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Upturn AI Summary - About
Central Garden & Pet Company(CENT)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CENT
09/25/2026: CENT (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Central Garden & Pet Company is a diverse consumer staples firm known for its broad portfolio of pet and garden brands, including Nylabone and Pennington. The company relies on a proven strategy of acquiring and integrating niche brands to build scale and market share. Its primary opportunity lies in expanding its direct-to-consumer digital presence and capturing demand in the premium pet health market. However, investors must monitor risks like retail partner concentration, seasonal earnings volatility, and competition from private labels. As a non-dividend-paying stock, it may be better suited for growth-oriented investors looking for exposure to the steady, albeit competitive, home and garden improvement markets.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company offers moderate growth through M&A, though it lacks the explosive scaling typical of high-growth tech firms. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The stock often lacks the high-velocity price trends sought by pure momentum traders. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | With its established brand portfolio and solid market position, the stock may appeal to those looking for long-term fundamental value. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not pay a cash dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios. |
| Low-risk investor | Mixed fit | While consumer staples are generally defensive, the company's reliance on discretionary spending and acquisition-driven risks adds volatility. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | The stock can experience sharp swings based on quarterly earnings reports and consumer sentiment. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Current trading levels require consistent earnings growth to justify existing multiples. |
| Competition risk (Retail Consolidation) | High | Dependence on major retail partners gives those retailers significant leverage over pricing. |
| Business quality | Medium | While the brand portfolio is strong, the business remains sensitive to commodity and logistics costs. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | Investors receive no current income from dividends. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Success depends heavily on the effective integration of diverse acquired brands into a single operating platform. |
Price Behavior
Rolling Over
The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.
Smooth
The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -15.97% | Avg. Invested days 50 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/25/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Mid-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 2.47B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 14.63 | 1Y Target Price 53 |
Price to earnings Ratio 14.63 | 1Y Target Price 53 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 104.9K shares | Beta 0.54 | 52 Weeks Range 28.77 - 46.97 | Updated Date 09/24/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 28.77 - 46.97 | Updated Date 09/24/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.7 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Segment | Manufacturing and distribution of pet supplies, health, and nutrition products. | This is a recurring revenue business as pet owners consistently need food, toys, and supplies. |
| Garden Segment | Lawn care, fertilizers, seeds, and outdoor decor items. | Revenue here is more seasonal and tracks the strength of the home and garden improvement cycle. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE 14.63 | Forward PE 12.2 | Enterprise Value 2.61B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.8 |
Enterprise Value 2.61B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.8 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.85 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 7.29 | Shares Outstanding 9.65M | Shares Floating 57.53M |
Shares Outstanding 9.65M | Shares Floating 57.53M | ||
Percent Insiders 15.91 | Percent Institutions 98.05 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About Central Garden & Pet Company
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquarters Walnut Creek, CA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1993-07-15 | CEO & Director Mr. Nicholas Lahanas | ||
Sector Consumer Defensive | Industry Packaged Foods | Full time employees 6000 | Website https://www.central.com |
Full time employees 6000 | Website https://www.central.com | ||
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. This segment sells its products under the Aqueon, Cadet, Comfort Zone, Farnam, Four Paws, K&H Pet Products, Kaytee, Nylabone, and Zilla brands. Its Garden segment offers lawn and garden supplies products that include grass seed; vegetable; flower and herb packet seed; wild bird feed, bird feeders, bird houses, and other birding accessories; fertilizers; decorative 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. The company sells its products to independent distributors, big-box retailers, national and regional retail chains, eCommerce and online retailers, grocery stores, nurseries, and mass merchants. Central Garden & Pet Company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California.
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