Zoetis 10-K 2023-12-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

Commission File Number: 001-35797

(973)-822-7000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of Securities Act. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. x

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No x

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2023, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $79,346 million. The registrant has no non-voting common stock.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of February 9, 2024 was 457,867,115 shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (hereinafter referred to as the “2024 Proxy Statement”) are incorporated into Part III of this Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Overview

Zoetis Inc. is a global leader in the animal health industry, focused on the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of medicines, vaccines, diagnostic products and services, biodevices, genetic tests and precision animal health. We have a diversified business, commercializing products across eight core species: dogs, cats and horses (collectively, companion animals) and cattle, swine, poultry, fish and sheep (collectively, livestock); and within seven major product categories: parasiticides, vaccines, dermatology, other pharmaceutical, anti-infectives, animal health diagnostics and medicated feed additives. For over 70 years, we have been innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, and continue to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide - from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock farmers and ranchers.

We were incorporated in Delaware in July 2012 and prior to that the company was a business unit of Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer). The address of our principal executive offices is 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Zoetis,” “the company,” “we,” “us” or “our” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (2023 Annual Report) refer to Zoetis Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. In addition, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Pfizer” in this 2023 Annual Report refer to Pfizer Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries.

Operating Segments

The animal health medicines, vaccines and diagnostics market is characterized by meaningful differences in customer needs across different regions. This is due to a variety of factors, including:

• economic differences, such as standards of living in developed markets as compared to emerging markets;

• cultural differences, such as dietary preferences for different animal proteins, pet ownership preferences and pet care standards;

• epidemiological differences, such as the prevalence of certain bacterial and viral strains and disease dynamics;

• treatment differences, such as utilization of different types of medicines and vaccines, as well as the pace of adoption of new technologies;

• environmental differences, such as seasonality, climate and the availability of arable land and fresh water; and

• regulatory differences, such as standards for product approval and manufacturing.

As a result of these differences, among other things, we organize and operate our business in two segments:

• United States (U.S.)** with revenue of $4,555 million, or 53% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023; and

• International** with revenue of $3,911 million, or 46% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Within each of these operating segments, we offer a diversified product portfolio for both companion animal and livestock customers so that we can capitalize on local trends and customer needs.

In addition, our Client Supply Services (CSS) organization which provides contract manufacturing services to third parties, and our human health products, together represented approximately 1% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.

1 |

Our 2023 revenue for the U.S. and key international markets, together with the percentage of revenue attributable to companion animal and livestock products in those markets, is as follows:

For additional information regarding our performance in each of our operating segments and the impact of foreign exchange rates, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4. Revenue and Note 19. Segment Information. Our 2023 reported revenue for each segment, by species, is as follows:

2 |

Products

Over the course of our history, we have focused on developing a diverse portfolio of animal health products that deliver solutions across the continuum of care. We refer to all different brands of a particular product, or its dosage forms for all species, as a product line. We have approximately 300 comprehensive product lines, including products for both companion animals and livestock within each of our major product categories.

Our companion animal products help extend and improve the quality of life for pets; increase convenience and compliance for pet owners; and help veterinarians improve the quality of their care and the efficiency of their businesses. Growth in the companion animal medicines, vaccines and diagnostics sectors is driven by economic development; related increases in disposable income; and increases in pet ownership and spending on pet care. Companion animals are also living longer, deepening the human-animal bond, receiving increased medical treatment and benefiting from advances in animal health medicines, vaccines and diagnostics. Companion animal products represented approximately 65% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Our livestock products focus on predicting, preventing, detecting and treating diseases, with the understanding that veterinarians and farmers must have the tools at their disposal to treat disease expeditiously, which in turn enables the sustainable production of safe, high-quality animal protein. Human population growth and increased standards of living continue to drive demand for increased production of quality animal protein. Population growth leads to greater consumption of natural resources, driving a need for innovative solutions to increase sustainability and productivity. As global food security takes on heightened importance, producers are tasked with facilitating a high quality, safe and reliable food supply. Livestock products represented approximately 34% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.

In addition, our CSS organization, which provides contract manufacturing services to third parties, and our human health products, together represented approximately 1% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Our major product categories are:

• parasiticides:** products that prevent or eliminate external and internal parasites such as fleas, ticks and worms;

• vaccines:** biological preparations that help prevent diseases of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts or induce a specific immune response;

• dermatology:** products that relieve itch associated with allergic

Showing the first 8K of 86K characters. Open the full section

In addition to the other information set forth in this 2023 Annual Report, any of the factors described below could materially adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity, which could cause the trading price of our securities to decline.

