Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Monsanto Company (MON): The Top Stocks Supporting the American Farmer

Zoetis Inc (NYSE:ZTS)

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What good is raising all of those cattle, pigs, or chickens if you can’t keep them healthy? It makes sense for farmers to protect their investments, and there aren’t many companies offering solutions. Zoetis Inc (NYSE:ZTS) is the world’s largest animal-health company, recording sales of $4.3 billion in 2012. Specifically, Zoetis focuses on the $22 billion medicines and vaccines market that’s expected to hit $30 billion in 2016. That growth is being driven by increasing standards of living in developing countries, which means there’s an increasing appetite for meat products worldwide. Few companies are as uniquely positioned to capitalize on that trend as Zoetis.

Foolish bottom line
There are a number of ways to invest in industries that support the world’s growing population, but I believe the agricultural industry is the obvious choice. That doesn’t mean you’re limited to purely agricultural companies, however. Whether providing cutting-edge machinery or seeds, keeping animals healthy or crops growing, there are plenty of moving parts in the modern agriculture industry. Invest in some of these top stocks for the long term, and you’re sure to benefit.

The article The 4 Top Stocks Supporting the American Farmer originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko has no position in any stocks mentioned. Check out his personal portfolio or his CAPS page, or follow him on Twitter, @BlacknGoldFool, to keep up with his writing on energy, bioprocessing, and biotechnology.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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