Central Garden & Pet

CENT · Nasdaq · Consumer Staples · Financials, fiscal 2016 to 2025

CENT · Last close · October 26, 2026

$45.28

Central Garden & Pet's revenue fell 2.2% to $3.1 billion in fiscal 2025. Its operating margin was 8.0%, up from 5.8% a year earlier. Free cash flow was $291 million, down 17.2%. It paid out $155 million in dividends and buybacks, 53% of free cash flow. The diluted share count fell 4.5%.

Central Garden & Pet Company Latest fiscal year ended September 27, 2025 10-K filed November 26, 2025 · 0000887733-25-000041 Updated October 20, 2026

Revenue

$3.1B

2.2%

Operating margin

8.0%

2.2 pts

Net income

$163M

50.8%

Free cash flow

$291M

17.2%

Return on capital

9.7%

2.9 pts

Market cap

$2.8B

Oct 26 close

P/E

16.8x

On $2.70 EPS, 4 qtrs

Operating margin is operating income as a share of revenue. Free cash flow is cash from operations minus capital spending. Return on capital is after-tax operating income as a share of the money invested in the business: debt plus equity, minus cash. Market cap is the last closing share price times the latest diluted share count, so it is approximate. P/E is the last close divided by diluted earnings per share over the last four quarters, or the latest fiscal year where the quarters aren't available; there is none when the company made a loss.

Charts show fiscal years, from the 10-K filings.

Revenue and margins

Revenue

US$ billions, fiscal years

Margins

Percent of revenue

GrossOperatingNetFree cash flow

Net income and earnings per share

From fiscal 2016 to 2025, earnings per share grew 12.7% a year and net income 15.5% a year, as new shares raised the share count by 25% and diluted each share's earnings.

Net income

US$ billions, fiscal years; loss years in red.

Diluted earnings per share

US$ per share, fiscal years, restated for any stock splits; loss years in red.

Returns on capital

Return on capital and on equity

Percent. Return on capital is after-tax operating income over the money invested in the business (debt plus equity, minus cash); return on equity is net income over shareholders' equity. Both use the average of opening and closing balances.

Return on capitalReturn on equity

Cash flow

Free cash flow

US$ billions. Cash from operations minus capital expenditure; negative years in red.

Payouts and share count

Dividends and buybacks

US$ billions, cash paid in each fiscal year

DividendsShare buybacks

Diluted share count

Weighted-average diluted shares, millions

Valuation

Two ways to value Central Garden & Pet yourself, both starting from its filings: a discounted cash flow model and the price-to-earnings method.

Discounted cash flow (DCF)

A discounted cash flow (DCF) model values a business as the cash it may generate in future, discounted back to today. The starting figures come from Central Garden & Pet's 10-K (or, for net cash and shares, its latest 10-Q) and the assumptions are yours: start from one of three example scenarios, then change any figure to see what it implies for a share, and how that compares with the last share price.

Value per share on three example scenarios, from Central Garden & Pet's fiscal 2025 free cash flow of $291M, net cash of −$309M at September 27, 2025 and 64 million diluted shares, from its filings. The scenarios are fitted to Central Garden & Pet: the base scenario's growth in years 1 to 5 is its revenue growth over the last 3 years, -2.1% a year, kept between 0% and 20%; the cautious and optimistic ones are lower and higher, and growth in years 6 to 10 is halfway to the long-run rate. The base scenario's discount rate is 9%: 7% for a stable business (Household Products), plus 1 point as a smaller company, worth $2.8B, plus 1 point for unsteady results (revenue fell in two of the last five years); the cautious and optimistic ones use a point more and a point less. Select one to load it into the calculator. These are the model's arithmetic on those assumptions, not a forecast or a price target.

From the filings

Starting free cash flow, US$ millions

Cash from operations minus capital spending in fiscal 2025.

Net cash, US$ millions

Cash and short-term investments minus debt and finance leases at September 27, 2025. Negative means net debt.

Diluted shares, millions

Weighted-average diluted shares in fiscal 2025.

