Is CENT a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our 6-factor quantitative model, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) receives a "Reduce" rating with a composite score of 33.5/100. It is ranked #2,952 out of 4,446 stocks. Key factor scores: Quality 10/100, Value 39/100, Momentum 49/100. The timing signal is "Neutral". This is quantitative analysis only — not investment advice.

What is the stock rating for CENT?

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) has a "Reduce" rating and 2-star score. The composite score of 33.5 ranks it #2,952 among 4,446 U.S. stocks. Ratings are updated weekly using academically-proven factor models.

What sector is CENT in?

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO operates in the Consumer Staples sector (Wholesale industry) with a market cap of $2.27 billion. It is classified as a mid-cap stock.

Does CENT pay a dividend?

CENT does not currently pay a regular dividend. The company may be reinvesting profits for growth.

What is CENT's P/E ratio?

CENT has a trailing P/E ratio of 9.13x. The Consumer Staples sector average is 33.1x. This below-average P/E may indicate the stock is undervalued.

How profitable is CENT?

CENT's quality factor score is 10/100. Gross margin: 32.5%. ROE: 15.7% vs sector average 7.7%. Margins are moderate to low, reflecting competitive market dynamics.

How is CENT valued compared to peers?

CENT's value factor score is 39/100 (higher = cheaper). Key multiples: P/E 9.1x, EV/EBITDA 9.6x. Trading at a premium relative to peers.

What is CENT's debt level?

CENT's debt-to-equity ratio is 76%. Sector average: 72%. Moderate leverage is normal for established companies.

CENT has a beta of 0.43, meaning it is less volatile than the market. Stability score: 75/100.

Does CENT have high short interest?

CENT's short interest factor score is 11/100 (higher = less short selling). Elevated short interest may indicate bearish sentiment or short squeeze potential.

CENT Stock Analysis: Top Mid-Cap Reduce (Score 33.5/100) | Blank Capital Research

Data Series	1D	5D	1M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y
CENT	+0.24%	+4.38%	+1.94%	+16.27%	+5.03%	-	-	-
Industry Proxy XLP	-1.29%	+0.59%	-3.91%	+6.04%	+3.81%	-	-	-
U.S. Market SPY	-0.07%	+3.60%	+0.34%	-0.36%	+29.52%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Market	+0.31%	+0.78%	+1.60%	+16.63%	-24.50%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Sector	+1.54%	+3.80%	+5.84%	+10.23%	+1.22%	-	-	-

Metric	CENT	Benchmark
P/E Ratio	9.1x	-72%
EV/EBITDA	9.6x	+38%
Price / Book	1.4x

Stock Entity	Score▼	Quality	Value	Momentum	P/E Ratio	ROE	Gross Margin	Net Margin	Rev Growth	D/E Ratio	Market Cap	Compare
ITRN Ituran Location & Control Ltd.	60	48	82	70	19.6x	122.1%	47.8%	16.8%	-	0.0x	$1.0B	VS
SENEA Seneca Foods Corp	55	49	59	69	10.3x	14.4%	14.3%	6.7%	70.9%	39.0x	$1.1B	VS
JBSS SANFILIPPO JOHN B & SON INC	54	50	57	61	12.8x	20.2%	19.3%	6.3%	14.0%	11.0x	$965M	VS
ARW ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.	53	50	73	63	15.8x	7.2%	11.2%	1.6%	11.9%	337.0x	$7.5B	VS
SFD SMITHFIELD FOODS INC	53	50	72	57	13.8x	11.9%	19.9%	7.5%	7.3%	29.0x	$11.3B	VS
BG Bunge Global SA	53	50	54	69	24.9x	5.7%	5.4%	1.8%	67.3%	59.0x	$24.8B	VS
DAR DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.	53	50	55	71	142.7x	1.5%	24.1%	1.2%	13.3%	114.0x	$9.9B	VS
ADM Archer-Daniels-Midland Co	52	50	52	64	54.6x	2.8%	6.4%	0.8%	-8.4%	33.0x	$34.9B	VS
CTVA Corteva, Inc.	52	49	51	60	50.6x	4.7%	42.9%	0.2%	-57.2%	76.0x	$56.3B	VS
MO ALTRIA GROUP, INC.	51	50	67	51	13.6x	-	62.1%	33.8%	-2.2%	-990.0x	$109.5B	VS
CENT CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO	34	10	39	49	9.1x	15.7%	32.5%	6.7%	-31.4%	76.0x	$2.3B

