** Shares of Elanco Animal Health ELAN.N up 2.7% to $21.81 on Fri after KeyBanc initiates coverage at 'overweight'

** KeyBanc sets PT at $27, implying ~27% upside to stock's last close, and tied for highest on Wall Street, per LSEG

** ELAN's recent launches of Zenrelia (skin allergy drug for dogs) and Credelio Quattro (parasite protection for dogs) are showing strong rev growth, KeyBanc analyst team of Steve Dechert and Scott Schoenhaus wrote in note late Thurs

** These and other innovation products expected to drive annual rev growth to 6-8% from 2025-2028 vs low-single-digits growth from 2022-2024, KeyBanc said

** KeyBanc also expects margin expansion from higher Companion Animal mix and from cost savings plan, Ascend, which ELAN launched mid-year 2025

** In addition, KeyBanc started peer Zoetis ZTS.N at 'sector weight', saying it continues to face headwinds from OA (osteoarthritis) pain mAbs (monoclonal antibodies) products (Librela and Solensia), pointing out they "have been the subject of heavy social media criticism due to their potential side effects"

** Now, 12 of 14 brokerages covering ELAN rate stock "strong buy" or "buy", 2 rate "hold"; their median PT is $24.50, per LSEG data

** Including move on the session, ELAN stock up 80% YTD

** ZTS shares on Fri up 2.4% at $118.71, trimming YTD loss to ~27%

(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)

((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))