CENT Consumer Defensive

Central Garden & Pet Company

$46.35-1.53%

Price as of close on Nov 3, 2026 · Financials updated Oct 6, 2026

Basics

Sector: Consumer Defensive
Industry: Packaged Foods
Country: United States
Market cap: 2.9B USD
Enterprise value: 2.8B USD
Full-time employees: 6,000

Overall health

Strength: its shares are priced lower than most peers relative to what it earnspriced lower than peers for its earnings
Strength: lower risk than most peers: more short-term liquiditylower risk: more liquidity
Drawback: growing more slowly than most peersgrowing more slowly than peers
Drawback: its share price swings more than most peers’ (beta 0.59 vs a peer median of 0.41), though less than the overall marketbigger price swings (beta 0.59 vs peers 0.41)
About average: profitability

Ranks #289 of 761 consumer defensive companies (top 38%)

See how it ranks against its peers

Worth knowing

Annual revenue fell three years running. Fiscal-year revenue down each year from FY Sep 2022 to FY Sep 2025.
Central Garden & Pet's fiscal-year revenue declined in each of the three years to FY Sep 2025.
Cash flow well above reported profit. Free cash flow is 2.1× reported profit.
Free cash flow is 2.1× reported profit. Large non-cash charges, such as depreciation, amortization or stock-based pay, reduce reported profit without using cash.

StockQuotient Score

57/ 100

Oct 5 59 → Nov 4 57 (-2)

Valuation

Is the price right?

68/100

Moderate▼ 2 since Oct 27 close

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major changeValuation also moves with the share price every day.

Why it changed since the Oct 27, 2026 close: Score 70 → 68

Share price +2.8%-1
Peer companies moved-1

Each step re-scores the company against its peers as they were on Oct 28, 2026; the parts add up to the change. Price effects on EBITDA yield are approximate.

Why

Stronger than most peers on:

▲ FCF yield
▲ EBITDA yield
▲ Earnings yield

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Sector-normalized EBITDA, earnings, and free cash flow yields.

Earnings yield5.8%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported value30% base weight · Z-score 0.42Sector median: 0.0453 · MAD: 0.0301

EBITDA yield10.9%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported value50% base weight · Z-score 0.51Sector median: 0.0865 · MAD: 0.0435

Free cash flow yield12.0%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026 · operating cash flow − capital spendingReported value20% base weight · Z-score 1.32Sector median: 0.0622 · MAD: 0.0441

Other data (not scored)

Book yield60.8%

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.5381 · MAD: 0.2865

Growth

Is it growing?

37/100

Weak

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: ▼ Weaker

12-month revenue fell 2.5%

Why

Weaker than most peers on:

▼ 3-yr revenue
▼ Revenue growth

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Revenue and earnings-per-share growth over one year, and revenue growth over three years.

Earnings per share growth21.4%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score 0.78Sector median: 0.0154 · MAD: 0.2529

3-year revenue growth-1.9%

SEC filings · 3 years to Jun 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -1.19Sector median: 0.0366 · MAD: 0.0470

Revenue growth-1.2%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.67Sector median: 0.0278 · MAD: 0.0585

Profitability

Does it earn well?

52/100

Moderate

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major change

Why

Close to the peer norm on every measure.

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Return on invested capital, operating margin, and return on assets.

Operating margin8.1%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score 0.10Sector median: 0.0759 · MAD: 0.0508

Return on assets4.4%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score 0.16Sector median: 0.0396 · MAD: 0.0262

Return on invested capital10.2%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score 0.37Sector median: 0.0766 · MAD: 0.0673

Other data (not scored)

Gross margin32.5%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.3182 · MAD: 0.1263

Return on equity9.5%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.0831 · MAD: 0.0675

Risk

Debt, liquidity, price swings

Lower

Lower relative risk

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major change

Why it changed since the Oct 27, 2026 close: Safety percentile 71 → 70

Peer companies moved-1

Each step re-scores the company against its peers as they were on Oct 28, 2026; the parts add up to the change. Price effects on EBITDA yield are approximate.

Why

Stronger than most peers on:

▲ Current ratio

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Relative to sector peers: 0 = lower relative risk · 1 = moderate · 2 = higher. Based on leverage, beta and liquidity.

