from Eli Lilly, Elanco has taken a bold step by acquiring Bayer Animal Health in a $7.6 billion move that establishes it as the second-largest animal health company in the world by revenue (behind Zoetis).

A $7.6 billion animal-health merger

The deal was announced in August 2019 and was financed with $5.2 billion in cash and 72.9 million shares of Elanco. Management believes Bayer will help it strengthen its focus on the connections between pet health and farm animal health, as well as providing new research and development capabilities that will help expand the portfolio of pet and farm products and generate future cash flow growth.

The deal will triple Elanco's international footprint, and that greater scale should help the combined company cut better distribution agreements and allow it to reach more customers.

Finally, adding Bayer increases Elanco's exposure to the pet health market to 50% of its total revenue. While both companies serve pets and livestock alike, the pet health market is more attractive because it is higher-margin and is growing faster. If investors see this acquisition as making Elanco into more of a play on the pet-health market, its valuation multiple could rise.

Financial outlook for the combined company

The negative effects of COVID-19 have made 2020 a tough year for the animal health market. The coronavirus outbreak disrupted the food supply chain, leading farmers to reduce spending on livestock due to a lack of demand from restaurants and meat processing facilities. However, the pet health market has been relatively stable. The net impact for Elanco has been a 25% decrease in revenue compared to 2019.

Management believes the acquisition of Bayer will result in improved margins, predicting that gross margin will rise to 60% by 2022 from 52% in 2019. The increase will be driven by $300 million in cost synergies, increased sales of higher-margin pet products, and operating leverage from revenue growth, which management believes will also accelerate at a rate in the mid-single digits.

Besides a greater focus on the pet market, the rise of e-commerce in selling pet health products should boost Elanco's returns. Selling online will provide Elanco better access to the nearly one-third of pet owners who do not regularly visit a veterinarian. Finally, the combined R&D resources of Elanco and Bayer are expected to result in an increased pace of product development, which should result in more products to sell.

Overall, a combined Elanco and Bayer should be able to produce faster growth and higher margins, which should accrue to shareholder value. This could make Elanco an ideal animal healthcare stock to own in the coming years.

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>>> EPA Validates Neogen's Disinfectant for Use Against COVID-19


Zacks

August 17, 2020


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/epa-validates-neogens-disinfectant-against-131201025.html


NEOGEN Corporation NEOG announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has validated the effectiveness of the company’s BioSentry 904 Disinfectant against the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus, when used per the revised label instructions. The disinfectant, which is a hospital-grade broad-spectrum sanitizer, has been recommended for use on washable, hard and non-porous surfaces (cabinets and counters, for example).

Notably, the EPA had earlier granted an emergency approval to the BioSentry 904 Disinfectant to be used against SARS-CoV-2 under the agency’s emerging-pathogens provision.

Apart from the BioSentry 904 Disinfectant, NEOGEN also offers Parvosol II RTU Disinfectant, Synergize Disinfectant, COMPANION Disinfectant, COMPANION Disinfectant Wipes and Peraside 5% Disinfectant. These also carry the EPA’s emerging-pathogen approvals to combat the spread of COVID-19.

With the recent clearance, NEOGEN aims to strengthen its Rodenticides, Insecticides & Disinfectants business on a global scale. For investors’ note, the Rodenticides, Insecticides & Disinfectants business is a component of the company’s broader Animal Safety arm.

Significance of the Approval

Per the company, the EPA’s approval of BioSentry validates the effectiveness of the product against a broader range of human-illness causing pathogens. The coronavirus outbreaks in the food industry, among others, highlight the importance of products that effectively fight against the same.

Industry Prospects

Per a report by Grand View Research, the global animal health market size was valued at $47.1 billion in 2019 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.8% between 2020 and 2027. Factors like rising demand for protein food and increase in incidents of food-borne diseases globally are expected to drive the market.

Given the market potential, the approval is expected to enhance the company’s business.

Recent Developments in Animal Safety

Of late, NEOGEN has been witnessing a slew of developments within its Animal Safety segment.

The company’s AquaPrime Activator was reviewed by the Organic Materials Review Institute’s (“OMRI”) in August and was determined to be in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program, with usage restrictions. In the same month, NEOGEN completed the previously announced acquisition of the U.S. (including territories) rights to Elanco’s StandGuard Pour-on for horn fly and lice control in beef cattle and related assets.

In May, NEOGEN launched the enhanced version of its Igenity Beef profile, which is a genomic test for commercial cattle. In the same month, the company received the OMRI’s clearance for its AquaPrime NeoKlor water disinfectant, which was in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program with certain usage restrictions.

In April, Neogen in association with Superior Livestock Auction launched a commercial beef certification program, Igenity Branded, verified by a genomic test.

Price Performance
Shares of the company have gained 6.8% in the past year against the industry’s 5.2% fall and the S&P 500’s 15.4% growth.


Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Currently, Neogen carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are QIAGEN N.V. QGEN, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. TMO and Hologic, Inc. HOLX.

QIAGEN’s long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 22.3%. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Thermo Fisher’s long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 15%. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Hologic’s long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 15.5%. The company presently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

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>>> Pet Care ETF Proves Potency in 2020


by TOM LYDON

JUNE 18, 2020


https://www.etftrends.com/tactical-allocation-channel/pet-care-etf-proves-potency-in-2020/


Nearly halfway through the year, the ProShares Pet Care ETF (CBOE: PAWZ) is higher by almost 9% while the S&P 500 is sporting a loss of 2.77%. Alone, that’s impressive, but there’s more to the PAWZ story.

PAWZ, the first and only dedicated pet care, and retail ETF seeks investment results, before fees and expenses, that track the performance of the FactSet Pet Care Index. The fund seeks to invest substantially all of its assets in the securities included in the index. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the component securities of the index. The index consists of U.S. and non-U.S. companies that potentially stand to benefit from interest in, and resources spent on, pet ownership.

Importantly, PAWZ is proving to investors that the pet care thesis has mettle in a trying market environment.

“In a recent interview on Bloomberg TV, Simeon Hyman, ProShares Global Investment Strategist, explains how the increase in pet adoptions while many people stay at home is an extension of the long-term trends in pet ownership,” according to ProShares.

Pertinent PAWZ

PAWZ includes sectors such as veterinary pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, services, and product distributors; pet and pet supply stores, and pet food and supply manufacturing. Healthcare and retail stocks make up a significant portion of the PAWZ roster and the ProShares ETF has the potential to outperform traditional funds tracking those sectors.

Hyman “notes that the performance of pet products retailers like Chewy has been driven by pet owners’ desire to have quality pet goods delivered to their doorstep—even as economic headwinds set in. However, the pet care industry is composed of much more than food and toys,” according to ProShares. “Veterinary care, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical companies provide much-needed services to companion animals. And, unlike in human health care, ‘there is no Medicare for dogs.’”

On that note, Anicom Holdings, Inc., Japan’s leading pet insurance provider, recently joined General Mills (NYSE: GIS) as new additions to the PAWZ lineup.

“Anicom Holdings commands more than a 50% share of the rapidly-expanding pet insurance market in Japan, which has grown at roughly 20% per annum for the past five years,” according to ProShares.

PAWZ is higher by almost 10% over the past month.

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