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Central Garden & Pet (CENT)
NASDAQ:CENT
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Central Garden Pet (CENT) AI Stock Analysis

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CENT

Central Garden Pet

(NASDAQ:CENT)

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Neutral 68 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$40.00
▲(24.53% Upside)
Central Garden Pet's overall stock score reflects strong profitability and operational efficiency, as highlighted in the earnings call. However, declining revenue and mixed technical indicators present challenges. The reasonable valuation supports the stock's attractiveness, but growth challenges and external pressures like tariffs need to be addressed.
Positive Factors
Operational Efficiency
The company's focus on operational efficiency, as evidenced by margin expansion, indicates strong cost management and profitability, which are crucial for long-term financial health.
E-commerce and Innovation
Growth in e-commerce and product innovation positions the company well to capture market trends and consumer preferences, supporting future revenue growth.
Financial Health
A strong balance sheet with low leverage and available credit provides financial flexibility, enabling strategic investments and resilience against economic fluctuations.
Negative Factors
Declining Revenue
Declining revenue indicates potential challenges in market demand or competitive pressures, which could impact long-term growth if not addressed.
Impact of Tariffs
Tariff impacts can increase costs and reduce margins, posing a risk to profitability and competitiveness in the affected segments over the long term.
Negative Free Cash Flow Growth
Negative free cash flow growth indicates challenges in cash generation, which could limit the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities and manage debt.

Central Garden Pet (CENT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Central Garden Pet Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCentral 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.
How the Company Makes MoneyCentral Garden & Pet generates revenue primarily through the sale of its diverse product offerings in both the Garden and Pet segments. The company sells its products through various channels, including retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and direct sales to consumers. Key revenue streams include sales of pet food and treats, lawn care products, and garden supplies. Additionally, Central Garden & Pet benefits from strategic partnerships with major retailers, which help to expand its distribution network and increase market penetration. The company's focus on innovation and brand development, along with its ability to adapt to market trends, further contributes to its overall earnings.

Central Garden Pet Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Dec 01, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a strong operational performance with record earnings and margin expansion, driven by successful cost management initiatives and e-commerce growth. However, challenges such as declines in the Pet segment, tariff impacts, and unfavorable weather conditions were noted. The company's strategic initiatives and confidence in future growth provide a positive outlook despite these challenges.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Earnings Per Share
The company reported record Q3 and year-to-date GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share, with non-GAAP EPS rising 18% to $1.56.
Margin Expansion
Gross margin expanded by 280 basis points to 34.6%, and non-GAAP operating margin increased by 170 basis points to 14.5%.
Cost and Simplicity Program Success
The program continues to deliver measurable impact, including consolidation of distribution centers, footprint optimization, and streamlined operations.
Strong Garden Segment Performance
Non-GAAP operating income for the Garden segment rose to $85 million, with operating margin expanding by 310 basis points to 18.2%.
E-commerce and Innovation Growth
E-commerce remains a significant channel, and the company is seeing early momentum from product innovations such as Zilla Turtle Sticks and Aqueon SMART LED Lights.
Negative Updates
Decline in Pet Segment Sales
Net sales for the Pet segment totaled $493 million, down 3%, primarily due to the strategic exit of lower-margin durable products.
Impact of Tariffs
The company expects tariff-related inflationary pressures to intensify, especially in the Pet segment, with a projected full-year tariff impact of $10 million.
Challenging Weather Conditions
Extended cool and rainy weather negatively impacted the garden season, affecting seasonal categories such as Controls and Live Plants.
Loss of Product Lines
The exit of two product lines in the Garden third-party distribution business added pressure on net sales, contributing to a 4% decline in the Garden segment.
Company Guidance
During Central Garden & Pet's Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Earnings Call, several key metrics and guidance points were highlighted. The company reported net sales of $961 million, reflecting a 4% decline, while gross profit increased by 5% to $332 million, with a gross margin expansion of 280 basis points to 34.6%. Non-GAAP operating income rose by 9% to $139 million, and non-GAAP EPS grew by 18% to $1.56. The Pet segment's net sales were $493 million, down 3%, while the Garden segment's net sales were $468 million, a 4% decline. The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance of approximately $2.60, despite facing macroeconomic challenges, including tariff-related pressures. Central Garden & Pet emphasized continued focus on operational efficiency through their Cost and Simplicity program and ongoing e-commerce expansion. Additionally, their net leverage ratio was reported at 1.2x, indicating strong financial health with no borrowings under the $750 million credit facility.

