Forget Pot Stocks, Buy Pet Stocks

Do you realize that Americans spent $55.72 billion in 2013 on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association.  And this year, expenditures are expected to be $58.51 billion. The business is practically recession proof. Other than cutting back on pet toys, you still have to buy food for your pets, and you have to get shots for your pets.

The $55 Billion Business: Dogs, Cats, Birds, Fish, Turtles

Based on the free list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, there are over half a dozen pet related stocks to choose from.

Pet Food

Petsmart Inc. (PETM) is one of the largest pet marketers in the industry. The stock trades at 17 times trailing earnings and 14 times forward earnings.  The company sells pet supplies at more than 1,100 stores. Earning for the latest quarter were down slightly, dropping 1.9%. The stock yields 1.1%.

Pet Medical Care

Medical care is a fast growing industry, and medical care for pets is also expanding. PetMed Express Inc. (PETS) is the large online pet pharmacy. The stock has a trailing price to earnings ratio of 14.4, and a forward PE of 14.1. Earnings were flat for the latest quarter. The company provides a substantial yield of 5.2%.

Dog and Cat Hospitals

One pet stock with a great stock ticker symbol is VCA Antech Inc. (WOOF). What a great stock symbol this company has. The company offers medical and surgical services through its animal hospitals. The company also provides laboratory services for animal hospitals and practices. The stock trades at 21 times trailing earnings and 16 times forward earnings.

More Pet Stocks

If you want to see a free list of pet and animal related stocks, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. The list has info on the PE, forward PE, PEG, and yield.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com