CENT

Find your next quality investment with Simply Wall St's easy and powerful screener, trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Central Garden & Pet (NasdaqGS:CENT) received an upgrade to a top analyst rating. The company’s consensus earnings outlook was revised higher, reflecting stronger analyst expectations. The changes highlight increased confidence in Central Garden & Pet’s current business fundamentals. Central Garden & Pet, a supplier of lawn, garden, and pet products, sits at the intersection of consumer spending on pets and home outdoor care. The upgraded view on NasdaqGS:CENT arrives at a time when consumers continue to prioritize pets and home environments, keeping attention on companies tied to these everyday categories. For investors following the pet care and garden supplies space, this shift in sentiment adds a fresh data point to an already closely watched segment. For readers tracking NasdaqGS:CENT, the combination of a ratings upgrade and a higher earnings consensus can serve as a prompt to reassess how the company fits into an existing portfolio or watchlist. Although analyst views can change, they often reflect updated assessments of a company’s operations, cost profile, and end-market demand. Investors may want to monitor future company updates, earnings releases, and sector trends to see how this revised outlook holds up over time. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Central Garden & Pet by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Central Garden & Pet. See which insiders are buying and buying and selling Central Garden & Pet following this latest news. The Zacks Rank upgrade to #1 for Central Garden & Pet, alongside a 2.6% upward revision in the full-year earnings consensus over the past quarter, signals that covering analysts are reassessing the company’s earnings power more positively. The stock’s 32.8% year-to-date return versus a Consumer Discretionary sector average decline of 8.8% frames this as a period where investor interest has been rewarded relative to the wider sector. For current and prospective holders, this combination of stronger sentiment and share price outperformance suggests the market is paying closer attention to Central’s execution on its pet and garden categories, while treating it differently from many discretiona...

Central Garden & Pet’s 36.1% return over the past six months has outpaced the S&P 500 by 29.9%, and its stock price has climbed to $44.51 per share. This was partly due to its solid quarterly results, and the run-up might have investors contemplating their next move. Is there a buying opportunity in Central Garden & Pet, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? Get the full breakdown from our expert analysts, it’s free. Despite the momentum, we’re sitting this one out for now. Here are three reasons why there are better opportunities than CENT, plus one stock we’d rather own. Examining a company’s long-term performance can provide clues about its quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but the best consistently grow over the long haul. Over the last three years, Central Garden & Pet’s demand was weak and its revenue declined by 1% per year. This wasn’t a great result and signals it’s a lower quality business. Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a company’s potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite. Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect Central Garden & Pet’s revenue to drop by 8.2%. This projection doesn’t excite us and implies its products will face some demand challenges. Growth gives us insight into a company’s long-term potential, but how capital-efficient was that growth? Enter ROIC, a metric showing how much operating profit a company generates relative to the money it has raised (debt and equity). Central Garden & Pet historically did a mediocre job investing in profitable growth initiatives. Its five-year average ROIC was 7.8%, somewhat low compared to the best consumer staples companies that consistently pump out 20%+. Central Garden & Pet’s business quality ultimately falls short of our standards. With its shares topping the market in recent months, the stock trades at 15× forward P/E (or $44.51 per share). Investors with a higher risk tolerance might like the company, but we don’t really see a big opportunity at the moment. We’re pretty confident there are more exciting stocks to buy at the moment. We’d recommend looking at the most entrenched endpoint security platform on the market. WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. The best stocks don’t just beat the market on...

As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at household products stocks, starting with Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT). Household products stocks are generally stable investments, as many of the industry's products are essential for a comfortable and functional living space. Recently, there's been a growing emphasis on eco-friendly and sustainable offerings, reflecting the evolving consumer preferences for environmentally conscious options. These trends can be double-edged swords that benefit companies who innovate quickly to take advantage of them and hurt companies that don't invest enough to meet consumers where they want to be with regards to trends. The 10 household products stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line. In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 3.7% on average since the latest earnings results. Enhancing the lives of both pets and homeowners, Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) is a leading producer and distributor of essential products for pet care, lawn and garden maintenance, and pest control. Central Garden & Pet reported revenues of $906.2 million, up 8.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 6.4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates. Interestingly, the stock is up 16.6% since reporting and currently trades at $42.96. Is now the time to buy Central Garden & Pet? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. A leader in multiple consumer product categories, Spectrum Brands (NYSE:SPB) is a diversified company with a portfolio of trusted brands spanning home appliances, garden care, personal care, and pet care. Spectrum Brands reported revenues of $708.9 million, up 4.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.4%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 2% since reporting. It currently trades at $83.29. Is now the time to buy Spectrum Brands? Access our full analysis of the earn...