This report contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and performance. We generally identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe,” “seek,” “continue,” “outlook,” "objective," "target," “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely” or the negative version of these words or comparable words or by using future dates in connection with any discussion of future performance, actions or events. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions made by management using currently available information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions or events.

In particular, forward-looking statements include statements relating to our future actions, business plans or prospects, prospective products, product approvals or products under development, product and supply chain disruptions, R&D costs, timing and likelihood of success, future operating or financial performance, future results of current and anticipated products and services, strategies, sales efforts, expenses, production efficiencies, production margins, anticipated timing of generic market entries, integration of acquired businesses, interest rates, tax rates, changes in tax regimes and laws, foreign exchange rates, growth in emerging markets, the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings, plans related to share repurchases and dividends, government regulation and financial results. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and potentially inaccurate assumptions. However, there may also be other risks that we are unable to predict at this time. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if management's underlying beliefs and assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. You should not put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or by the rules and regulations of the SEC. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-Q and 8-K reports and our other filings with the SEC. We note these factors for investors as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider the following to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties.

Risks related to our business and the animal health industry

The animal health industry is highly competitive.

We believe many of our competitors are conducting R&D activities in areas served by our products and in areas in which we are developing products. Our competitors include standalone animal health businesses, start-up companies working in the animal health area and the animal health businesses of large pharmaceutical companies. These competitors may have access to greater financial, marketing, technical and other resources or have significant market share in particular areas. As a result, they may be able to devote more resources to developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling their products, initiating or withstanding substantial price competition or more readily taking advantage of acquisitions or other opportunities. In recent years, there has been an increase in consolidation in the animal health industry, which could result in existing competitors realizing additional efficiencies or improving portfolio bundling opportunities, thereby potentially increasing their market share and pricing power, which could lead to a decrease in our revenue and profitability and an increase in competition.

To the extent that any of our competitors are more successful with respect to any key competitive factor or we are forced to reduce, or are unable to raise, the price of any of our products in order to remain competitive, our operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Our results of operations are dependent upon the success of our top-selling products.

If any of our top-selling products or product lines experience issues, such as loss of patent protection, material product liability litigation, new or unexpected side effects, manufacturing or supply chain disruptions, regulatory proceedings, labeling changes, negative publicity, changes to veterinarian or customer preferences, and/or disruptive innovations or the introduction of competing and/or more effective products, our revenues could be negatively impacted, perhaps significantly. For example, our five top-selling products and product lines, Simparica/Simparica Trio, Apoquel/Apoquel Chewable, Cytopoint, Revolution/Revolution Plus/Stronghold and ceftiofur line, contributed approximately 37% of our revenue in 2023, and any issues with these top-selling products and product lines would have a more significant impact to our results of operations.

Our products are subject to unanticipated safety, quality or efficacy concerns.

Unanticipated safety, quality or efficacy concerns can arise with respect to our products, whether or not scientifically or clinically supported, which can lead to product recalls, withdrawals or suspended or declining sales, as well as product liability and other claims.

Regulatory actions based on these types of safety, quality or efficacy concerns could impact all or a significant portion of a product’s sales and could, depending on the circumstances, materially adversely affect our operating results.

In addition, since we depend on positive perceptions of the safety, quality and efficacy of our products, and animal health products generally, by our customers, veterinarians and end-users, any concerns as to the safety, quality or efficacy of our products, whether actual or perceived, may harm our reputation or materially adversely affect our operating results and financial condition, regardless of whether such concerns are accurate.

Generic and other products may be viewed as more cost-effective than our products.

We face competition from products produced by other companies, including generic alternatives to our products. We depend on patents and regulatory data exclusivity periods to provide us with exclusive marketing rights for some of our products. Patents for individual products expire at different times based on the date of the patent filing (or sometimes the date of patent grant) and the legal term of patents in the countries where such patents are obtained. The extent of protection afforded by our patents varies from country to country and is limited by the scope of the claimed

16 |

subject matter of our patents, the term of the patent and the availability and enforcement of legal remedies in the applicable country. As a result, we face competition from lower-priced generic alternatives to many of our products that no longer have patent protection. In certain circumstances, we have been forced to lower our prices and provide discounts or rebates in order to compete with generic products. Generic competitors are becoming more aggressive in terms of launching at risk before patent rights expire and, beca

Showing the first 8K of 86K characters. Open the full section

None.

