Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.12 EPS

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA) issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The company reported ($0.09) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.21) by $0.12, Zacks reports. Central Garden & Pet had a return on equity of 10.77% and a net margin of 4.44%. Central Garden & Pet updated its FY 2026 guidance to 2.700- EPS.

Central Garden & Pet Stock Down 2.2%

CENTA traded down $0.65 on Monday, reaching $28.59. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 560,671 shares, compared to its average volume of 365,746. Central Garden & Pet has a 1 year low of $25.97 and a 1 year high of $37.35. The business’s 50 day moving average is $28.80 and its 200 day moving average is $31.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 3.56 and a quick ratio of 2.28. The stock has a market cap of $1.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.00 and a beta of 0.63.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Central Garden & Pet

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 181.2% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 549,355 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,222,000 after buying an additional 354,016 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its holdings in Central Garden & Pet by 1,109.1% during the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 196,777 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,811,000 after acquiring an additional 180,503 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd increased its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 52.8% in the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 391,758 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,569,000 after purchasing an additional 135,340 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 107.8% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 236,783 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,992,000 after purchasing an additional 122,857 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 1,120.9% in the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 127,025 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,751,000 after purchasing an additional 116,621 shares in the last quarter. 50.82% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CENTA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Central Garden & Pet in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Central Garden & Pet from $35.00 to $30.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Central Garden & Pet from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Zacks Research cut Central Garden & Pet from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price target on Central Garden & Pet from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Central Garden & Pet presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $38.33.

Central Garden & Pet Company Profile

Central Garden & Pet Co engages in the production and distribution of branded and private label products for the lawn, garden, and pet supplies markets. It operates through the Pet and Garden segments. The Pet segment focuses on dog and cat supplies such as dog treats and chews, toys, pet beds and containment, grooming products, waste management and training pads, supplies for aquatics, small animals, reptiles and pet birds including toys, cages and habitats, bedding, food and supplements, products for equine and livestock, animal and household health and insect control products, live fish, and small animals, as well as outdoor cushions.