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Central Garden (CENT). Shares have added about 2.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Central Garden due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Central Garden & Pet Company before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late. Central Garden & Pet turned in a strong second-quarter fiscal 2026, with adjusted earnings of $1.29 per share, up 24% from $1.04 a year ago. The results beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08 by 19.4%. Net sales of $906.2 million increased 8.7% year over year and topped the consensus mark of $838 million by 8.1%. The strong top-line performance was driven by growth across both operating segments, shipment timing shifts from the first quarter into the second and continued strength in higher-margin consumables categories. Gross profit rose to $299.6 million from $273.1 million a year ago. The gross margin expanded 30 basis points to 33.1%. CENT’s gross profit trends reflected improved scale, even as the company managed mix and cost dynamics. Adjusted gross profit rose to $299.6 million from $277.5 million a year ago, supported by higher volume across both segments.The adjusted gross margin was 33.1% versus 33.3% in the prior-year quarter. Management attributed the margin profile to productivity gains and a favorable mix in Pet, which helped offset higher manufacturing costs and a lower-margin sales mix in Garden. Central Garden & Pet converted the quarter’s gross profit into improved operating performance through tighter cost control and SG&A leverage. Operating income rose sharply to $113.9 million from $93.3 million in the prior-year period, while the operating margin improved to 12.6% from 11.2%. Adjusted operating income increased to $114.2 million from $98.7 million in the year-ago quarter. The adjusted operating margin improved to 12.6% from 11.8%. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $139 million from $123 million, while the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 60 basis points year over year to 15.4%.Adjusted SG&A expenses were $185.5 million, beating our estimate of $182.4 million and rising 3.7% year over year. However, as a percentage of sales, adjusted S...

Central Garden & Pet posted an 8.7% year-on-year sales increase in Q1, exceeding Wall Street’s revenue expectations. Management attributed these results to robust demand across both pet and garden segments, improved operational execution, and ongoing cost simplification initiatives. CEO Nicholas Lahanas noted that consolidating manufacturing and fulfillment operations, as well as new partnerships, have helped streamline operations and boost efficiency. Lahanas also highlighted, “We built a strong foundation and we are moving forward with focus, discipline, and confidence in our ability to deliver long-term growth and value.” Is now the time to buy CENT? Find out in our full research report (it’s free). Revenue: $906.2 million vs analyst estimates of $851.4 million (8.7% year-on-year growth, 6.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.29 vs analyst estimates of $1.10 (17.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $134.6 million vs analyst estimates of $124.1 million (14.9% margin, 8.5% beat) Management reiterated its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance of $2.70 at the midpoint Operating Margin: 12.6%, up from 11.2% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $2.20 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Bradley Bingham Thomas (KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.) asked about sell-through trends during the spring season and the ability to drive profit in the second half; President John D. Walker said momentum was strong but results remain weather-dependent, especially in May. Brian McNamara (Canaccord Genuity) pressed on whether pet segment growth would continue and what was driving it; President John Edward Hanson explained recent growth was aided by both organic improvements and timing, with a cautiously optimistic outlook. Brian McNamara (Canaccord Genuity) also inquired about the rationale and impact of the Phillips Pet Food joint venture; CEO Nicholas Lahanas highlighted the desire to simplify operations and focus on higher-margin businesses while still retaining channel access. Will (CJS Securities) asked about raw material costs and pricing; President John D. Walker noted some inflation in fertilizer inputs like urea, but said th...

Reports fiscal 2026 Q2 net sales of $906 million, compared with $834 million a year ago Delivers fiscal 2026 Q2 GAAP diluted EPS of $1.28, compared with $0.98 in the prior year Reaffirms fiscal 2026 outlook for non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.70 or better WALNUT CREEK, Calif., May 06, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) ("Central"), a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter ended March 28, 2026. "We continued to build on our solid start to the year, ending the quarter with higher sales, expanded operating margins, and increased earnings per share versus last year, driven by consistent execution and improving performance across the organization," said Niko Lahanas, CEO of Central Garden & Pet. "Following the quarter, we entered into a pet distribution partnership with Phillips, which allows us to simplify our business and strengthen our focus on our branded portfolio. While much of the garden season remains ahead of us and the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment continues to evolve, we are reaffirming our fiscal year outlook. We expect the distribution partnership to have a minimal impact on earnings per share." Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Financial Results (All comparisons versus Q2 FY 2025) Net sales were $906 million, compared with $834 million. Gross margin expanded by 30 basis points to 33.1%, compared with 32.8%. Operating income totaled $114 million, compared with $93 million. Operating margin was 12.6%, compared with 11.2%. Other expense was $351 thousand, compared with other income of $744 thousand. Net interest expense of $9 million was consistent with the prior year. Net income was $79 million, compared with $64 million. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $1.28, compared with $0.98. Adjusted EBITDA was $139 million, compared with $123 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.4%, compared with 14.8%. Pet Segment Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results (All comparisons versus Q2 FY 2025) Net sales in the Pet segment were $477 million, compared with $454 million, primarily driven by continued strength in Dog & Cat and Animal Health, as well as Outdoor Cushions shipments shifting from the first quarter into the second. Operating income was $78 million, compared with $61 million. Operating margin was 16.3%, compared w...