Your assumptions

Start from

Fitted to Central Garden & Pet's own revenue growth, as above. Cautious: growth of -2% then 0% a year, 2% after year 10, a 10% discount rate. Base: growth of 0% then 1% a year, 2.5% after year 10, a 9% discount rate. Optimistic: growth of 2% then 2.5% a year, 3% after year 10, a 8% discount rate.

Free cash flow growth, years 1 to 5 (% a year)

Free cash flow growth, years 6 to 10 (% a year)

Growth after year 10 (% a year)Long-run growth forever after year 10. Usually close to inflation, and always below the discount rate.

Discount rate (% a year)The yearly return an investor wants for the risk. A higher rate gives a lower value.

Value per share on these assumptions

—

Last close, October 26, 2026: $45.28
Value on these assumptions, against the last close: —

Cash flows in years 1 to 10, valued today: —
Everything after year 10, valued today: —
Plus net cash: —
Share of value from after year 10: —

Projected free cash flow

US$ billions. Each column is one year's projected free cash flow, split into what it is worth today and the part removed by discounting.

Value todayRemoved by discounting

How the value changes with two assumptions

Value per share in US$, with the growth rates above. The highlighted cell matches the current assumptions.

How the model works. Free cash flow grows at the first rate for five years and the second rate for five more, and each year is discounted at the discount rate. Everything after year 10 is valued as year-10 cash flow × (1 + growth after year 10) ÷ (discount rate − growth after year 10), discounted back ten years. Net cash is added and the total is divided by diluted shares. The result depends entirely on the assumptions. It is not a forecast, a price target or a recommendation. The last close is the consolidated US closing price, from Databento.

Price-to-earnings (P/E) method

Another common way to value a company is to multiply its earnings per share by a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple: the number of years of today's earnings an investor pays for a share. A higher multiple usually means investors expect earnings to grow. Choose a multiple, for example from similar companies, to see the value it gives.

Value per share on three example scenarios, from Central Garden & Pet's earnings per share of $2.70 (over the last four quarters). Each grows earnings for a year at the cash flow scenarios' rates and applies a multiple to next year's earnings: 16.8×, the middle of Central Garden & Pet's own P/E today, its peers' median and its sector's median (Central Garden & Pet's own P/E today) for the base scenario, 20% less and more for the cautious and optimistic ones. The price is brought back a year at 10%, 9% and 8%. Select one to load it into the calculator. These are the model's arithmetic on those assumptions, not a forecast or a price target.

Earnings per share, US$

Diluted earnings per share over the four quarters to June 27, 2026, from the 10-Qs and 10-K.

P/E multiple

P/E today is the last close divided by the latest earnings per share, the four quarters' where available. Peers: Energizer, Spectrum Brands, Reynolds Consumer Products.

Earnings growth in the years ahead (% a year) Starts at Central Garden & Pet's revenue growth over the last 3 years, -2.1% a year, kept between 0% and 20%, as the base scenario does.

Earnings per share in the years ahead, US$

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5

Type your own estimate for any year; the years after it carry on at the growth rate.

Apply the multiple to earnings

A multiple on a future year's earnings gives the price then, brought back to today at the discount rate below.

Discount rate (% a year) The yearly return an investor wants for the risk, as in the cash flow model.

Value per share today at this multiple

—

Last close, October 26, 2026: $45.28
Value at this multiple, against the last close: —
Central Garden & Pet's P/E at the last close: 16.8×

Company	Last close	Earnings per share	P/E today
Spectrum BrandsSPB	$80.20	$3.17	25.3×
Central Garden & PetCENT	$45.28	$2.70	16.8×
Reynolds Consumer ProductsREYN	$23.01	$1.57	14.7×
EnergizerENR	$22.29	$3.32	6.7×

How the P/E method works. Value per share is earnings per share times the multiple. On a future year's earnings, that gives the price in that year, which is brought back to today at the discount rate: price ÷ (1 + discount rate) for each year ahead. It is quick and easy to compare across companies, but it ignores debt and cash, and earnings can swing with one-off gains and charges, so a multiple says most about steady, profitable businesses. Like the cash flow model, the result depends entirely on the assumptions you choose. It is not a forecast, a price target or a recommendation.

