Central Garden & Pet Company CENTA
- Market cap
- $2.2B
- P/E
- 12.6×
Follow CENTA
Target Price Range
Analyst price targets
Free account| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.80 | 22.50 | 21.71 | 16.41 | 17.33 | 28.28 | 26.95 | 27.02 | 27.70 | 25.97 |
Analyst estimates 2026–2028 Powerpack |
Low Price
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| 25.73 | 33.07 | 33.58 | 29.54 | 32.88 | 44.66 | 38.90 | 36.74 | 41.03 | 37.35 |
High Price
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| 3,600 | 4,100 | 5,400 | 5,800 | 6,300 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 6,700 | 6,450 | 6,000 |
Employees
|
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| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Revenue/Emp
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| 1,829 | 2,054 | 2,215 | 2,383 | 2,696 | 3,304 | 3,339 | 3,310 | 3,200 | 3,129 |
Revenue
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| 30.24% | 30.80% | 30.49% | 29.54% | 29.55% | 29.39% | 29.72% | 28.60% | 29.49% | 31.87% |
Gross Margin
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| 70 | 126 | 127 | 119 | 154 | 195 | 199 | 162 | 142 | 217 |
EBT
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| 3.81% | 6.15% | 5.75% | 5.00% | 5.70% | 5.90% | 5.96% | 4.91% | 4.45% | 6.93% |
EBT Margin
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| 46 | 80 | 124 | 93 | 122 | 153 | 153 | 126 | 109 | 164 |
Net Income
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| 42 | 44 | 49 | 53 | 57 | 77 | 84 | 90 | 106 | 89 |
Depreciation
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| 29.88 | 32.72 | 34.27 | 33.58 | 39.93 | 49.02 | 50.19 | 50.54 | 48.71 | 49.59 |
Revenue/Sh
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| 0.73 | 1.26 | 1.91 | 1.30 | 1.78 | 2.25 | 2.29 | 1.92 | 1.64 | 2.58 |
Earnings/Sh
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| 2.47 | 1.82 | 1.77 | 2.89 | 3.91 | 3.72 | (0.51) | 5.83 | 6.01 | 5.27 |
Cash Flow/Sh
|
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| (0.39) | (0.58) | (0.59) | (0.44) | (0.64) | (1.19) | (1.73) | (0.82) | (0.66) | (0.66) |
Capex/Sh
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| 2.09 | 1.25 | 1.18 | 2.44 | 3.28 | 2.53 | (2.24) | 5.00 | 5.35 | 4.61 |
Free CF/Sh
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| 9.06 | 10.15 | 14.74 | 14.04 | 15.96 | 18.16 | 20.06 | 22.18 | 23.70 | 25.12 |
Book Value/Sh
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| 61 | 63 | 65 | 71 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 65 | 66 | 63 |
Shares
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| 27.25 | 24.02 | 13.65 | 17.11 | 16.06 | 15.36 | 11.99 | 16.58 | 19.17 | 11.45 |
PE Ratio
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| 0.66 | 0.92 | 0.77 | 0.66 | 0.72 | 0.70 | 0.54 | 0.63 | 0.64 | 0.60 |
PS Ratio
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| 2.19 | 2.95 | 1.79 | 1.58 | 1.81 | 1.89 | 1.36 | 1.43 | 1.32 | 1.18 |
PB Ratio
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| 0.82 | 1.09 | 0.86 | 0.74 | 0.73 | 0.93 | 0.84 | 0.83 | 0.78 | 0.69 |
EV/Sales
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| 11.79 | 28.56 | 25.01 | 10.13 | 8.95 | 17.97 | (18.85) | 8.43 | 7.06 | 7.41 |
EV/FCF
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| 151 | 114 | 114 | 205 | 264 | 251 | (34) | 382 | 395 | 333 |
Op' Cash Flow
|
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| (24) | (36) | (38) | (32) | (43) | (80) | (115) | (54) | (43) | (41) |
Capex
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| 128 | 78 | 76 | 173 | 221 | 171 | (149) | 328 | 352 | 291 |
FCF
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| 481 | 463 | 1,004 | 1,029 | 1,085 | 1,021 | 1,088 | 1,249 | 1,371 | 1,437 |
Working Cap'
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| 395 | 396 | 692 | 693 | 694 | 1,186 | 1,187 | 1,188 | 1,190 | 1,192 |
Total Debt
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| 291 | 351 | 199 | 182 | 28 | 746 | 994 | 685 | 422 | 293 |
Net Debt
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| 555 | 637 | 953 | 996 | 1,078 | 1,224 | 1,335 | 1,453 | 1,558 | 1,585 |
Sh' Equity
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| 3.85% | 6.34% | 7.69% | 4.72% | 5.53% | 5.56% | 4.76% | 3.77% | 3.12% | 4.54% |
ROA
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| 9.56% | 9.88% | 9.08% | 8.06% | 11.19% | 8.08% | 6.98% | 6.16% | 5.85% | 8.32% |
ROIC
