Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.02 EPS

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA) issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.02, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Central Garden & Pet had a return on equity of 9.59% and a net margin of 3.70%. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($0.04) earnings per share.

Central Garden & Pet Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of CENTA opened at $40.10 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 3.51 and a quick ratio of 1.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.74 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a 50-day moving average of $40.23 and a 200 day moving average of $38.64. Central Garden & Pet has a 1-year low of $33.77 and a 1-year high of $45.93.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on CENTA shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Central Garden & Pet from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. KeyCorp lifted their target price on Central Garden & Pet from $46.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $44.33.

Insider Transactions at Central Garden & Pet

In related news, Director John Ranelli sold 2,440 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.87, for a total value of $99,722.80. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,946 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $120,403.02. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider John D. Walker III sold 11,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.07, for a total value of $451,770.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 70,394 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,891,081.58. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director John Ranelli sold 2,440 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.87, for a total transaction of $99,722.80. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,946 shares in the company, valued at $120,403.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 20.28% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Susquehanna International Group LLP lifted its position in Central Garden & Pet by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 12,275 shares of the company’s stock valued at $439,000 after acquiring an additional 289 shares during the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC increased its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 10,830 shares of the company’s stock worth $388,000 after purchasing an additional 331 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 119,814 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,794,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 14,798 shares of the company’s stock worth $506,000 after purchasing an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in Central Garden & Pet by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 19,202 shares of the company’s stock worth $768,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the last quarter. 67.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Central Garden & Pet

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 equine and livestock, as well as outdoor cushions.