MDT vs ZTS: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: MDT, with $36.4B of yearly revenue, about 3.8× ZTS's $9.5B.
  • More cash from each sale: ZTS turns 31 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 20 cents at MDT.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Medtronic (MDT) is the larger business by reported revenue: $36.4B in its fiscal year ended Apr 2026, about 3.8× ZTS's $9.5B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). The SEC classifies them differently (Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus; Pharmaceutical Preparations); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Health Care
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
MDT April 24 · ZTS December 31
Reviewed
Jun 18, 2026

MDT vs ZTS: quick comparison

Company factMDTZTS
CompanyMedtronic plcZoetis Inc.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
SEC industryElectromedical & Electrotherapeutic ApparatusPharmaceutical Preparations
Fiscal year-endApril 24December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-06-1810-K · 2026-02-12

MDT vs ZTS: audited financials

  • Scale: MDT's $36.4B of revenue is about 3.8× ZTS's $9.5B.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled MDT 20.2% of revenue; ZTS 30.7% of revenue, or 1.09× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 4 months apart (2026-04-24 for MDT, 2025-12-31 for ZTS), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

MDT: FY ending 2026-04-24 · ZTS: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where MDT and ZTS overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: International markets.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: MDT files as Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus; ZTS as Pharmaceutical Preparations.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: MDT's year ends April 24 and ZTS's December 31, about 4 months apart.
  • Scale: MDT reported about 3.8× the annual revenue of ZTS.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Medtronic plc (MDT)

Medtronic makes medical devices for cardiac, diabetes, neurological, and surgical care.

Zoetis Inc. (ZTS)

Zoetis develops medicines and vaccines for livestock and companion animals.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves MDT

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for MDT. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-06-18.

What moves ZTS

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for ZTS. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-12.

The investment question

You now know MDT reports about 3.8× ZTS's revenue. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to international markets, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. MDT's fiscal year ends April 24, while ZTS's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 20 matched transaction rows for MDT and 25 matched transaction rows for ZTS. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

MDT vs ZTS FAQs

Are MDT and ZTS direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Medtronic files as Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus and Zoetis as Pharmaceutical Preparations. The pair is compared because both map to the International markets research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is MDT or ZTS the bigger company by revenue?

Medtronic (MDT) is the larger business by reported revenue: $36.4B in its fiscal year ended Apr 2026, about 3.8× ZTS's $9.5B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). The SEC classifies them differently (Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus; Pharmaceutical Preparations); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, MDT or ZTS?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this MDT vs ZTS comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Medtronic plc and Zoetis Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

MDT vs ZTS compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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