As a global leader in animal health, we are reliant on complex information systems and digital solutions that make us inherently vulnerable to malicious cyber intrusion and attack. In addition, we have been expanding our data and digital capabilities including in our diagnostics portfolio, and as a result, there could be an increased likelihood of a cyberattack or breach of security that could negatively impact us or our customers. Despite the presence of these risks, to date, the identified risks of cybersecurity threats (including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents) have not materially affected, and are not reasonably likely to materially affect, us or our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. For a description of the risks from cybersecurity threats that may materially affect us and how they may do so, see our risk factors under Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Cybersecurity Program

As part of our risk management processes, we have an enterprise-wide cybersecurity program aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Our program is a risk-based program designed to protect our information systems through multiple defenses and layers of security, commonly referred to as a “Defense in Depth” approach. Key elements of our program include:

Independent Third-Party Assessments

We engage an independent third party to conduct assessments of our cybersecurity program approximately every 18 months. This independent third-party assessment includes an evaluation of our cybersecurity controls based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

Training

We have an information security training program that includes: monthly awareness articles, a phishing training program (with reports reviewed by the Executive Team), a Security Ambassador program for additional training and awareness for individuals in high risk roles, required and optional training modules in our Learning Management System, and quarterly security-focused podcasts.

Incident Response Procedure

We have a 24/7 managed Security Operations Center (SOC) for escalation of any critical events, including cybersecurity incidents. In the event of an incident, we use an Incident Response procedure leveraging NIST Standard 800-61 standards that we have customized for Zoetis. Additionally, we have in place disaster recovery and business continuity practices designed to provide for continuous business operations for our customers in the event of a cybersecurity incident. While we maintain cybersecurity insurance, the costs related to cybersecurity threats or disruptions may not be fully insured.

Third Party Onboarding

We depend on third parties and applications on virtualized (cloud) infrastructure to operate and support our information systems and have a third-party risk management program and assessment process for onboarding third parties.

Management’s Role in Risk Oversight

Our information security team includes our Executive Vice President, Chief Digital & Technology Officer; our Vice President, Chief Information Officer; and our Head of Technology Risk, Compliance and Chief Information Security Officer. Our Executive Vice President, Chief Digital and Technology Officer has over 20 years of information technology experience. She was the Chief Information Officer for key business units at an S&P 500 healthcare company, and was that company’s first Chief Information Security Officer, where she led the strategy and execution to secure products, devices, manufacturing systems and information across businesses. She holds a master’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in business applications of information and technology. Our Vice President, Chief Information Officer has over 20 years of experience in technology and digital leadership roles at large public companies and holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems. Our Head of Technology Risk, Compliance and Chief Information Security Officer has over 20 years of experience in information security, and holds a bachelor’s degrees in computer science and biology.

We have established a cybersecurity governance program with clear roles for the executive management team as well as oversight by the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee. The Zoetis information security team provides regular cyber threat intelligence briefings to management and provides updates to our senior executives on the status of the Company’s security measures and our efforts to identify and mitigate risks from cybersecurity threats. The Zoetis information security team also works closely with the Zoetis Legal team, including the Chief Privacy Officer, to further enhance incident response procedures. For example, we have a corporate crisis management plan in place to govern our response to corporate crises, which could include cyber incidents, and we conduct periodic simulated programs to ensure readiness. This plan also includes a standard framework for categorization of incidents based on risk level and severity, and requires escalation to Zoetis senior management and/or the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors if certain severity levels are met.

Role of the Board of Directors and Committees

The Board of Directors maintains an active role in the oversight of material risks. The Board of Directors utilizes its various Committees to oversee certain key risks, and has delegated responsibility to the Audit Committee for oversight of the Company’s enterprise risk management process and information security risk management program. Management, with oversight from the Zoetis Board of Directors, is responsible for the Company’s assessment and management of exposure to risk. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is also responsible for oversight of compliance with disclosure requirements under applicable laws and regulations, and would be consulted prior to the disclosure of any material cybersecurity incident.