Beta0.59

Yahoo Finance · 5-year monthly beta vs the marketReported value33% base weight · Z-score -1.08Sector median: 0.4070 · MAD: 0.1690

Current ratio3.79×

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported value33% base weight · Z-score 3.50Sector median: 1.5250 · MAD: 0.6460

Debt / equity0.68×

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.73Sector median: 0.4234 · MAD: 0.3581

Valuation, growth and profitability scores: higher is better. Risk: 0 is lower, 2 is higher. Risk is a relative proxy, not a bankruptcy probability. Scores depend on available sector peers.

Questions investors ask about Central Garden & Pet

Is Central Garden & Pet getting weaker?: Its latest SEC filing (Aug 6, 2026) got weaker in some ways: 12-month revenue fell 2.5%. Its overall score is unchanged at 57/100 since Oct 28, 2026.
How is Central Garden & Pet valued vs its peers?: Priced lower than most peers relative to what it earns. Valuation scores 68/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Free cash flow yield 12.0% vs a peer median of 6.2% (stronger than 78% of peers).Free cash flow yield 12.0% vs peers 6.2% (stronger than 78% of peers).
Is Central Garden & Pet growing?: More slowly than most of its peers. Growth scores 37/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Earnings per share growth 21.4% vs a peer median of 1.5% (stronger than 73% of peers).Earnings per share growth 21.4% vs peers 1.5% (stronger than 73% of peers). 3-year revenue growth -1.9% vs a peer median of 3.7% (weaker than 78% of peers).3-year revenue growth -1.9% vs peers 3.7% (weaker than 78% of peers).
How profitable is Central Garden & Pet?: About as profitable as its peers. Profitability scores 52/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers.
How risky is Central Garden & Pet?: Lower risk relative to 823 consumer defensive peers, judged on debt, liquidity and share-price swings. Current ratio 3.79× vs a peer median of 1.52× (stronger than 88% of peers).Current ratio 3.79× vs peers 1.52× (stronger than 88% of peers). Beta 0.59 vs a peer median of 0.41 (weaker than 73% of peers).Beta 0.59 vs peers 0.41 (weaker than 73% of peers). A relative measure, not a bankruptcy probability.

Latest filing: what changed

Quarter ended Jun 27, 2026 · filed Aug 6, 2026 · compared with the quarter ended Mar 28, 2026

Got weaker

12-month revenue fell 2.5%

	Previous quarter	Latest quarter	Change
Revenue (12 months)	3.2B USD	3.1B USD	−2.5%
Net income (12 months)	171.5M USD	166.3M USD	−3.0%
Operating margin	8.2%	8.1%	−0.1 pts
Free cash flow (12 months)	282.4M USD	345.6M USD	+22.4%
Debt	1.2B USD	1.2B USD	+0.0%
Cash	653.2M USD	996.7M USD	+52.6%

From the company’s own SEC filings, as filed. Twelve-month figures roll forward one quarter at a time.

Industry valuation context

Industry: Packaged Foods · 21 companies

Valuations in Packaged Foods are near the bottom of their range since 2016.

3% of months since 2016 were valued lower than now.
0% of companies are in the most expensive fifth of their own price-to-sales history.
Median price-to-sales is −68% vs the whole market, against a usual −37%.

2016Shaded: most expensive fifth of its range2026

Financials

Fiscal years from SEC annual filings · change vs the prior year

Key ratios	FY Sep 2021	FY Sep 2022	FY Sep 2023	FY Sep 2024	FY Sep 2025	Change
Gross margin	29.4%	29.7%	28.6%	29.5%	31.9%	▲ 2.4 pts
Operating margin	7.7%	7.8%	6.4%	5.8%	8.0%	▲ 2.2 pts
Net margin	4.6%	4.6%	3.8%	3.4%	5.2%	▲ 1.8 pts
Return on assets (ROA)	4.9%	4.6%	3.7%	3.0%	4.5%	▲ 1.5 pts
Return on equity (ROE)	12.4%	11.4%	8.7%	6.9%	10.3%	▲ 3.3 pts
Free cash flow margin	5.2%	-4.5%	9.9%	11.0%	9.3%	▼ 1.7 pts
Current ratio	2.96×	3.34×	3.73×	3.66×	3.67×	▲ 0.2%
Quick ratio	1.64×	1.32×	1.90×	2.19×	2.33×	▲ 6.3%
Debt to equity	0.97×	0.89×	0.82×	0.76×	0.75×	▼ 1.6%
Interest coverage	4.34×	4.46×	3.69×	3.22×	4.33×	▲ 34%

CENT price history

Price history is added with the daily price update and will appear after the next one.