Central Garden Pet Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Central Garden Pet demonstrates strong profitability and operational efficiency, with improved margins and return on equity. However, challenges include declining revenue and negative free cash flow growth. The balance sheet remains stable with moderate leverage, but careful management is required to mitigate potential risks.
Income Statement
72
Positive
Central Garden Pet shows a stable gross profit margin of around 31% in the TTM, indicating efficient cost management. However, the company faces challenges with a negative revenue growth rate of -1.12% in the TTM, reflecting declining sales. The net profit margin has improved to 4.44% in the TTM, suggesting better profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins have also improved, indicating operational efficiency. Overall, the income statement reflects a mixed performance with strong profitability but declining revenue.
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90 in the TTM indicates a moderate level of leverage, which is manageable. Return on equity has improved to 8.93% in the TTM, showing effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio of 44.16% suggests a solid equity base relative to total assets. While the balance sheet shows stability, the moderate leverage poses a potential risk if not managed carefully.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
Central Garden Pet's free cash flow growth rate is negative at -6.26% in the TTM, indicating challenges in generating cash. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.55 suggests strong cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.88 indicates that a significant portion of net income is converted into free cash flow. Despite the negative growth in free cash flow, the company maintains a healthy cash conversion, reflecting efficient cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.12B3.20B3.31B3.34B3.30B2.70B
Gross Profit969.74M943.74M946.84M992.30M970.90M796.56M
EBITDA323.26M290.76M307.17M340.98M329.22M253.34M
Net Income138.49M107.98M125.64M152.15M151.75M120.68M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.60B3.55B3.38B3.28B3.12B2.34B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments713.05M753.55M488.73M177.44M426.42M652.71M
Total Debt1.44B1.42B1.37B1.38B1.36B814.06M
Total Liabilities2.07B2.00B1.93B1.95B1.89B1.26B
Stockholders Equity1.59B1.56B1.45B1.33B1.22B1.08B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow312.25M351.76M327.67M-149.24M170.51M221.22M
Operating Cash Flow352.87M394.89M381.63M-34.03M250.84M264.27M
Investing Cash Flow-44.65M-105.19M-34.58M-142.98M-899.36M-48.11M
Financing Cash Flow-165.71M-25.44M-37.55M-66.81M420.48M-60.56M

Central Garden Pet Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price32.12
Price Trends
50DMA
36.19
Negative
100DMA
36.34
Negative
200DMA
36.47
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.12
Positive
RSI
25.43
Positive
STOCH
10.40
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CENT, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 32.12 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 34.83, below the 50-day MA of 36.19, and below the 200-day MA of 36.47, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.12 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 25.43 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 10.40 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CENT.

Central Garden Pet Risk Analysis

Central Garden Pet disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Central Garden Pet reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Central Garden Pet Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$2.45B17.267.89%14.22%-1.81%
68
Neutral
$1.87B14.698.70%-4.90%0.29%
68
Neutral
$1.88B22.558.65%3.24%0.50%-4.46%
58
Neutral
$2.60B80.893.14%19.30%33.65%
56
Neutral
$897.02M2.72-49.21%-2.25%288.79%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CENT
Central Garden Pet
32.12
-1.57
-4.66%
HLF
Herbalife
8.66
1.66
23.71%
JJSF
J & J Snack Foods
96.80
-69.19
-41.68%
SMPL
Simply Good Foods
24.68
-9.53
-27.86%
FRPT
Freshpet
53.50
-88.59
-62.35%
KLG
WK Kellogg Co
23.00
6.68
40.93%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 11, 2025