The Zoetis information security team regularly provides an information security dashboard to the Audit Committee, covering the most active and relevant threats to Zoetis, relevant trends, and any notable events. At least twice annually, the Zoetis information security team presents updates to the Audit Committee with respect to the information security program, including the status of our security measures and our efforts to identify and mitigate information security risks. The Audit Committee also regularly reviews certain data privacy and cybersecurity metrics as part of the compliance update presented to the Audit Committee.

28 |

In addition, the Chief Information Security Officer presents updates at least annually to the Board of Directors with respect to the information security program, including the results of our independent, third-party assessment. The Board of Directors also participates in annual table-top exercises involving simulated data security incidents and the Company’s responses to those incidents.

We have approximately 190 owned and leased properties, amounting to approximately 13.5 million square feet, around the world for sales and marketing, customer service, regulatory compliance, R&D, manufacturing and distribution, and administrative support functions. In many locations, operations are co-located to achieve synergies and operational efficiencies. Our largest R&D facility is our owned U.S. research and development site located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which represents approximately 1.6 million square feet. None of our other non-manufacturing sites are more than 0.3 million square feet. The largest manufacturing site in our global manufacturing network is our manufacturing site located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which represents approximately 0.6 million square feet. No other site in our global manufacturing network is more than 0.6 million square feet. In addition, our global manufacturing network continues to be supplemented by 109 CMOs.

Our corporate headquarters are located at 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054. Our operations extend internationally to 57 countries.

We believe that our existing properties, as supplemented by sites operated by CMOs, are adequate for our current requirements and for our operations in the foreseeable future.

We are from time to time subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. These claims and litigation may include, among other things, allegations of violation of U.S. and foreign competition law, labor laws, consumer protection laws, and environmental laws and regulations, as well as claims or litigation relating to product liability, intellectual property, securities, breach of contract and tort. We operate in multiple jurisdictions and, as a result, a claim in one jurisdiction may lead to claims or regulatory penalties in other jurisdictions. We intend to defend vigorously against any pending or future claims and litigation.

At this time, in the opinion of management, the likelihood is remote that the impact of such proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, one or more unfavorable outcomes in any claim or litigation against us could have a material adverse effect for the period in which they are resolved. In addition, regardless of their merits or their ultimate outcomes, such matters are costly, divert management's attention and may materially adversely affect our reputation, even if resolved in our favor.

Certain legal proceedings in which we are involved are discussed in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements— Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies, and are incorporated by reference from such discussion.

Not applicable.

29 |

PART II

Our shares of common stock have been listed on the NYSE (symbol ZTS) since February 1, 2013. Prior to that time, there was no public market for our stock.

As of February 9, 2024, there were 457,867,115 shares of our common stock outstanding, held by 1,574 shareholders of record.

Additional information relating to our common stock is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements— Note 16. Stockholders' Equity.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer

On December 7, 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a multi-year share repurchase program of up to $3.5 billion of our outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2023, there was $1.5 billion remaining under this authorization.

The program does not have a stated expiration date. Purchases of Zoetis shares may be made at the discretion of management, depending on market conditions and business needs. We repurchase shares pursuant to Rules 10b5-1 and 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), through repurchase agreements established with several brokers.

Issuer purchases of equity securities for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were as follows:

(a) The company repurchased 3,108 shares during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, that were not part of the publicly announced share repurchase authorization. These shares were purchased from employees to satisfy tax withholding requirements on the vesting of restricted shares from equity-based awards.

(b) Amounts exclude the impact of excise tax on net share repurchases.

Dividend Policy, Declaration and Payment

The declaration and payment of dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs, cash flows available in the U.S., impact on our effective tax rate, indebtedness, legal requirements and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, the instruments governing our indebtedness may limit our ability to pay dividends. Therefore, no assurance is given that we will pay any dividends to our common stockholders or as to the amount of any such dividends if our Board of Directors determines to do so.

Because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our common stock will depend on the receipt of dividends or other distributions from certain of our subsidiaries.

30 |

Stock Performance Graph(a)

The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on an investment in our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Pharmaceuticals Index for the five fiscal years beginning with the close of trading on December 31, 2018 and ending December 31, 2023. The shareholder return shown on the graph is not necessarily indicative of future performance, and we do not make or endorse any predictions as to future shareholder returns.

The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2018, in our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Pharmaceuticals Index and assumes dividends, if any, were reinvested.

COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

Among Zoetis Inc., the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Pharmaceuticals Index

(a) This section is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing of Zoetis under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in any such filing.

