John D. Walker III Sells 10,000 Shares of Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) Stock

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) insider John D. Walker III sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.86, for a total transaction of $328,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 67,111 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,205,267.46. This trade represents a 12.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Central Garden & Pet Stock Performance

CENT traded up $0.90 on Tuesday, hitting $39.35. 95,562 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 95,362. The firm has a market cap of $2.58 billion, a PE ratio of 21.62 and a beta of 0.79. Central Garden & Pet has a twelve month low of $32.17 and a twelve month high of $47.48. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $38.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.64. The company has a current ratio of 3.47, a quick ratio of 2.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78.

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.03) by $0.24. Central Garden & Pet had a net margin of 3.77% and a return on equity of 10.08%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Central Garden & Pet will post 2.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Central Garden & Pet

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CENT. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new position in Central Garden & Pet in the 2nd quarter worth about $187,000. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in Central Garden & Pet in the 3rd quarter worth about $111,000. Inspire Investing LLC grew its position in Central Garden & Pet by 21.5% in the 3rd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 11,235 shares of the company’s stock worth $410,000 after purchasing an additional 1,988 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Central Garden & Pet by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 893,226 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,576,000 after purchasing an additional 7,893 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in Central Garden & Pet in the 3rd quarter worth about $272,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on shares of Central Garden & Pet from $48.00 to $45.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Argus lowered shares of Central Garden & Pet from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Central Garden & Pet from $50.00 to $40.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $46.75.

About Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet Co engages in the production and distribution of branded and private label products for the lawn, garden, and pet supplies markets. It operates through the Pet and Garden segments. The Pet segment focuses on dog and cat supplies such as dog treats and chews, toys, pet beds and containment, grooming products, waste management and training pads, supplies for aquatics, small animals, reptiles and pet birds including toys, cages and habitats, bedding, food and supplements, products for equine and livestock, animal and household health and insect control products, live fish and small animals as well as outdoor cushions.