| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 78 | 16.9x | 17.3x | Top tier | |
Growth | 27 | -1.2% | 7.1% | Bottom tier | |
Quality | 65 | 6.4% | 4.5% | Around median | |
Safety | 67 | 1.2x | 2.6x | Top tier | |
Capital Return | 53 | 0.00% | 0.06% | Around median | |
Momentum | 94 | 33.9% | -1.6% | Top tier | |
Sentiment | 35 | 3 | 3 | Bottom tier |
The floor: what the company is worth if growth stopped today
19% of today's price is what a buyer pays for growth that has not happened yet.
10-year US Treasury yield 4.96% as of 2026-10-22. Estimates computed from company data and analyst targets, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Central Garden & Pet Company operates through two main segments, Pet and Garden, and generates revenue from branded consumable and durable products, as well as private-label programs and distribution. The Pet portfolio includes products for dogs, cats, horses, flea and tick control, and pet birds, while the Garden portfolio includes grass seed, fertilizers, and wild bird products; in fiscal Q2 2026, it launched or expanded products such as real-meat Nylabone, Farnam Endure Gold, and The Rebel Sun & Shade.
In fiscal Q2 2026, revenue was $906.2 million, up 9% year over year, gross profit was $299.6 million, net income was $79.4 million, and diluted EPS was $1.28. Gross margin reached 33.1%, up 30 basis points, and operating margin rose to 12.6% from 11.2%, while adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.4% compared with 14.8%.
The Pet segment accounted for the largest share of the fiscal Q2 2026 mix, with revenue of $477 million, growth of 5%, and an operating margin of 16.3% versus 13.4%. The Garden segment generated revenue of $425 million, up 13%, with an operating margin of 15.4%, benefiting from the timing of seasonal shipments, lower retailer inventories, and distribution gains in grass seed and fertilizers. On a trailing-twelve-month basis through fiscal 2026, revenue was $3.2 billion, net income was $171.5 million, and EPS was approximately $2.77.
The average analyst price target is $54, which is above the 52-week range high of $46.97, while the range low is $28.77, and the consensus rates the stock a “Buy.” However, the highest and lowest targets are identical at $54, indicating the absence of a diverse range of estimates in the data, and no price-to-earnings multiple is available on which to base a comparison of valuation with earnings; therefore, the positive target should be weighed against weather risks, slower first-half growth, and the dilutive impact of the joint venture.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-31; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Revenue rose 9% to $906.2 million, driven by growth in both segments, the shift of some shipments from Q1, and lower retailer inventories. The Pet segment grew 5% to $477 million, while the Garden segment grew 13% to $425 million. Net income rose to $79.4 million, and diluted EPS was $1.28.
Gross margin was 33.1%, up 30 basis points, but the prior-year comparison included a one-time charge related to the wind-down of U.K. operations; excluding it, the margin was approximately flat. Operating margin rose to 12.6% from 11.2%, and selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales declined to 20.5% from 21.6%. In the Pet segment, operating margin rose to 16.3% from 13.4%, while the Garden segment's margin remained near its prior level at 15.4%.
After fiscal Q2 2026, Central formed a joint venture with Phillips Pet Food & Supplies and retained a 20% ownership stake. Management expects the venture to reduce reported revenue in the second half of fiscal 2026 by a low-double-digit percentage because the distribution business removed from the consolidated financial statements was low-margin. The company estimated a dilutive EPS impact of $0.03 to $0.05 in the second half due to startup losses and acquisition accounting, with synergies expected to begin contributing in later years without specifying an exact amount or timing.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
In Pet, the company introduced real-meat Nylabone products and Farnam Endure Gold spray for controlling flies and mosquitoes on horses. In Garden, The Rebel Sun & Shade extension and new private-label programs performed above expectations during fiscal Q2 2026. The company also recorded distribution or share gains in grass seed, fertilizers, wild bird, rawhide, dog treats, and flea and tick control.
Consumption of Garden products depends heavily on weather, and management described May 2026 as a critical month for the season, while fiscal Q2 benefited from shipment timing and lower retailer inventories. The Garden segment's adjusted EBITDA margin also declined to 17.7% from 18.2% due to a lower-margin mix and higher manufacturing costs. Additional risks include the joint venture's approximately $0.03 to $0.05 dilutive EPS impact in the second half of fiscal 2026 and potential pressure from urea and fuel costs in fiscal 2027.
On the May 6, 2026, call, Central maintained adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $2.70 or more for fiscal 2026, excluding the impact of subsequent acquisitions, divestitures, and restructuring actions. On August 6, 2026, the company announced that fiscal Q3 2026 earnings exceeded analysts' estimates and raised its fiscal 2026 EPS estimate. The data attributed this increase to strong execution, portfolio optimization, and margin expansion, without providing an updated guidance figure.