dogThe pet industry continues to chug along.  Based on the information available, the industry posted strong growth in 2012 and is demonstrating all the critical signs of continued health — rising ownership levels, increasing innovation, expanding consumer spend, earnings growth from publicly traded participants, and active capital markets, both private placements and M&A.  In a year that was challenging due to economic uncertainty and political gridlock, the pet market did not miss a beat.

That said, we are only cautiously optimistic about 2013 on a relative basis. While we expect the industry to deliver a solid year when compared to other consumer segments, the pet market may have a difficult time out doing itself in 2013 for three reasons. First, the super premium food rotation that continues to compel growth in consumables is slowing, just not at the pace previously predicted.  At some point it will wane as a driver; 2013 may not be that year but the rally is clearly in the later innings, having only been extended by consumers concerns about quality and an increasing ability to finance said premium food purchases through rising disposable incomes. Second, the industry delivered incredible results in 2012, and comping against those results would be a challenge for an industry.  Notably, public traded pure-play pet companies grew earnings by over 21% in 2012, compared to 9.3% for the S&P500.  As a result, public traded equity prices of these pet companies outperformed the broader market by 25%. Finally, the industry is in a transitional period. Core pet owner demographics are changing, with Baby Boomer influence waning and GenX/GenY/Hispanic influence on the ascendency. Wellness as a central growth theme has benefited product sales, but veterinary volume growth remains poor. Until the product and services side are in sync, it will have difficulty achieving full impact. And channel shift from premises to online is taking place, albeit at a slow pace.

The industry also has meaningful upside to 2013 projected growth of 4.3%. That upside comes from five (apparently not everything comes in three) factors. First, consumers are in an upgrade cycle, having spent 1.9% more per pet product unit in 2012 and 2011.  If consumers continue to upgrade, or the impetus to upgrade expands to a broader segment of pet owners, revenues will increase faster than anticipated. Second, convenience is on the rise. Products and services are becoming increasingly available and operating frameworks are evolving to enable manufacturers broader reach. If access accelerates at a faster pace, revenues growth will benefit. Third, non-health service offerings continue to improve in both concept and delivery.  If disposable income continues to rise, or rises faster than anticipated, for core pet consumers, service revenues will benefit due to their discretionary nature. Fourth, the potential for the wellness theme to converge across product and service is improving through the continuing investment in information services. Information has the ability to ease the tension between owner and health provider. If platform adoption/usage accelerates faster than anticipated that will be good for veterinary clinic utilization.  Finally, capital continues to target the industry for above market returns.  Professionalization of the industry is good for growth.  If private placement volume accelerates industry performance will benefit.

As always, a full copy of my industry report is available by email.

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