Key Ratio	TTM	2026	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Gross Margin %	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%
Operating Margin %	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
EBITDA Margin %	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Net Margin %	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%
FCF Margin %	-	-	-	11.0%	-	-	-	8.2%	7.3%	3.4%	3.4%
ROE %	0.2%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
ROA %	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
ROIC %	0.1%	0.5%	7.1%	7.4%	6.3%	8.1%	8.3%	14.0%	10.1%	10.9%	11.7%

Key Ratio

TTM

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Gross Margin %

0.3%

Operating Margin %

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

EBITDA Margin %

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

Net Margin %

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

FCF Margin %

11.0%

8.2%

7.3%

3.4%

ROE %

0.2%

0.0%

0.1%

ROA %

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

ROIC %

0.1%

0.5%

7.1%

7.4%

6.3%

8.1%

8.3%

14.0%

10.1%

10.9%

11.7%

Line Item	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
	$3.4B	$3.1B	$3.2B	$3.3B	$3.3B	$3.3B	$2.7B	$2.4B	$2.2B	$2.1B	$1.8B	$1.7B
	—	$2.1B	—	$2.4B	$2.3B	$2.3B	—	—	—	—	—	—
	$1.1B	$997M	$944M	$947M	$992M	$971M	$797M	$704M	$675M	$633M	$553M	$488M
Gross Margin	32.5%	31.9%	29.5%	28.6%	29.7%	29.4%	29.5%	29.5%	30.5%	30.8%	30.2%	29.6%
	—	$747M	—	$736M	$732M	$716M	—	—	—	—	—	—
Depreciation	—	—	$93M	—	—	—	$57M	$53M	$49M	$44M	$42M	$36M
Total Operating Expenses	—	$747M	—	$736M	$732M	$716M	—	—	—	—	—	—
	$361M	$250M	$185M	$211M	$260M	$254M	$198M	$152M	$167M	$156M	$129M	$91M
EBIT	$361M	$250M	$185M	$211M	$260M	$254M	$198M	$152M	$167M	$156M	$129M	$91M
EBITDA	$361M	$250M	$274M	$211M	$260M	$254M	$251M	$205M	$212M	$199M	$154M	$127M
Operating Margin	9.9%	8.0%	5.8%	6.4%	7.8%	7.7%	7.3%	6.4%	7.5%	7.6%	7.1%	5.5%
EBITDA Margin	10.6%	8.0%	8.6%	6.4%	7.8%	7.7%	9.3%	8.6%	9.6%	9.7%	8.4%	7.7%
	—	$58M	$58M	$57M	$58M	$59M	$44M	$43M	$39M	$28M	$43M	$40M
	—	$217M	—	$162M	$199M	$195M	—	—	—	—	—	—
Income Tax Expense	—	$53M	$33M	$36M	$46M	$42M	$32M	$27M	$3M	$47M	$24M	$19M
	$248M	$164M	$109M	$126M	$153M	$153M	$122M	$93M	$124M	$80M	$46M	$33M
Net Margin	6.7%	5.2%	3.4%	3.8%	4.6%	4.6%	4.5%	3.9%	5.6%	3.9%	2.5%	2.0%
	$0.11	$2.58	$1.64	$2.40	$2.86	$2.81	$2.23	$1.63	$2.39	$1.57	$0.91	$0.66
Diluted EPS	$0.11	$2.55	$1.64	$2.35	$2.80	$2.75	$2.23	$1.63	$2.39	$1.57	$0.91	$0.66
Weighted Avg Basic	—	63M	—	52M	53M	54M	—	—	—	—	—	—
Weighted Avg Diluted	—	64M	—	53M	54M	55M	—	—	—	—	—	—