31 |

Introduction

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (MD&A) is provided to assist readers in understanding our performance, as reflected in the results of our operations, our financial condition and our cash flows. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The discussion in this MD&A contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Our objective is to also provide discussion of material events and uncertainties known to management that are reasonably likely to cause reported financial information not to be indicative of future results, which could differ materially from historical performance and from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors such as those discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors and Forward-looking statements and factors that may affect future results sections of this MD&A.

A discussion regarding our financial condition and results of operations for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 is presented below. A discussion regarding our financial condition and results of operations for fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021 can be found under Item 7 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023 (our “2022 Annual Report”), which is available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Overview of our business

We are a global leader in the animal health industry, focused on the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of medicines, vaccines, diagnostic products and services, biodevices, genetic tests and precision animal health. For over 70 years, we have been innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, and continue to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide - from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock farmers and ranchers.

We manage our operations through two geographic operating segments: the United States (U.S.) and International. Within each of these operating segments, we offer a diversified product portfolio for both companion animals and livestock customers in order to capitalize on local and regional trends and customer needs. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 19. Segment Information.

We directly market our products to veterinarians and livestock producers located in approximately 45 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America, and are a market leader in nearly all of the major regions in which we operate. Through our efforts to establish an early and direct presence in many emerging markets, such as Brazil, Chile, China and Mexico, we believe we are one of the largest animal health medicines and vaccines businesses as measured by revenue across emerging markets as a whole. In markets where we do not have a direct commercial presence, we generally contract with distributors that provide logistics and sales and marketing support for our products.

We believe our investments in one of the industry’s largest sales organizations, including our extensive network of technical and veterinary operations specialists, our high-quality manufacturing and reliability of supply, and our long track record of developing products that meet customer needs, has led to enduring and valued relationships with our customers. Our research and development (R&D) efforts enable us to deliver innovative products to address unmet needs and evolve our product lines so that they remain relevant for our customers.

We have approximately 300 product lines that we sell in over 100 countries for the prediction, prevention, detection and treatment of diseases and conditions that affect various companion animal and livestock species. The diversity of our product portfolio and our global operations provides stability to our overall business. For instance, in livestock, impacts on our revenue that may result from disease outbreaks or weather conditions in a particular market or region are often offset by increased sales in other regions from exports and other species as consumers shift to other animal proteins.

A summary of our 2023 performance compared with the comparable 2022 and 2021 periods follows:

(a) Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP financial measures and Adjusted net income sections of this MD&A for more information.

Our operating environment

Industry

The animal health industry, which focuses on both companion animals and livestock, is a growing industry that impacts billions of people worldwide. The primary companion animal species are dogs, cats and horses. Factors influencing growth in demand for companion animal medicines, vaccines and diagnostics include:

• economic development and related increases in disposable income, particularly in many emerging markets;

• increasing pet ownership and pet owners’ commitment to the health and well-being of their pets;

• companion animals living longer;

• increasing medical treatment of companion animals; and

• advances in companion animal medicines, vaccines and diagnostics.

The primary livestock species for the production of animal protein are cattle (both beef and dairy), swine, poultry, fish and sheep. Livestock health

32 |

and production are essential to meeting the growing demand for animal protein of a global population. Factors influencing growth in demand for livestock medicines and vaccines include:

• human population growth and increasing standards of living, particularly in many emerging markets;

• increasing demand for improved nutrition, particularly animal protein;

• natural resource constraints, such as scarcity of arable land, fresh water and increased competition for cultivated land, resulting in fewer resources that will be available to meet an increasing demand for animal protein;

• increasing urbanization; and

• increased focus on food safety and food security.

The overall economic environment

In addition to industry-specific factors, we, like other businesses, face challenges related to global economic conditions, an economic downturn and high inflation. Growth in both the livestock and companion animal sectors is driven by overall economic development and related growth, particularly in many emerging markets. In the past, certain of our customers and suppliers have been affected directly by shortages in veterinary healthcare workers and economic downturns or inflation, which decreased the demand for our products and, in some cases, hindered our ability to collect amounts due from customers.

The cost of medicines and vaccines to our livestock producer customers is small relative to other production costs, includ

Showing the first 8K of 127K characters. Open the full section

A significant portion of our revenue and costs are exposed to changes in foreign exchange rates. In addition, our outstanding borrowings may be subject to risk from changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. The overall objective of our financial risk management program is to seek to manage the impact of foreign exchange rate movements and interest rate movements on our earnings. We manage these financial exposures through operational means and by using certain financial instruments. These practices may change as economic conditions change.