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| 8.39% | 13.23% | 15.55% | 9.52% | 11.64% | 13.19% | 11.89% | 9.01% | 7.17% | 10.36% |
ROE
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Central Garden & Pet Company peers in Packaged Foods
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENT Central Garden & Pet Company | $2.2B | 14.6× | Compare |
| UTZ Utz Brands, Inc. | $2.1B | 0.0× | Compare |
| MZTI The Marzetti Company | $2.8B | 14.4× | Compare |
| FRPT Freshpet, Inc. | $2.8B | 13.9× | Compare |
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOMD Nomad Foods Limited | $1.5B | 10.4× | Compare |
| POST Post Holdings, Inc. | $3.3B | 12.3× | Compare |
| JJSF J & J Snack Foods Corp. | $1.4B | 29.6× | Compare |
| HLF Herbalife Ltd | $1.3B | 7.8× | Compare |
Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) key facts
- Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) is a Packaged Foods company in the Consumer Defensive sector, listed on Nasdaq.
- Central Garden & Pet Company’s revenue for fiscal 2025 (year ended September 2025) was $3.1 billion, down 2.23% from fiscal 2024.
- Net income was $164.0 million, or $2.58 per share (basic), a net margin of 5.20%.
- As of September 25, 2026, CENTA traded at $34.06, a market capitalization of $2.2 billion.
- At that price the stock trades at 12.6× trailing-twelve-month earnings and 0.7× sales.
- Return on equity was 10.4% and debt-to-equity 0.68.
Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) Latest News
23 Sep
Nylabone, a brand in Central Garden & Pet (CENT/CENTA), launches its first chew toys made with real meats—chicken, bison, venison, bacon, and beef—to satisfy dogs' natural chewing instincts. Actress Ashley Tisdale partners with Nylabone to promote the line, including softer puppy variants for teething. The real-meat chews come in Original Bone, Textured Ring, Femur Bone, and Comfort-Hold Wishbone. Puppy variants include the Puppy Chew Groove Bone and a Groove Bone & Femur Bone twin pack in beef and bacon. Available now on Amazon, Chewy, and Walmart for puppies. Nylabone says chewing supports mood, reduces destructive behavior, mental engagement, and dental health. Part of Central Garden & Pet, which posted $3.1 billion in net sales in 2025. The release includes quotes from Ashley Tisdale and Miguel Zorrilla, SVP of Marketing. Introduces a differentiated real-meat chew line in a core pet category, likely modestly lifting sales while not fundamentally changing CENTA's overall trajectory.
21 Sep
Central Garden & Pet announced a planned leadership transition in its Garden segment. J.D. Walker, President of Garden Consumer Products, will retire effective September 26, 2026. Jason Barnes, Executive Vice President of Garden Consumer Products, will assume responsibility for sales, marketing and service across Central's Garden segment and manage Branded Controls, Grass Seed, Live Plants, Packet Seeds and Vendor Partner businesses. Walker will continue in a consulting role afterward. Barnes, who has led Garden Consumer Products since October 2025, brings more than two decades in the lawn and garden industry and previously led Bell Nursery, DoMyOwn, and Central’s Vendor Partner business. CEO Niko Lahanas calls Barnes a strong fit to accelerate growth and innovation; Walker helped expand the portfolio through acquisitions including Arden®, Bell Nursery, Hopewell Nursery, Green Garden™ Products and DoMyOwn™. Central is NASDAQ: CENT/CENTA, with fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, based in Walnut Creek, CA, and about 6,000 employees. Internal succession in a key segment could affect execution and growth trajectory while maintaining continuity.
4 Sep
Central Garden & Pet raises its profit outlook while valuation debate sharpens around the company. Profit outlook increase signals better financial expectations with valuation concerns creating moderate counterbalance.
3 Sep
Central Garden & Pet raised full-year guidance despite a sales decline. Guidance increase points to stronger expected results that may offset reported sales weakness and influence near-term valuation.
26 Aug
Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) Q2 earnings are compared against peer household products stocks. Q2 earnings data can moderately affect short-term financial views and market positioning.
12 Aug
Central Garden & Pet eyes record profits and European expansion via TRIXIE deal. TRIXIE deal enables record profits and European market entry for Central Garden & Pet.