Central Garden (CENT) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.29 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.04 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +19.72%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of products for the pet supply and lawn and garden markets would post earnings of $0.11 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.21, delivering a surprise of +90.91%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Central Garden, which belongs to the Zacks Consumer Products - Discretionary industry, posted revenues of $906.15 million for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.19%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $833.54 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Central Garden shares have added about 12.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 6%. While Central Garden has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Central Garden was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near...

Record Q2 results: Net sales rose 9% to $906 million with gross margin at 33.1%, adjusted EBITDA of $139 million, and record Q2 diluted EPS of $1.28 on broad-based growth and margin expansion. Distribution joint venture: Central formed a JV with Phillips Pet Food (Central keeps a 20% stake) that will shift business to an access model and is expected to reduce reported revenue in H2 by a low‑teens percentage with only a small near‑term EPS dilution (about $0.03–$0.05) as synergies are realized. Guidance and balance sheet flexibility: Management maintained fiscal 2026 non‑GAAP EPS guidance of $2.70 or better and highlighted liquidity with $653 million in cash/short‑term investments, gross leverage of 2.8x, and $128 million remaining on the share‑repurchase authorization. Interested in Central Garden & Pet Company? Here are five stocks we like better. 3 Small-Cap Stocks on the Way to Bigger and Better Days Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) executives said the company delivered a “record” fiscal 2026 second quarter, citing higher sales, expanded operating margins, and stronger earnings per share compared with the prior year, while also detailing continued efforts to simplify operations and a new distribution joint venture expected to reduce reported revenue in the back half of the year. Chief Executive Officer Niko Lahanas said the quarter reflected “resilience across our key categories, the strength of our operating model, and the actions we’ve taken to sharpen execution.” He added that the company is “continuing to simplify the business in ways that also strengthen our teams and execution.” → 3 Emerging Markets ETFs to Maximize Exposure to High-Potential Countries MarketBeat ‘Stock of the Week’: Central Garden & Pet Chief Financial Officer Brad Smith reported net sales of $906 million, up 9% year over year, driven by growth in both segments as well as “the anticipated shift of shipments from the first quarter into the second.” Gross profit rose to $300 million from $273 million, with gross margin improving 30 basis points to 33.1%. Smith noted the prior-year period included a one-time inventory charge tied to the wind down of U.K. operations; excluding that charge, he said gross margin was “essentially consistent year-over-year,” supported by productivity gains and favorable mix in Pet, partially offset by higher manufacturing costs and a lower-margin sales m...