Balance sheet

Fiscal year end	FY21	FY22	FY23	FY24	FY25
Cash and short-term investments	426	177	489	754	882
Debt incl. finance leases	1,186	1,187	1,188	1,190	1,192
Net debt (negative means net cash)	760	1,009	700	437	309
Net debt to EBITDA	2.3x	3.0x	2.3x	1.6x	0.9x
Debt to equity	1.0x	0.9x	0.8x	0.8x	0.8x
Interest coverage	4.3x	4.5x	3.7x	3.2x	4.3x
Current ratio	3.0x	3.3x	3.7x	3.7x	3.7x
Quick ratio	1.6x	1.3x	1.9x	2.2x	2.3x

US$ millions unless stated, at each fiscal year end. Net debt to EBITDA is debt minus cash, divided by operating income before depreciation and amortization: roughly how many years of those earnings the net debt equals. Debt to equity is debt as a multiple of shareholders' equity. Interest coverage is operating income divided by interest expense. The current ratio is current assets over current liabilities; the quick ratio leaves out inventory.

Insider trades

Over the 12 months between October 27, 2025 and October 26, 2026, no insider bought Central Garden & Pet shares on the open market, and 6 insiders sold $1.3 million.

Date	Insider	Trade	Shares	Price	Value	Filing
Aug 13, 2026	William E BrownChairman, Director, 10% owner	Sold	3,900	$39.00	$152,100	Form 4
Aug 12, 2026	John D. Walker IIIPresident, Garden Consumer Pro	Sold	5,000	$39.00	$195,000	Form 4
Aug 11, 2026	John D. Walker IIIPresident, Garden Consumer Pro	Sold	5,000	$38.50	$192,500	Form 4
Feb 19, 2026	John RanelliDirector	Sold	3,668	$34.50	$126,546	Form 4
Feb 17, 2026	John Edward HansonPresident, Pet Consumer Prod	Sold	5,000	$34.75	$173,750	Form 4
Feb 10, 2026	Brendan DougherDirector	Sold	3,250	$33.38	$108,485	Form 4
Nov 28, 2025	Christopher T MetzDirector	Sold	10,000	$30.91	$309,100	Form 4

Open-market purchases and sales by officers, directors and 10% owners, from their Form 4 filings with the SEC: one row per person, day and filing, at the day's average price. Grants, option exercises and shares withheld for tax aren't counted. Insiders buy and sell for many reasons, such as taxes, spreading their savings or a plan set up months earlier, so a trade on its own says little about where a company is heading. For information only, not investment advice. Insider trades at all companies

Piotroski F-score

The F-score counts how many of nine simple tests of profitability, funding and efficiency a company passed in a year (Piotroski, 2000). The more tests passed, the stronger the year: 8 or 9 is strong, 0 to 2 weak. Companies that report no gross profit are scored on the other eight.

Test	FY23	FY24	FY25
Net income is positive	Pass	Pass	Pass
Cash from operations is positive	Pass	Pass	Pass
Return on assets rose	Fail	Fail	Pass
Cash from operations exceeds net income	Pass	Pass	Pass
Debt fell relative to assets	Pass	Pass	Pass
Current ratio rose	Pass	Fail	Pass
Share count didn't rise	Pass	Fail	Pass
Gross margin rose	Fail	Pass	Pass
Revenue rose relative to assets	Fail	Fail	Fail
F-score	6 of 9	5 of 9	8 of 9
Accruals ratio	−7.7%	−8.3%	−4.7%

The accruals ratio is net income minus cash from operations, over average total assets.

Compare

Put Central Garden & Pet side by side with any other company we cover: revenue, growth, margins, cash flow and returns, with ten years of charts.

