CENT

Central Garden & Pet

Fundamental data last updated:April 13, 2026

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company profile

SECTOR

Consumer Defensive

industry

Packaged Foods

Exchange

Nasdaq

County of HQ

United States

Next Earnings Date

05/06/26

Business Summary

Central Garden & Pet operates a portfolio of branded products across pet care and garden categories, generating cash through repeat consumer purchases in everyday, non-discretionary segments. The company benefits from broad retail distribution channels and shelf space that smaller competitors struggle to secure. Cash flow is driven by scale purchasing, brand recognition, and steady replenishment demand rather than breakthrough innovation. Its moat is practical and operational—rooted in distribution depth, category breadth, and consistent consumer need rather than high-margin intellectual property.

 


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VALUATION

P/E

15.3

Market Cap ($M USD)

$2,114

Forward P/E

12.5

PEG

2

PRICE TO SALES

0.8

PRICE TO BOOK

1.5

EV / EBITDA

8.1

5-Year Average P/E

Free Cash Flow Yield

DCF Value

Graham Number

Price to FCF

EV to FCF

Earnings Yield

FCF Yield

DIVIDEND

Yield

-

Annual Payout

-

Payout Ratio

-

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

0

5-Year Dividend Growth Rate

-

Financial Health & Profitability

Earnings Per Share

$2.47

Next Year EPS Growth Estimate

$2.99

Next Year Revenue Growth Estimate

2.00%

Return on Equity (ROE)

9.90%

FREE CASH FLOW

Operating Margin

7.70%

Debt-to-Equity

0.9

Piotroski F-Score

7

Altman Z-Score

2.5

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

7.10%

Current Ratio

3.4

Quick Ratio

Net Debt to EBITDA

Interest Coverage

Gross Profit margin

FCF PER SHARE

REVENUE PER SHARE

Analyze CENT on TradingView

Gainseekers Quantitative Analysis

Summary

At 15.3x earnings and 12.5x forward earnings, the market is pricing CENT as a low-growth, steady defensive rather than a compounding machine. A PEG of 2 suggests growth is not cheap, yet the modest 0.8x sales and 1.5x book multiples indicate limited balance sheet premium. The Altman Z-Score of 2.5 places the company in a grey zone—not distressed, but not fortress-level safe—while a 3.4 current ratio signals strong near-term liquidity. This is not a broken company, but it is being valued as operationally average with muted growth, implying the market sees stabilization rather than acceleration ahead.

AI Exposure / Tech Reliance

As a Consumer Defensive company in Packaged Foods, CENT operates in categories where AI disruption risk is low and demand is non-cyclical. Technology adoption will likely center on supply chain optimization and margin enhancement rather than product displacement. The industry profile favors operational efficiency gains over existential tech threats.

The Bull Case

A GARP or deep value investor could justify ownership based on operational stability and balance sheet resilience. The Piotroski F-Score of 7 signals solid financial health and improving fundamentals, while a 9.90% operating margin in a defensive category shows disciplined cost control. ROIC at 7.10% exceeds many low-margin staples peers and suggests capital is being deployed with moderate efficiency. The 12.5 forward P/E paired with a strong 3.4 current ratio creates a setup where modest execution improvements could rerate the stock without requiring heroic growth assumptions.

The Bear Case

The red flags are not subtle. A PEG of 2 implies investors are paying a full price relative to growth expectations, and a 2.00% return on equity is weak for a consumer defensive operator. Debt to equity of 7.70% is low, but the Altman Z-Score of 2.5 keeps the company in a cautionary balance sheet zone rather than a position of strength. The combination of muted profitability metrics and a consensus target that does not imply aggressive upside suggests limited catalyst visibility.

Market Sentiment & Smart Money

Short Interest %

5.90%

Analyst Consensus

2.2

Average Analyst Price Target

$46.00

Institutional Ownership %

97.00%

1-Year Beta

0.67

Insider Buying % (6 Mo)

16.00%%

Distance to 52-Week High

90.60%

Distance to 52-Week Low

129.90%

EARNINGS SURPRISE %

50-DAY SMA

200-DAY SMA

⚠️ Financial Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Information may be delayed or inaccurate. We may earn a commission from partner links.