CENTA, US15135B2007

Central Garden & Pet stock reports higher margins despite sales decline

Published on 09/30/2026 at 06:03 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Central Garden & Pet stock carries a USD 2.4 billion market value as of September 29, 2026. Fiscal Q3 adjusted EPS reached USD 1.54 and guidance rose to USD 2.85.

CENTA, US15135B2007, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Central Garden & Pet (ISIN US15135B2007) posted fiscal third-quarter net sales of USD 882.0 million for the period ended June 27, 2026, while adjusted diluted EPS reached USD 1.54. The company raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to USD 2.85 or better, giving Central Garden & Pet stock a clear earnings checkpoint despite the reported sales decline.

Margins offset the sales decline

According to Central Garden & Pet in its fiscal Q3 2026 results, organic sales increased 2.00 percent to USD 862.0 million, even as reported sales fell 8.00 percent. Non-GAAP gross margin reached 36.0 percent, an improvement of 140 basis points, while adjusted EPS declined from USD 1.56 in the year-earlier quarter to USD 1.54.

The split between reported and organic growth reflects the exit from the lower-margin pet distribution business. Garden segment sales rose 3.00 percent to USD 482.0 million, while Pet segment sales fell 19.00 percent to USD 400.0 million on the reported basis, according to StockTitan.

Analysts see room above the market value

MarketBeat reported on September 26, 2026, that six analysts assigned Central Garden & Pet a Moderate Buy consensus. Their average 12-month target was USD 46.67, while JPMorgan had raised its target from USD 32.00 to USD 37.00 and kept an underweight rating in a July 16, 2026 research note.

The company also agreed to acquire an 80 percent interest in European pet supplier TRIXIE for total consideration of up to EUR 400.0 million, including EUR 340.0 million in cash at closing and up to EUR 60.0 million in earn-out payments. The transaction adds a growth lever, while the reported Pet segment decline leaves execution and integration as the key operating tests.

Market value and yearly range

Central Garden & Pet had a market capitalization of USD 2.4 billion as of September 29, 2026. Its 52-week range was USD 25.97 to USD 40.80, placing the equity in the consumer defensive sector and the packaged foods industry. The company is listed on NASDAQ under the CENTA ticker.