Line Item

TTM

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

$3.4B

$3.1B

$3.2B

$3.3B

$2.7B

$2.4B

$2.2B

$2.1B

$1.8B

$1.7B

—

$2.1B

—

$2.4B

$2.3B

—

$1.1B

$997M

$944M

$947M

$992M

$971M

$797M

$704M

$675M

$633M

$553M

$488M

Gross Margin

32.5%

31.9%

29.5%

28.6%

29.7%

29.4%

29.5%

30.5%

30.8%

30.2%

29.6%

—

$747M

—

$736M

$732M

$716M

—

Depreciation

—

$93M

—

$57M

$53M

$49M

$44M

$42M

$36M

Total Operating Expenses

—

$747M

—

$736M

$732M

$716M

—

$361M

$250M

$185M

$211M

$260M

$254M

$198M

$152M

$167M

$156M

$129M

$91M

EBIT

$361M

$250M

$185M

$211M

$260M

$254M

$198M

$152M

$167M

$156M

$129M

$91M

EBITDA

$361M

$250M

$274M

$211M

$260M

$254M

$251M

$205M

$212M

$199M

$154M

$127M

Operating Margin

9.9%

8.0%

5.8%

6.4%

7.8%

7.7%

7.3%

6.4%

7.5%

7.6%

7.1%

5.5%

EBITDA Margin

10.6%

8.0%

8.6%

6.4%

7.8%

7.7%

9.3%

8.6%

9.6%

9.7%

8.4%

7.7%

—

$58M

$57M

$58M

$59M

$44M

$43M

$39M

$28M

$43M

$40M

—

$217M

—

$162M

$199M

$195M

—

Income Tax Expense

—

$53M

$33M

$36M

$46M

$42M

$32M

$27M

$3M

$47M

$24M

$19M

$248M

$164M

$109M

$126M

$153M

$122M

$93M

$124M

$80M

$46M

$33M

Net Margin

6.7%

5.2%

3.4%

3.8%

4.6%

4.5%

3.9%

5.6%

3.9%

2.5%

2.0%

$0.11

$2.58

$1.64

$2.40

$2.86

$2.81

$2.23

$1.63

$2.39

$1.57

$0.91

$0.66

Diluted EPS

$0.11

$2.55

$1.64

$2.35

$2.80

$2.75

$2.23

$1.63

$2.39

$1.57

$0.91

$0.66

Weighted Avg Basic

—

63M

—

52M

53M

54M

—

Weighted Avg Diluted

—

64M

—

53M

54M

55M

—

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Last updated: April 2026

Company Overview — What Does CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO Do?

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 grooming products, waste management and training pads, and pet containment; supplies for aquatics, small animals, reptiles, and pet birds, including toys, cages and habitats, bedding, and food and supplements; animal and household health and insect control products; live fish and products for fish, reptiles, and other aquarium-based pets, such as aquariums, furniture and lighting fixtures, pumps, filters, water conditioners, food, and supplements; and products for horses and livestock, as well as outdoor cushions and pillows. This segment sells its products under the Aqueon, Cadet, Comfort Zone, Farnam, Four Paws, Kaytee, K&H Pet Products, Nylabone, and Zilla brands. The Garden segment offers lawn and garden supplies products that include grass seed; wild bird feed, bird feeders, bird houses, and other birding accessories; fertilizers; decorative outdoor lifestyle products; live plants; and weed and grass, as well as other herbicides, insecticide, and pesticide products. This segment sells its lawn and garden supplies products under the AMDRO, Ferry-Morse, Pennington, and Sevin brands, as well as under Bell Nursery, Lilly Miller, and Over-N-Out other brand names. Central Garden & Pet Company was founded in 1955 and is based in Walnut Creek, California. CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) is classified as a mid-cap stock in the Consumer Staples sector, specifically within the Wholesale industry. The company is led by CEO Timothy P. Cofer and employs approximately 7,000 people, headquartered in Wilmington, California. With a market capitalization of $2.3B, CENT is one of the notable companies in the Consumer Staples sector.

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

As of April 2026, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 33.5/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.CENT ranks #2,952 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Consumer Staples sector, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO ranks #118 of 180 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Consumer Staples peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).