9 Aug
Central Garden & Pet acquires majority interest in a deal and signals plans for additional acquisitions. Majority interest deal plus signaled further acquisitions represent major strategic moves that could significantly alter company trajectory.
6 Aug
Central Garden & Pet beat Q3 earnings expectations and raised its FY26 EPS outlook. Q3 earnings beat and raised FY26 EPS guidance indicate stronger financial performance and improved future prospects.
Central Garden & Pet Co reports Q3 2026 earnings call results focused on organic growth. Routine earnings highlights on organic growth point to moderate short-term market effects without major strategic shifts.
5 Aug
Central Garden & Pet Q3 earnings call covered revenue, segment performance, and forward outlook for pet and garden businesses. Quarterly results update investor views on near-term financials without altering long-term strategy.
Central Garden & Pet Company beat analyst estimates for Q3 earnings and revenue. Beating quarterly earnings and revenue estimates can lift short-term stock performance and investor sentiment.
Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) exceeded Q2 CY2026 expectations. Quarterly earnings outperformance typically lifts near-term stock price and sentiment without altering long-term strategy.
Central Garden & Pet Company announced its Q3 fiscal 2026 financial results. Quarterly results release can shift investor assessment of financial performance.
29 Jul
Q3 earnings for Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) are projected to decline. Expected Q3 earnings decline may pressure stock performance and investor sentiment.
Trixie pet treats in Germany sells majority stake to Central Garden & Pet. Majority stake purchase in Trixie expands Central Garden & Pet operations into German pet treats market.
28 Jul
Central Garden & Pet acquires TRIXIE to expand its European pet business. TRIXIE acquisition delivers major strategic expansion of European pet operations and market reach.
27 Jul
Central Garden & Pet strikes TRIXIE deal to target European pet-supplies leadership. TRIXIE acquisition drives major European expansion for Central Garden & Pet.
Central Garden & Pet Company will acquire a majority interest in TRIXIE Heimtierbedarf GmbH & Co. KG, Europe’s leading pet supplies and pet snacks company. Acquisition of Europe’s top pet supplies firm expands Central Garden & Pet market presence and revenue base substantially.
13 Jul
Central Garden & Pet's Cost & Simplicity Program shows potential to further expand margins through continued cost management and operational streamlining. Cost & Simplicity Program targets ongoing margin expansion at Central Garden & Pet.
6 Jul
Central Garden & Pet Company examines whether pet product innovations can drive its next growth phase. Pet innovations may moderately influence financial performance and competitive positioning.
26 Jun
Central Garden & Pet (CENT) releases Q1 earnings, prompting buy, sell, or hold analysis for the stock. Q1 earnings results may moderately sway near-term investor sentiment and stock price without altering core operations.
16 May
Central Garden & Pet held its Q1 earnings call covering financial results and addressing the top five analyst questions on performance, margins, and outlook. Q1 earnings call details provide moderate insight into near-term results and strategy without indicating major shifts.
12 May
Wall Street analysts expect Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) stock to rally 35.89%, signaling strong growth potential. Analyst consensus targets 35.89% upside for CENTA, likely shifting investor sentiment and stock trajectory.
7 May
Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) Q2 earnings beat estimates, fueled by strong sales in pet and garden segments. Q2 earnings beat on robust core pet and garden sales indicates strong financial momentum with significant positive impact on market performance.
6 May
Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) released its Q2 2026 earnings call transcript detailing quarterly financial results, management commentary, and future outlook. Q2 2026 earnings transcript reveals financial performance and guidance directly influencing CENTA's stock price and investor expectations.
Central Garden & Pet Company released Q2 earnings call highlights, covering financial results, garden and pet segment performance, strategic updates, and forward guidance. Q2 earnings highlights detail financial performance and outlook, significantly influencing investor sentiment and stock trajectory.
Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) surpassed Q2 earnings and revenue estimates. Beating Q2 earnings and revenue estimates boosts investor sentiment and signals strong financial momentum for future performance.
Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) beat Q1 CY2026 sales expectations. Beating quarterly sales expectations drives positive investor sentiment and enhances short-to-medium term market performance.
Central Garden & Pet Company announced record financial results for Q2 fiscal 2026. Record Q2 results demonstrate strong financial performance poised to significantly boost investor sentiment and market valuation.
Central Garden & Pet Company released Q2 2026 earnings call summary, detailing financial results, segment performance, outlook, and strategic updates. Q2 earnings summary highlights financial performance and guidance, moderately influencing stock sentiment and trajectory.