Similar companies

Company	Year	Revenue growth	Operating margin	Free cash flow margin	Return on capital	Net debt to EBITDA	F-score	Compare
Central Garden & Pet	FY25	−2.2%	8.0%	9.3%	9.7%	0.9x	8
Energizer	FY25	2.3%	—	2.1%	11.1%	5.8x	7	Compare
Spectrum Brands	FY25	−5.2%	4.5%	5.9%	5.3%	2.0x	6	Compare
Reynolds Consumer Products	FY25	0.7%	—	8.5%	9.9%	2.4x	5	Compare
Edgewell Personal Care	FY25	−1.3%	4.3%	1.9%	3.6%	6.3x	5	Compare

Each company's latest fiscal year. Fiscal years end in different months, so the periods don't line up exactly. Free cash flow margin is free cash flow as a share of revenue. Net debt to EBITDA is explained under the balance sheet, and the F-score above.

10 years of figures

Fiscal year	FY16	FY17	FY18	FY19	FY20	FY21	FY22	FY23	FY24	FY25
Income statement
Revenue	1,829	2,054	2,215	2,383	2,696	3,304	3,339	3,310	3,200	3,129
Revenue growth	10.8%	12.3%	7.8%	7.6%	13.1%	22.6%	1.1%	−0.8%	−3.3%	−2.2%
Gross profit	553	633	675	704	797	971	992	947	944	997
Research and development	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Operating income	129	156	167	152	198	254	260	211	185	250
Net income	44	79	124	93	121	152	152	126	108	163
Diluted EPS (US$)	0.87	1.52	2.32	1.61	2.20	2.75	2.24	1.88	1.62	2.55
Diluted shares (millions)	51	52	53	58	55	55	68	67	67	64
Cash flow
Cash from operations	151	114	114	205	264	251	−34	382	395	332
Capital expenditure	28	45	38	32	43	80	115	54	43	41
Free cash flow	124	70	76	173	221	171	−149	328	352	291
Dividends paid	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Share buybacks	11	28	14	63	59	28	62	37	24	155
Acquisitions	69	104	91	41	0	820	0	0	60	3
Stock-based compensation	8	11	12	15	19	23	26	28	21	21
Balance sheet at fiscal year end
Cash and short-term investments	93	32	482	498	653	426	177	489	754	882
Debt incl. finance leases	395	396	692	693	694	1,186	1,187	1,188	1,190	1,192
Total assets	1,181	1,307	1,907	2,025	2,339	3,117	3,282	3,379	3,553	3,626
Total liabilities	626	670	954	1,029	1,262	1,893	1,947	1,926	1,996	2,041
Shareholders' equity	553	636	952	996	1,077	1,222	1,334	1,451	1,556	1,583
Margins and ratios
Gross margin	30.2%	30.8%	30.5%	29.5%	29.6%	29.4%	29.7%	28.6%	29.5%	31.9%
Operating margin	7.1%	7.6%	7.5%	6.4%	7.3%	7.7%	7.8%	6.4%	5.8%	8.0%
Net margin	2.4%	3.8%	5.6%	3.9%	4.5%	4.6%	4.6%	3.8%	3.4%	5.2%
Free cash flow margin	6.8%	3.4%	3.4%	7.3%	8.2%	5.2%	−4.5%	9.9%	11.0%	9.3%
Return on capital	9.9%	10.6%	15.1%	10.0%	13.5%	12.9%	9.2%	7.3%	6.9%	9.7%
Return on equity	8.4%	13.3%	15.6%	9.5%	11.6%	13.2%	11.9%	9.0%	7.2%	10.4%
Return on assets	3.9%	6.3%	7.7%	4.7%	5.5%	5.6%	4.8%	3.8%	3.1%	4.5%
Net debt to EBITDA	1.8x	1.8x	1.0x	1.0x	0.2x	2.3x	3.0x	2.3x	1.6x	0.9x

US$ millions unless stated. Where a later 10-K restated a year, the latest filed figure is shown. Download all figures (CSV, US$ millions)

Source: Central Garden & Pet's Form 10-K filings, from SEC EDGAR. For information only, not investment advice. The Filing Desk is not affiliated with Central Garden & Pet.