Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) Key Metrics
CENTA valuation today
Trailing 12 months · as of October 18, 2026- Market cap
- $2.27B
- Enterprise value
- $2.61B
- P/E (TTM)
- 13.4 10-yr median 13.4
- Forward P/E
- 10.5
- PEG ratio
- 1.87
- Price / sales
- 0.7 10-yr median 0.6
- Price / book
- 1.2 10-yr median 1.4
- EV / EBITDA
- 7.3 10-yr median 7.9
- Dividend yield
- —
- Beta
- 0.59
CENTA key metrics, FY2016–FY2025
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 · U.S. dollarsCENTA valuation Price multiples at each fiscal year-end price.
CENTA returns How much profit the business earns on the capital it uses.
CENTA per-share figures Results divided by the shares outstanding at year-end.
CENTA financial health Debt, liquidity and how easily interest is covered.
CENTA efficiency & capital use Working capital cycle and where the cash goes.
CENTA valuation history
CENTA returns on capital
Net income (ROE, ROA) or after-tax operating income (ROIC) divided by the average of the opening and closing balance.
CENTA debt vs cash
Debt includes short- and long-term borrowings and, where reported, lease liabilities.
CENTA cash returned to shareholders
CENTA price vs earnings per share
CENTA key metrics
FY2016–FY2025| FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 | FY2019 | FY2018 | FY2017 | FY2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | ||||||||||
| Market capitalization | $1.88B | $2.10B | $1.71B | $1.49B | $1.90B | $1.58B | $1.28B | $1.41B | $1.54B | $1.01B |
| Enterprise value | $2.44B | $2.77B | $2.60B | $2.69B | $2.83B | $1.74B | $1.47B | $1.62B | $1.91B | $1.32B |
| P/E ratio | 11.6 | 19.4 | 13.6 | 9.8 | 12.5 | 13.1 | 13.8 | 11.4 | 19.6 | 22.8 |
| Price / sales | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Price / book | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 1.8 |
| Price / free cash flow | 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.2 | — | 11.1 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 18.5 | 22.1 | 8.2 |
| Price / operating cash flow | 5.7 | 5.3 | 4.5 | — | 7.6 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 12.4 | 13.5 | 6.7 |
| EV / sales | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| EV / EBITDA | 6.8 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.6 | 9.6 | 7.8 |
| EV / free cash flow | 8.4 | 7.9 | 7.9 | — | 16.6 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 21.3 | 27.4 | 10.6 |
| Earnings yield | 8.6% | 5.1% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 8.0% | 7.6% | 7.3% | 8.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Free cash flow yield | 15.4% | 16.8% | 19.1% | −10.0% | 9.0% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 12.2% |
| Dividend yield | — | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 15.4% | 22.5% | 35.8% | 80.1% |
| Shareholder yield (dividends + buybacks) | 8.2% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 4.2% | 1.5% | 3.7% | 20.3% | 23.5% | 37.6% | 81.1% |
| Share price at fiscal year-end | $29.53 | $31.40 | $32.07 | $27.33 | $34.40 | $28.91 | $22.18 | $26.51 | $29.75 | $19.84 |
| Per share | ||||||||||