Foreign exchange risk

Our primary net foreign currency translation exposures are the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, British pound, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi and euro. We seek to manage our foreign exchange risk, in part, through operational means, including managing same-currency revenue in relation to same-currency costs and same-currency assets in relation to same-currency liabilities.

We use foreign exchange derivative instruments designated as net investment hedges to hedge the foreign currency risks related to our investment in foreign subsidiaries. These foreign exchange derivative instruments serve to offset the foreign currency translation risk from certain of our foreign operations.

Our foreign exchange derivative instruments at December 31, 2023 were analyzed to determine their sensitivity to foreign exchange rate changes. If the U.S. dollar were to strengthen or weaken against all other currencies by 10%, the amount recorded in cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) within Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our net investment hedge would increase or decrease, respectively, by approximately $82 million. The change in value recorded to CTA would be expected to offset a corresponding foreign currency translation gain or loss from our investment in foreign subsidiaries. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 9. Financial Instruments: B. Derivative Financial Instruments.

Foreign exchange risk is also managed through the use of foreign currency forward-exchange contracts. These contracts are used to offset the potential earnings effects from mostly intercompany short-term foreign currency assets and liabilities that arise from operations but are not designated as hedges.

Our foreign currency forward-exchange contracts at December 31, 2023 were analyzed to determine their sensitivity to foreign exchange rate changes. If the U.S. dollar were to strengthen or weaken against all other currencies by 10%, the fair value of these contracts would decrease or increase, respectively, by $11 million. The foreign currency gains and losses on the assets and liabilities are recorded in Other (income)/deductions-net. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 9. Financial Instruments: B. Derivative Financial Instruments.

Interest rate risk

Our outstanding debt balances are predominantly fixed rate debt. While changes in interest rates will have no impact on the interest we pay on our fixed rate debt, interest on our commercial paper and revolving credit facility will be exposed to interest rate fluctuations. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023, because we held certain interest rate swap agreements that have the economic effect of modifying the fixed-interest obligations associated with our 3.900% Senior Notes due 2028 and our 2.00% Senior Notes due 2030, a portion of the fixed-rate interest payable on these senior notes effectively became variable based on SOFR. At December 31, 2023, there were no commercial paper borrowings outstanding and no outstanding principal balance under our revolving credit facility.

By entering into the aforementioned swap arrangements, we have assumed risks associated with variable interest rates based upon SOFR. Changes in the overall level of interest rates affect the interest expense that we recognize in our Consolidated Statements of Income. An interest rate risk sensitivity analysis is used to measure interest rate risk by computing estimated changes in cash flows as a result of assumed changes in market interest rates. As of December 31, 2023, if SOFR-based interest rates would have been higher by 100 basis points, the change would have increased our interest expense annually by approximately $3 million, as it relates to our fixed to floating interest rate swap agreements. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 9. Financial Instruments.

In anticipation of issuing fixed-rate debt, we may use forward-starting interest rate swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges to hedge against changes in interest rates that could impact expected future issuances of debt. A 100-basis point increase or (decrease) in SOFR-based interest rates would have resulted in a increase or (decrease) in the fair value of our forward-starting interest rate swaps by $6 million and $(7) million, respectively at December 31, 2023.

At December 31, 2023, our cash equivalents were primarily invested in money market funds. Interest paid on such funds fluctuates with the prevailing interest rate.

52 |

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

53 |

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors

Zoetis Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Zoetis Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes and financial statement Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 13, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Evaluation of gross unrecognized tax benefits

As discussed in Notes 3 and 8D in the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s tax positions are subject to examination by local taxing authorities in each respective tax jurisdiction, and the resolution of such examinations may span multiple years. Since tax law is complex and often subject to varied interpretations and judgments, it is uncertain whether some of the Company’s tax positions will be sustained upon examination. The Company accounts for income tax contingencies using a benefit recognition model. If a tax position is more likely than not (more than a 50% likelihood) to be sustained upon examination, based solely on the technical merits of the position, a benefit is recognized. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has recorded gross unrecognized tax benefits of $209 million.

