Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) Shares Purchased by Royce & Associates LP

Royce & Associates LP raised its stake in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) by 24.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 35,150 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,800 shares during the period. Royce & Associates LP’s holdings in Central Garden & Pet were worth $1,364,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CENT. Amundi raised its stake in Central Garden & Pet by 193.8% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 4,201 shares of the company’s stock worth $151,000 after acquiring an additional 2,771 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Central Garden & Pet during the fourth quarter worth about $682,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position 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 in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 73,883 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,867,000 after purchasing an additional 2,129 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 53,355 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,070,000 after purchasing an additional 2,141 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.13% of the company’s stock.

Central Garden & Pet Stock Down 0.2 %

CENT opened at $36.34 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $36.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $37.20. Central Garden & Pet has a 52 week low of $32.17 and a 52 week high of $47.48. The company has a market cap of $2.38 billion, a PE ratio of 19.97 and a beta of 0.73. 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 (NASDAQ:CENT) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 return on equity of 10.08% and a net margin of 3.77%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Central Garden & Pet will post 2.38 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider John D. Walker III sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.86, for a total value of $328,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 67,111 shares in the company, valued at $2,205,267.46. This trade represents a 12.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 8.19% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on Central Garden & Pet from $48.00 to $45.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Argus downgraded shares of Central Garden & Pet from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $45.00.

Central Garden & Pet Profile

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.