| Revenue per share | $49.03 | $47.87 | $61.96 | $61.34 | $59.80 | $49.24 | $41.36 | $41.53 | $39.65 | $35.81 |
| Earnings per share | $2.55 | $1.62 | $2.35 | $2.80 | $2.75 | $2.20 | $1.61 | $2.32 | $1.52 | $0.87 |
| Operating cash flow per share | $5.21 | $5.91 | $7.14 | −$0.63 | $4.54 | $4.83 | $3.56 | $2.14 | $2.21 | $2.96 |
| Free cash flow per share | $4.56 | $5.26 | $6.13 | −$2.74 | $3.09 | $4.04 | $3.01 | $1.43 | $1.34 | $2.42 |
| Cash per share | $13.83 | $11.27 | $9.15 | $3.26 | $7.72 | $11.92 | $8.64 | $9.04 | $0.63 | $1.82 |
| Book value per share | $24.81 | $23.27 | $27.17 | $24.51 | $22.12 | $19.67 | $17.29 | $17.86 | $12.27 | $10.83 |
| Tangible book value per share | $9.10 | $7.94 | $7.63 | $4.48 | $13.00 | $11.91 | $9.79 | $9.73 | $5.08 | $4.42 |
| Dividends per share | — | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.00 | $3.42 | $5.97 | $10.65 | $15.89 |
| Capex per share | $0.65 | $0.65 | $1.01 | $2.12 | $1.45 | $0.79 | $0.55 | $0.71 | $0.86 | $0.54 |
| Debt per share | $22.57 | $21.25 | $25.73 | $25.40 | $24.56 | $14.87 | $12.03 | $12.98 | $7.64 | $7.74 |
| Shares outstanding | 63.8M | 66.9M | 53.4M | 54.4M | 55.2M | 54.7M | 57.6M | 53.3M | 51.8M | 51.1M |
| Change in shares outstanding | −4.6% | +25.1% | −1.8% | −1.5% | +0.9% | −5.0% | +8.0% | +2.9% | +1.5% | +2.9% |
| Returns & profitability | ||||||||||
| Return on equity (ROE) | 10.4% | 7.2% | 9.0% | 11.9% | 13.2% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 15.6% | 13.3% | 8.4% |
| Return on invested capital (ROIC) | 9.2% | 6.2% | 6.7% | 8.5% | 11.9% | 12.9% | 10.0% | 15.1% | 10.6% | 9.9% |
| Return on assets (ROA) | 4.5% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 4.8% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 3.8% |
| Return on tangible assets | 6.2% | 4.3% | 5.4% | 6.9% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.8% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 5.0% |
| Free cash flow margin | 9.3% | 11.0% | 9.9% | −4.5% | 5.2% | 8.2% | 7.3% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 6.8% |
| Income quality (OCF / net income) | 2.04 | 3.66 | 3.04 | −0.22 | 1.65 | 2.19 | 2.21 | 0.92 | 1.45 | 3.40 |
| Financial health | ||||||||||
| Total debt | $1.44B | $1.42B | $1.37B | $1.38B | $1.36B | $814.1M | $693.1M | $692.2M | $395.7M | $395.3M |
| Cash & short-term investments | $882.5M | $753.5M | $488.7M | $177.4M | $426.4M | $652.7M | $497.7M | $482.1M | $32.4M | $93.0M |
| Net debt | $557.8M | $666.9M | $885.7M | $1.20B | $930.2M | $161.4M | $195.4M | $210.0M | $363.3M | $302.3M |
| Debt / equity | 0.91 | 0.91 | 0.95 | 1.04 | 1.11 | 0.76 | 0.70 | 0.73 | 0.62 | 0.71 |
| Debt / assets | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.35 | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.30 | 0.33 |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.55 | 2.29 | 2.88 | 3.56 | 2.86 | 0.64 | 0.92 | 0.98 | 1.83 | 1.79 |
| Current ratio | 3.67 | 3.66 | 3.73 | 3.34 | 2.96 | 3.46 | 4.69 | 5.72 | 3.10 | 3.53 |
| Quick ratio | 2.33 | 2.19 | 1.90 | 1.32 | 1.64 | 2.47 | 3.02 | 3.71 | 1.37 | 1.74 |
| Interest coverage | 4.6 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 3.0 |
