RAHWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that the Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share of the company's common stock for the second quarter of 2026. Payment will be made on April 7, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2026. About Merck At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-e ...

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) is included among the 12 Most Profitable Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026. Piper Sandler Flags Near-Term Uncertainty for Zoetis (ZTS) Despite Long-Term Appeal Budimir Jevtic/Shutterstock.com On January 22, Piper Sandler downgraded Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) to Neutral from Overweight. It also slashed its price target to $135 from $190. The firm said it still likes Zoetis’ product portfolio over the long run, but sees too much uncertainty in the next couple of years. Until more new produ ...

Group 1: U.S. Control Over Venezuelan Oil - The United States now controls every drop of oil coming out of Venezuela, with Russian tankers being intercepted off the Venezuelan coast [2] - Venezuela has initiated oil sales with a 30 million-barrel tranche, expected to increase to 50 million and then 100 million barrels, with proceeds managed by a White House-run fund [2] - The U.S. will dictate the terms of oil sales, with Venezuela required to purchase only American-made products, including agriculture and medical supplies [2] Group 2: Investment and Stability Concerns - Oil companies are concerned about the stability of the Venezuelan government as they consider new investments, with Chevron holding the largest stake and potentially increasing production from 50,000 to 200,000 barrels per day [3][4] - Overall production could rise to approximately 1 million barrels per day, up from around 800,000 barrels [4] - The transition to democracy in Venezuela must be "stable, proper and judicious," according to President Trump [3] Group 3: Broader Geopolitical Implications - The situation is viewed as a strategy to expel Russia and China from the Western Hemisphere and to undermine Cuba and Iran [5] - The focus on oil is seen as part of a larger narrative about promoting freedom and democracy in the region [5]

Core Viewpoint - Zoetis Inc. will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on February 12, 2026, led by CEO Kristin Peck and CFO Wetteny Joseph [1]. Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The conference call is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. (ET) on February 12, 2026, where financial analysts will have the opportunity to ask questions [1]. - Investors and the public can access the live webcast through the Zoetis website, with pre-registration available starting today [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Zoetis is recognized as the world's leading animal health company, focusing on advancing care for animals and supporting those who raise and care for them [3]. - The company has a strong portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies, impacting over 100 countries [3]. - In 2024, Zoetis generated revenue of $9.3 billion and employs approximately 13,800 people [3].

Group 1 - The Board of Directors of Zoetis Inc. has declared a dividend of $0.53 per share for Q1 2026, representing a 6% increase from the 2025 quarterly dividend rate [1] - The dividend payment date is set for March 3, 2026, for all common stockholders on record as of January 20, 2026 [1] Group 2 - Zoetis is the world's leading animal health company, focused on advancing care for animals and has been innovating in this field for over 70 years [2] - The company generated revenue of $9.3 billion in 2024 and employs approximately 13,800 people [2]

Core Insights - Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) is recognized as a strong investment opportunity by analysts, particularly following its innovation day on December 2, which showcased long-term growth prospects [1] - The animal health market is projected to grow to $90 billion by 2035, nearly doubling its current size, which is significant for Zoetis as it has 12 candidates in its pipeline targeting chronic kidney disease, oncology, and cardiology, representing over $5 billion in total addressable market [2] Analyst Ratings - Following the innovation day, Brandon Vazquez from William Blair reiterated a Buy rating on Zoetis Inc. without a specified price target, while Michael Ryskin from Bank of America Securities also maintained a Buy rating but reduced the price target from $200 to $165 [3] - Vazquez emphasized that the updates from the innovation day indicate a strong innovation engine for the company, which may offset the underperformance of Librela in 2025, and he views the company's valuation at 18.5 times its 2026 forward earnings as attractive [4] Company Overview - Zoetis Inc. is a leading global animal health company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, biodevices, genetic tests, and precision health solutions [5]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current stock market outlook and highlights 11 best and cheap stocks to buy, emphasizing the importance of earnings and interest rates in driving stock prices [2][4][8]. Market Outlook - Jeremy Siegel, a Wharton professor, believes the upward trend in the stock market will continue despite concerns about a government shutdown, as long as it does not last longer than two weeks [2]. - Siegel anticipates that the impact of tariffs will be more evident in the fourth quarter, particularly during the holiday retail season, and expects the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 0.25% in October and December [3][4]. Company Insights - **Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY)**: - Forward P/E Ratio: 9.91, with 24 hedge fund holders [9]. - Recently announced a $625 million investment in Sanofi Ventures, increasing total assets to over $1.4 billion, focusing on biotech and digital health startups [10][11]. - Sanofi is a global healthcare company involved in researching, developing, and marketing medicines and vaccines [12]. - **Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)**: - Forward P/E Ratio: 12.07, with 54 hedge fund holders [13]. - Received a Buy rating from Bank of America Securities with a price target of $72, highlighting its partnership with KT&G Corp to enhance growth in the oral nicotine market [14][15]. - Altria is a leading American tobacco company providing a range of tobacco products for adult consumers [15].

Core Insights - Zoetis Inc. has secured a new five-year $1.25 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility, enhancing its financial flexibility [2][3] - The new credit facility replaces a previous agreement from 2022 and is administered by JPMorgan Chase, with other major banks acting as syndication agents [2] - The facility allows Zoetis to borrow against base or SOFR rates with a margin linked to its debt ratings, providing liquidity for operations and strategic initiatives [3] Financial Flexibility - The new credit facility has no mandatory prepayments and offers flexible repayment terms, which is advantageous for the company's financial management [3] - This move is expected to support Zoetis's operations and strategic initiatives, indicating a proactive approach to maintaining liquidity [3] Company Overview - Zoetis Inc. specializes in preparing medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and precision health solutions for both livestock and companion animals globally [3] - The company is recognized as one of the best stocks for Roth IRA investments, highlighting its potential as a stable investment option [1][3]

Core Insights - President Trump's tariffs are contributing to significant investments in U.S. manufacturing by major corporations, including semiconductor and pharmaceutical companies [1][3][5] Semiconductor Industry - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S. facilities [1] - NVIDIA plans to produce $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next four years [2] Pharmaceutical Industry - Three major pharmaceutical companies are set to invest over $100 billion in the U.S. in the coming years [3] - Roche plans to invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, expecting to create 12,000 new jobs and export more medicines than it imports [5][6] - Novartis announced a $23 billion investment over the next five years, aiming to produce 100% of its core drugs in the U.S. and create 4,000 jobs [8][10] - Johnson & Johnson is investing more than $55 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, a 25% increase from the previous period, and plans to build three new manufacturing plants [13][14]