Delivered record second quarter and first half results driven by resilient category demand and sharpened operational execution across both Pet and Garden segments. Accelerated business simplification by consolidating DoMyOwn fulfillment and TDBBS manufacturing to leverage scale and improve network flexibility. Formed a strategic joint venture with Phillips Pet Food & Supplies, retaining a 20% stake to reduce distribution complexity and focus resources on higher-margin branded products. Attributed Garden segment growth to meaningful distribution gains in grass seed and fertilizer, alongside the anticipated shift of shipments from the first quarter. Maintained market share in Pet through strength in core consumables, particularly in dog and cat, equine, and professional product lines. Improved operating margins by 140 basis points in the quarter through sales leverage, prudent cost management, and ongoing organizational simplification. Maintained fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance of $2.70 or better, reflecting confidence in momentum despite dynamic retail environments. Anticipates the new distribution joint venture will reduce reported revenue by a low-teens percentage in the second half with minimal earnings impact due to the business's lower margin profile. Expects May to be the critical month for determining full-year performance, particularly for live goods, with guidance updates typically occurring in mid-June. Projects capital expenditures of $50 million to $60 million for the fiscal year, focused on maintenance and targeted productivity initiatives. Assumes a disciplined approach to M&A, targeting margin-accretive opportunities that strengthen the portfolio as deal flow conversations increase. The Phillips joint venture is expected to be $0.03 to $0.05 per share dilutive in the second half due to initial lack of synergies and non-cash purchase accounting impacts. Identified potential for future pricing actions in 2027 to offset rising urea and fertilizer input costs, though 2026 pricing remains stable. Noted a continued consumer shift toward e-commerce and value-seeking behaviors, which the company is addressing through private label expansion and digital investment. Highlighted weather dependency as a primary risk factor for the Garden segment's third-quarter performance. Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nv...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET Chief Executive Officer — Nicholas Lahanas Chief Financial Officer — Bradley G. Smith President of Pet Segment — John Edward Hanson President of Garden Segment — John D. Walker Chief Commercial Officer — Jason Barnes Nicholas will start by sharing today’s key takeaways, followed by Bradley, who will provide more details of our performance. After their prepared remarks, John, JD, and Jason will join us for the Q&A session. Before they begin, I would like to remind everyone that all forward-looking statements made during this call are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from what those forward-looking statements express or imply today. A detailed description of Central Garden & Pet Company’s risk factors can be found in our annual report filed with the SEC. Please note that Central Garden & Pet Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events, or other developments. You can find our press release and related materials at ir.central.com. Last but not least, unless otherwise specified, all comparisons discussed during this call are made against the same period in the prior year. Should any questions come up after the call or throughout the quarter, do not hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected]. And with that, let us begin. Nicholas, over to you. Nicholas Lahanas: Thank you, Friederike, and good afternoon, everyone. I will start with highlights from the second quarter and then walk through how we are thinking about the rest of the year. We delivered a record second quarter and a record first half, with clear improvement across the board: higher sales, expanded operating margins, and stronger earnings per share versus last year. That performance reflects resilience across our key categories, the strength of our operating model, and the actions we have taken to sharpen execution. At the same time, we are continuing to simplify the business in ways that also strengthen our teams and execution. We have moved our DoMyOwn business into our Covington fulfillment center, which is improving speed, lowering costs, and increasing flexibility across the network. We are also consolidating the TDBBS manufacturing into our dog and cat platform in New Jersey, to better leve...

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — Central Garden & Pet Co. (CENT) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $79.4 million. The Walnut Creek, California-based company said it had net income of $1.28 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $1.29 per share. The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.08 per share. The maker of products for the pet supply and lawn and garden markets posted revenue of $906.2 million in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $837.6 million. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CENT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CENT

Central Garden & Pet Company CENT turned in a strong second-quarter fiscal 2026, with adjusted earnings of $1.29 per share, up 24% from $1.04 a year ago. The results beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of adjusted earnings of $1.08 by 19.4%. Net sales of $906.2 million increased 8.7% year over year and topped the consensus mark of $838 million by 8.1%. The strong top-line performance was driven by growth across both operating segments, shipment timing shifts from the first quarter into the second and continued strength in higher-margin consumables categories. Central Garden & Pet Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Central Garden & Pet Company Quote Gross profit rose to $299.6 million from $273.1 million a year ago. The gross margin expanded 30 basis points to 33.1%. CENT’s gross profit trends reflected improved scale, even as the company managed mix and cost dynamics. Adjusted gross profit rose to $299.6 million from $277.5 million a year ago, supported by higher volume across both segments. The adjusted gross margin was 33.1% versus 33.3% in the prior-year quarter. Management attributed the margin profile to productivity gains and a favorable mix in Pet, which helped offset higher manufacturing costs and a lower-margin sales mix in Garden. We estimated the adjusted gross margin to be 33.4% in the quarter under review. Central Garden & Pet converted the quarter’s gross profit into improved operating performance through tighter cost control and SG&A leverage. Operating income rose sharply to $113.9 million from $93.3 million in the prior-year period, while the operating margin improved to 12.6% from 11.2%. Adjusted operating income increased to $114.2 million from $98.7 million in the year-ago quarter. The adjusted operating margin improved to 12.6% from 11.8%. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $139 million from $123 million, while the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 60 basis points year over year to 15.4%. Adjusted SG&A expenses were $185.5 million, beating our estimate of $182.4 million and rising 3.7% year over year. However, as a percentage of sales, adjusted SG&A improved to 20.5% from 21.6%, reflecting sales leverage and continued simplification initiatives. Central Garden & Pet’s Pet segment turned in steady growth and a sharp improvement in profitability. The Pet segment generated net sales of $477 million, beating our estimate of $445.4 million an...