We identified the evaluation of gross unrecognized tax benefits as a critical audit matter. Complex auditor judgment, including the involvement of tax professionals with specialized skills and knowledge was required to assess the valuation of a tax position, which included interpretation of relevant tax law, identification of relevant tax elements, the estimate of the more likely than not assessment of tax positions being sustained under examination and the estimate of the amount of the gross unrecognized tax benefit.

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit process. This included controls related to (a) interpretation of relevant tax law, (b) evaluation of which of the Company’s tax positions may not be sustained upon examination, and (c) estimation of the gross unrecognized tax benefits. We involved tax professionals, with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:

■evaluating the Company’s interpretation of relevant tax laws and the potential impact on the unrecognized tax benefits by developing an independent assessment of the tax position’s more likely than not to be sustained under examination determination as well as the estimate of the amount of the gross unrecognized tax benefit, if any, based on our understanding and interpretation of tax laws,

■reading and evaluating the tax opinion, and

■assessing the Company’s transfer pricing policies for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

54 |

Deductions from revenue related to the rebates accrual for the U.S. segment

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company records an accrual for estimated rebates as a deduction from revenue when the related revenue is recognized. Included in the rebates accrual are estimated revenue deductions for future payments to distributors, clinics, veterinarians and pet owners under various programs offered by the Company. The volume of varied rebate programs offered, each with varying terms and conditions coverin

Showing the first 8K of 219K characters. Open the full section

None.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the company's management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation as of December 31, 2023, the company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable level of assurance in alerting them in a timely manner to material information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports filed with the SEC.

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report included herein.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During our most recent fiscal quarter, there has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements

Heidi Chen, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; Business Lead of Human Health Diagnostics, adopted a pre-arranged trading plan on December 15, 2023, that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Ms. Chen's plan provides for the sale of up to 8,310 shares of Zoetis common stock between March 15, 2024 and March 13, 2026.

None.

92 |

PART III

Information about our directors is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Item 1-Election of Directors in our 2024 Proxy Statement. Information regarding our executive officers is presented in Part I, Item 1 of this report under the heading Information about our Executive Officers. Information about compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports in our 2024 Proxy Statement. Information about the Zoetis Code of Conduct governing our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer and Controller, and our Board of Directors, is incorporated by reference from the discussions under the heading Corporate Governance at Zoetis in our 2024 Proxy Statement. If we make any substantive amendments to the Code of Conduct or grant any waiver from a provision of the Code of Conduct to any executive officer or director, we will promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website. The full text of our Code of Conduct is available at the Investor Relations section of our website at www.zoetis.com. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at or available through our website, and you should not consider it to be part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Information regarding the procedures by which our stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Corporate Governance at Zoetis in our 2024 Proxy Statement. Information about our Audit Committee, including the members of the Committee, and our Audit Committee financial experts, is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Corporate Governance at Zoetis in our 2024 Proxy Statement.

Information about director compensation is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Corporate Governance at Zoetis in our 2024 Proxy Statement. Information about executive compensation is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Executive Compensation in our 2024 Proxy Statement.

Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Ownership of Our Common Stock in our 2024 Proxy Statement.

Information about certain relationships and transactions with related parties and our policies and procedures in relation to such transactions is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Transactions with Related Persons in our 2024 Proxy Statement. Information about director independence is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Corporate Governance at Zoetis-Corporate Governance Principles and Practices-Director Independence in our 2024 Proxy Statement.

Our independent registered public accounting firm is KPMG LLP, Short Hills, NJ, Auditor Firm ID: 185.

Information about the fees for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm in 2023 and 2022, is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Item 3—Ratification of Appointment of KPMG as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2024 in our 2024 Proxy Statement. Our Audit Committee's policy on pre-approval of audit and permissible non-audit services of our independent registered public accounting firm is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Item 3—Ratification of Appointment of KPMG as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2024 in our 2024 Proxy Statement.

93 |

PART IV

The following entire exhibits are included:

(1) The financial statements and notes to financial statements are filed as part of this report in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

(2) The financial statement schedule is listed in the Index to Financial Statements.

(3) The exhibits are listed in the Index to Exhibits.

None.

94 |

EXHIBITS

The exhibits listed below and designated with a † are filed with this report. The exhibits listed below and not so designated are incorporated by reference to the documents following the descriptions of the exhibits.

95 |

96 |

97 |

98 |

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

We, the undersigned directors and officers of Zoetis Inc., hereby severally constitute Kristin C. Peck and Heidi C. Chen, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them and each of them to sign for us, in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

99 |