CENT Stock Price and 52-Week Range

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) currently trades at $37.38. The stock gained $0.09 (0.2%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for CENT is $41.25, which means the stock is currently trading -9.4% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $28.77, putting the stock 29.9% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 49K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.

Is CENT Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) carries a value factor score of 39/100 in the Blank Capital model, signaling premium valuation that prices in significant future growth. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 9.13x, compared to the Consumer Staples sector average of 33.11x — a discount of 72%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 1.43x, versus the sector average of 1.74x. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.66x, compared to 0.35x for the average Consumer Staples stock. On an enterprise value basis, CENT trades at 9.57x EV/EBITDA, versus 6.93x for the sector.

At current multiples, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO trades at a premium to most Consumer Staples peers. This elevated valuation may be justified if the company can sustain above-average growth rates and profitability, but it also creates downside risk if earnings disappoint expectations.

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) earns a quality factor score of 10/100, signaling below-average profitability metrics relative to the broader market. The return on equity (ROE) is 15.7%, compared to the Consumer Staples sector average of 7.7%, which is within a healthy range. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 6.8% versus the sector average of 3.1%.

On a margin basis, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO reports gross margins of 32.5%, compared to 26.2% for the sector. The operating margin is 9.9% (sector: 2.9%). Net profit margin stands at 6.7%, versus 1.6% for the average Consumer Staples stock. Revenue growth is running at -31.4% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.1% for the sector. Profitability is below benchmark levels, which may reflect industry headwinds, elevated reinvestment, or structural challenges.

CENT Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO has a debt-to-equity ratio of 76.0%, compared to the Consumer Staples sector average of 72.0%. Leverage is within a manageable range for the industry, though investors should monitor debt trends over time. The current ratio is 3.42x, indicating strong short-term liquidity. Total debt on the balance sheet is $1.19B.

CENT has a beta of 0.43, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO is 75/100, indicating low-volatility characteristics and consistent price behavior that appeals to risk-averse investors.

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

In TTM 2026, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO reported revenue of $3.41B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.11. Net income for the quarter was $248M. Gross margin was 32.5%. Operating income came in at $361M.

In Q1 2026, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO reported revenue of $617M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.11. Net income for the quarter was $7M. Gross margin was 30.9%. Operating income came in at $17M.

In FY 2025, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO reported revenue of $3.13B and earnings per share (EPS) of $2.58. Net income for the quarter was $164M. Gross margin was 31.9%. Revenue grew -2.2% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $250M.

In Q3 2025, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO reported revenue of $961M and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.53. Net income for the quarter was $95M. Gross margin was 34.5%. Revenue grew -3.6% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $135M.

Over the past 8 quarters, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $900M to $3.41B. Investors analyzing CENT stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.

CENT Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among smaller companies in the Wholesale industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Consumer Staples dividend stocks may want to explore other Consumer Staples stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.

CENT Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) has a momentum factor score of 49/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 38/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 11/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.

CENT vs Competitors — Consumer Staples Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

Within the Consumer Staples sector, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) ranks #118 out of 180 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places CENT in the lower half of all Consumer Staples stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include Ituran Location & Control Ltd. (ITRN) with a score of 60.3/100, DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. (DAR) with a score of 52.9/100, Bunge Global SA (BG) with a score of 53.0/100, SANFILIPPO JOHN B & SON INC (JBSS) with a score of 54.1/100, and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (ADM) with a score of 52.2/100.

Comparing CENT against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full CENT vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.

CENT Next Earnings Date

No upcoming earnings date has been announced for CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.

Should You Buy CENT? — Investment Thesis Summary

The quantitative profile for CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO suggests caution. The quality score of 10/100 flags below-average profitability. The value score of 39/100 indicates premium valuation. Low volatility (stability score 75/100) reduces downside risk.

In summary, CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 33.5/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on CENT stock.

Related Resources for CENT Investors

Explore more research and tools: CENT vs S&P 500 comparison, top Consumer Staples stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare CENT head-to-head with peers: CENT vs ITRN, CENT vs DAR, CENT vs BG.

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