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Bringing the fundamentals into focus…

Overall health

Strength: its shares are priced lower than most peers relative to what it earnspriced lower than peers for its earnings

Strength: lower risk than most peers: more short-term liquiditylower risk: more liquidity

Drawback: growing more slowly than most peersgrowing more slowly than peers

Drawback: its share price swings more than most peers’ (beta 0.59 vs a peer median of 0.41), though less than the overall marketbigger price swings (beta 0.59 vs peers 0.41)

About average: profitability

Ranks #289 of 761 consumer defensive companies (top 38%)

See how it ranks against its peers

Worth knowing

Annual revenue fell three years running. Fiscal-year revenue down each year from FY Sep 2022 to FY Sep 2025.

Central Garden & Pet's fiscal-year revenue declined in each of the three years to FY Sep 2025.

Cash flow well above reported profit. Free cash flow is 2.1× reported profit.

Free cash flow is 2.1× reported profit. Large non-cash charges, such as depreciation, amortization or stock-based pay, reduce reported profit without using cash.

Questions investors ask about Central Garden & Pet

Is Central Garden & Pet getting weaker?

Its latest SEC filing (Aug 6, 2026) got weaker in some ways: 12-month revenue fell 2.5%. Its overall score is unchanged at 57/100 since Oct 28, 2026.

How is Central Garden & Pet valued vs its peers?

Priced lower than most peers relative to what it earns. Valuation scores 68/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Free cash flow yield 12.0% vs a peer median of 6.2% (stronger than 78% of peers).Free cash flow yield 12.0% vs peers 6.2% (stronger than 78% of peers).

Is Central Garden & Pet growing?

More slowly than most of its peers. Growth scores 37/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers. Earnings per share growth 21.4% vs a peer median of 1.5% (stronger than 73% of peers).Earnings per share growth 21.4% vs peers 1.5% (stronger than 73% of peers). 3-year revenue growth -1.9% vs a peer median of 3.7% (weaker than 78% of peers).3-year revenue growth -1.9% vs peers 3.7% (weaker than 78% of peers).

How profitable is Central Garden & Pet?

About as profitable as its peers. Profitability scores 52/100 against 823 consumer defensive peers.

How risky is Central Garden & Pet?

Lower risk relative to 823 consumer defensive peers, judged on debt, liquidity and share-price swings. Current ratio 3.79× vs a peer median of 1.52× (stronger than 88% of peers).Current ratio 3.79× vs peers 1.52× (stronger than 88% of peers). Beta 0.59 vs a peer median of 0.41 (weaker than 73% of peers).Beta 0.59 vs peers 0.41 (weaker than 73% of peers). A relative measure, not a bankruptcy probability.

Previous quarter

Latest quarter

Change

Revenue (12 months)

3.2B USD

3.1B USD

−2.5%

Net income (12 months)

171.5M USD

166.3M USD

−3.0%

Operating margin

8.2%

8.1%

−0.1 pts

Free cash flow (12 months)

282.4M USD

345.6M USD

+22.4%

Debt

1.2B USD

1.2B USD

+0.0%

Cash

653.2M USD

996.7M USD

+52.6%

Key ratios

FY Sep 2021

FY Sep 2022

FY Sep 2023

FY Sep 2024

FY Sep 2025

Change

Gross margin

29.4%

29.7%

28.6%

29.5%

31.9%

▲ 2.4 pts

Operating margin

7.7%

7.8%

6.4%

5.8%

8.0%

▲ 2.2 pts

Net margin

4.6%

3.8%

3.4%

5.2%

▲ 1.8 pts

Return on assets (ROA)

4.9%

4.6%

3.7%

3.0%

4.5%

▲ 1.5 pts

Return on equity (ROE)

12.4%

11.4%

8.7%

6.9%

10.3%

▲ 3.3 pts

Free cash flow margin

5.2%

-4.5%

9.9%

11.0%

9.3%

▼ 1.7 pts

Current ratio

2.96×

3.34×

3.73×

3.66×

3.67×

▲ 0.2%

Quick ratio

1.64×

1.32×

1.90×

2.19×

2.33×

▲ 6.3%

Debt to equity

0.97×

0.89×

0.82×

0.76×

0.75×

▼ 1.6%

Interest coverage

4.34×

4.46×

3.69×

3.22×

4.33×

▲ 34%