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Sector: Consumer Defensive
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Central Garden & Pet Company

CENTA Mid Cap

Consumer Defensive · Packaged Foods

Updated: Jun 14, 2026, 22:19 UTC

$37.77
+1.45% today
52W: $25.97 – $38.15
52W Low: $25.97 Position: 96.9% 52W High: $38.15

Price Chart

Key Metrics

P/E Ratio
13.73x
Price-to-Earnings
Forward P/E
12.2x
Forward Price/Earnings
P/S Ratio
0.75x
Price-to-Sales
EV/EBITDA
8.66x
Enterprise Value/EBITDA
Div. Yield
Annual dividend yield
Market Cap
$2.4B
Market Capitalization
Revenue Growth
8.7%
YoY Revenue Growth
Profit Margin
5.42%
Net profit margin
ROE
10.75%
Return on Equity
Beta
0.55
Market sensitivity
Short Interest
2.29%
% of float sold short
Avg. Volume
321,693
Average daily volume

Valuation Analysis

Signal
Undervalued
vs. S&P 500 avg P/E (24.7x)
Analyst Consensus
Buy
4 analysts
Avg. Price Target
$43.50
+15.17% upside
Target Range
$32.00 – $50.00

About the Company

Central Garden & Pet Company produces and distributes various products for the lawn and garden, and pet supplies markets in the United States. It operates through two segments: Pet and Garden. The Pet segment provides dog and cat supplies, such as dog treats and chews, toys, pet beds and containment, grooming items, waste management, and training pads; supplies for aquatics, small animals, reptiles, and pet birds, including toys, enclosures, habitats, bedding, and food and supplements; products for equine and livestock; animal and household health and insect control products; aquariums and terrariums, including fixtures and stands, water conditioners and supplements, water pumps and filters, and lighting systems and accessories; and live fish and small animals, as well as outdoor cushions.

Sector: Consumer Defensive Industry: Packaged Foods Country: United States Employees: 6,000 Exchange: NMS

Central Garden & Pet Company Stock at a Glance

Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) is currently trading at $37.77 with a market capitalization of $2.4B. The trailing P/E ratio stands at 13.73x, with a forward P/E of 12.2x. The 52-week range spans from $25.97 to $38.15; the current price is 1% below the yearly high. Year-over-year revenue growth stands at +8.7%. The net profit margin stands at 5.42%.

💰 Dividend

Central Garden & Pet Company currently does not pay a dividend. The company typically reinvests its earnings into growth initiatives and product development.

📊 Analyst Rating

4 analysts rate Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) on consensus: Buy. The average price target is $43.50, implying +15.17% from the current price. Analyst price targets range from $32.00 to $50.00.

Central Garden & Pet Company: The Investment Case in Detail

Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) operates in the Consumer Defensive — specifically Packaged Foods — and is headquartered in United States. Below is a structured read of the investment case built directly from the latest fundamentals, valuation multiples, analyst positioning and smart-money flows. Each section translates raw numbers into the investment logic they imply, so you can decide whether the risk/reward fits your portfolio.

The Bull Case

Earnings growth of 30.6% is outpacing revenue, a sign of operational leverage — fixed costs are being absorbed across a larger base. Wall Street consensus sits at Buy with an average price target implying roughly 15.17% upside from current levels — analyst sentiment is firmly constructive. Our valuation screen flags the stock as undervalued relative to its fundamentals — multiples are running below where the cash flow profile would normally justify.

Valuation in Context

The EV/EBITDA multiple of 8.66x is below the historical equity-market average — strategic acquirers would find the cash-flow profile attractive at this level.

What to Watch Next

  • The forward P/E of 12.2x is meaningfully below the trailing 13.73x — analysts expect earnings to step up; the next earnings release is the test.
  • The share is trading at 96.9% of its 52-week range — a break above the recent high opens technical upside, a failure here often invites profit-taking.

Investment Thesis: Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths
  • Analyst consensus: Buy
  • Currently flagged as undervalued
  • Positive free cash flow
Weaknesses
  • Price near 52-week high — limited upside cushion

Technical Snapshot

50-Day MA
$34.20
+10.44% vs. price
200-Day MA
$31.54
+19.75% vs. price
Below 52W High
−1%
$38.15
Above 52W Low
+45.4%
$25.97

Price trades above both the 50- and 200-day moving averages, with 50d above 200d — a classic bullish setup (golden-cross alignment).

Risk Profile

Market Risk (Beta)
0.55 · Defensive
Moves less than the overall market
Short Interest
2.29% · Low
% of float sold short
Debt-to-Equity
85.85 · Moderate
Total debt / equity

The data points to relatively defensive market behavior.

Trading Data

50-Day MA: $34.20
200-Day MA: $31.54
Volume: 320,581
Avg. Volume: 321,693
Short Ratio: 2.54
P/B Ratio: 1.43x
Debt/Equity: 85.85x
Free Cash Flow: $237.7M

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