CENTAConsumer Defensive · Packaged FoodsThe 5 Wall Street analysts covering Central Garden & Pet Co. hold a median 12-month price target of $48 — +36.0% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 95 of 100 as at 9 Oct 2026 — among the strongest tenth. Here, the model and the Street point the same way.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Central Garden & Pet Co. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Volatility (93): The share price has been relatively steady.
Growth (58): Sales and profits are flat, shrinking, or growing more slowly than they were.
Size (34): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on CENTA, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +36.0% from it.
Of the 20 most recent actions, 1 moved their price target up and 4 moved it down.
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 July 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Underweight | $32 → $37 |
| 17 June 2026 | Canaccord Genuity | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 17 June 2026 | Canaccord Genuity | Maintains | Buy | $54 → $53 |
| 17 Apr 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Underweight | — |
| 16 Jan 2026 | JP Morgan | Downgrade | Underweight | — |
| 25 Nov 2025 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 23 Oct 2025 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 7 Aug 2025 | Canaccord Genuity | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Truist Securities | Downgrade | Hold | — |
| 11 Apr 2025 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 16 Jan 2025 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 7 Jan 2025 | Argus Research | Downgrade | Hold | — |
| 26 Nov 2024 | Canaccord Genuity | Maintains | Buy | $48 → $45 |
| 16 Oct 2024 | Truist Securities | Maintains | Buy | $50 → $40 |
| 11 Oct 2024 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 30 Sept 2024 | Canaccord Genuity | Maintains | Buy | $48 |
| 8 Aug 2024 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 22 July 2024 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 1 July 2024 | Canaccord Genuity | Maintains | Buy | $52 → $49 |
| 28 May 2024 | Argus Research | Upgrade | Buy | $50 |
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
CENTA appears in the Radar on the weeks it earns a place.
Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 12 Oct 2026, Central Garden & Pet Co. returned +31.9% against +20.4% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
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Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 47% of US stocks
Cheaper than 73% of US stocks
Cheaper than 57% of US stocks
Cheaper than 45% of US stocks
Higher than 17% of US stocks
Higher than 30% of US stocks
Higher than 44% of US stocks
Higher than 71% of US stocks
Higher than 61% of US stocks
Higher than 63% of US stocks
Higher than 73% of US stocks
Higher than 1% of US dividend payers
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
Central Garden & Pet Co. has a market value of $2.3B and an enterprise value of $2.7B.
Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $3.1B. The latest quarter shrank 8.2% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: $166.4M, a 5.4% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $2.68.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $345.6M.
Central Garden & Pet Co. spent $29.2M on share buybacks in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.
Trailing P/E: 14.2×; forward P/E: 12.5× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Forward dividend yield: 0.00%, paying out 0% of earnings.
Central Garden & Pet Co. employs 6,000 people — $514K of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Central Garden & Pet Co. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
Central Garden & Pet announced that it acquired W. Atlee Burpee Company, a national brand in packet seeds and young plants, with the transaction closing on September 30, 2026. Burpee offers seeds, plants and garden supplies.
Why it matters — The acquisition adds Burpee’s seed, plant and garden-supply portfolio to Central’s garden business.
Zacks Investment Research published a piece questioning whether Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) stock is currently undervalued. The article describes the firm's Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while also tracking value, growth, and momentum trends.
Why it matters — CENTA watchers may find this coverage relevant because it highlights how analysts are evaluating the company's valuation using earnings estimates and market trends.
Nylabone, a brand in Central Garden & Pet's portfolio, is launching its first chew toys made with real chicken, bison, venison, bacon, and beef, and is partnering with actress and dog mom Ashley Tisdale to promote the new line to pet parents.
Why it matters — A new product introduction backed by a celebrity partnership could drive consumer attention and sales for one of Central Garden & Pet's key brands.
Central Garden & Pet Company announced a planned leadership transition for its Garden segment. J.D. Walker, President of Garden Consumer Products, will retire from that role effective September 26, 2026, with Jason Barnes, Executive Vice President of Garden Consumer Products, set to assume responsibility for sales, marketing, and service at that time.
Why it matters — CENTA watchers would care because the leadership change at a key business segment involves a planned succession in top management that could affect the segment's direction.
A Zacks Investment Research article compares how Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) and H&R Block (HRB) have performed relative to their sector so far this year. The piece examines the year-to-date performance of these consumer discretionary stocks against the broader group.
Why it matters — CENTA watchers would want to know how the company's stock is tracking against both a sector peer and the broader consumer discretionary group this year.
The 5 Wall Street analysts covering Central Garden & Pet Co. have a median 12-month price target of $48, with estimates ranging from $39 to $50. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Of the 5 analysts covering Central Garden & Pet Co., 4 rate it a Buy, 0 a Hold and 1 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Central Garden & Pet Co. 95 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 9 Oct 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 9 Oct 2026, Central Garden & Pet Co. ranks 95 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Volatility (93 of 100).
No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 5 analysts implies +36.0% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Central Garden & Pet Co. 95 out of 100 as at 9 Oct 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.
No analyst covering Central Garden & Pet Co. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for CENTA are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $39 to $50 over the next 12 months.
Central Garden & Pet Co. returned +31.9% over the 12 months to 12 Oct 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
Central Garden & Pet Company Class A is a consumer goods company focused on products for the pet and garden markets. Central Garden & Pet Company Class A develops, manufactures, and distributes a broad range of branded and private label offerings for pet care, lawn and garden maintenance, and outdoor living.
The most recent item we track (Business Wire, 19 Oct 2026): "Central Garden & Pet Acquires Burpee, an Iconic Brand in the Packet Seed and Young Plant Categories". Central Garden & Pet announced that it acquired W. Atlee Burpee Company, a national brand in packet seeds and young plants, with the transaction closing on September 30, 2026. Burpee offers seeds, plants and garden supplies.
Central Garden & Pet Company Class A is a consumer goods company focused on products for the pet and garden markets. Central Garden & Pet Company Class A develops, manufactures, and distributes a broad range of branded and private label offerings for pet care, lawn and garden maintenance, and outdoor living. Its pet portfolio includes products for dogs, cats, birds, fish, and small animals, while its garden business covers seeds, fertilizers, pest control, soils, tools, and live plants. The company serves retailers, independent garden centers, e-commerce channels, and other specialty and mass-market customers across North America. With operations centered in Walnut Creek, California, Central Garden & Pet Company Class A plays a significant role in supplying everyday household products that support pet well-being and home gardening needs.
CEO Mr. Nicholas Lahanas · 6,000 employees · United States · https://www.central.com
