Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) Shares Acquired by Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT - Free Report) by 9.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,474,313 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 125,418 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 2.25% of Central Garden & Pet worth $57,203,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in Central Garden & Pet by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 200,091 shares of the company's stock worth $7,764,000 after acquiring an additional 22,556 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 23.1% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 138,273 shares of the company's stock worth $5,365,000 after purchasing an additional 25,968 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 73,883 shares of the company's stock worth $2,867,000 after purchasing an additional 2,129 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 53,355 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,070,000 after acquiring an additional 2,141 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in Central Garden & Pet by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 48,392 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,878,000 after purchasing an additional 2,297 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.13% of the company's stock.

Central Garden & Pet Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of CENT stock traded down $0.12 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $34.82. 8,981 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 199,995. The stock has a market cap of $2.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.12 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 3.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. Central Garden & Pet has a fifty-two week low of $32.17 and a fifty-two week high of $47.48. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $36.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $36.86.

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.03) by $0.24. Central Garden & Pet had a return on equity of 10.08% and a net margin of 3.77%. Equities analysts expect that Central Garden & Pet will post 2.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Central Garden & Pet news, insider John D. Walker III sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The stock was 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,205,267.46. The trade was a 12.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 8.19% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Argus lowered shares of Central Garden & Pet from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Central Garden & Pet currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $45.00.

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.