| Working capital | $1.44B | $1.37B | $1.25B | $1.09B | $1.02B | $1.09B | $1.03B | $1.00B | $462.8M | $512.6M |
| Invested capital | $2.14B | $2.22B | $2.34B | $2.54B | $2.15B | $1.24B | $1.19B | $1.16B | $998.9M | $855.3M |
| Tangible asset value | $582.6M | $532.9M | $409.1M | $245.1M | $719.7M | $652.8M | $564.0M | $519.4M | $264.8M | $227.3M |
| Net current asset value | −$64.6M | −$109.1M | −$218.7M | −$393.4M | −$349.5M | $263.6M | $278.4M | $262.9M | $13.3M | $57.2M |
| Graham number | $37.74 | $29.08 | $37.91 | $39.26 | $36.98 | $31.24 | $25.03 | $30.51 | $20.49 | $14.57 |
| Graham net-net per share | −$8.67 | −$9.25 | −$14.38 | −$18.71 | −$15.11 | −$1.74 | −$1.27 | −$0.96 | −$5.17 | −$4.56 |
| Capital allocation | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid | — | $0 | $0 | $806,000 | $606,000 | $143,000 | $197.0M | $318.2M | $551.7M | $811.4M |
| Share buybacks (net) | $155.1M | $24.1M | $37.2M | $62.3M | $27.9M | $59.1M | $63.0M | $13.8M | $27.6M | $10.9M |
| Dividend payout ratio | — | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 212.3% | 257.5% | 699.8% | — |
| Dividends + buybacks / free cash flow | 53.3% | 6.8% | 11.3% | — | 16.7% | 26.8% | 149.9% | 435.3% | 831.6% | 664.2% |
| Capex / revenue | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 3.5% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| Capex / operating cash flow | 12.5% | 10.9% | 14.1% | — | 32.0% | 16.3% | 15.4% | 33.2% | 39.1% | 18.2% |
| Capex / depreciation | 0.49 | 0.48 | 0.62 | 1.42 | 1.08 | 0.78 | 0.62 | 0.80 | 1.05 | 0.69 |
| Stock-based compensation / revenue | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| SG&A / revenue | 23.9% | 22.0% | 21.0% | 20.9% | 21.2% | 18.9% | 23.2% | 22.9% | 23.2% | 23.1% |
| Efficiency | ||||||||||
| Days sales outstanding | 38.0 | 37.6 | 39.1 | 41.7 | 42.9 | 46.8 | 44.1 | 42.3 | 39.0 | 40.8 |
| Days of inventory on hand | 125.3 | 129.1 | 137.2 | 126.3 | 88.0 | 86.4 | 97.2 | 96.0 | 95.5 | 99.8 |
| Days payables outstanding | 37.9 | 32.6 | 31.4 | 35.9 | 35.3 | 33.8 | 28.2 | 25.3 | 26.4 | 27.4 |
| Cash conversion cycle (days) | 125.4 | 134.0 | 144.9 | 132.0 | 95.7 | 99.4 | 113.1 | 113.0 | 108.1 | 113.2 |
| Receivables turnover | 9.61 | 9.71 | 9.33 | 8.76 | 8.50 | 7.79 | 8.27 | 8.62 | 9.36 | 8.95 |
| Payables turnover | 9.64 | 11.19 | 11.62 | 10.17 | 10.35 | 10.79 | 12.94 | 14.42 | 13.82 | 13.34 |
| Inventory turnover | 2.91 | 2.83 | 2.66 | 2.89 | 4.15 | 4.22 | 3.76 | 3.80 | 3.82 | 3.66 |
| Asset turnover | 0.87 | 0.92 | 0.99 | 1.04 | 1.21 | 1.24 | 1.21 | 1.38 | 1.63 | 1.56 |
| Average receivables | $325.8M | $329.6M | $354.8M | $381.1M | $388.6M | $346.0M | $288.0M | $256.9M | $219.5M | $204.3M |
| Average payables | $223.6M | $201.8M | $203.3M | $230.6M | $225.4M | $177.2M | $129.8M | $106.8M | $102.8M | $95.7M |
| Average inventory | $740.0M | $798.1M | $888.1M | $811.6M | $562.4M | $452.9M | $447.0M | $405.0M | $372.1M | $349.0M |
| Intangibles / total assets | 27.6% | 28.8% | 30.9% | 33.2% | 16.2% | 18.2% | 21.3% | 22.7% | 28.5% | 27.0% |
Computed from CENTA's annual financial statements (latest annual report filed November 26, 2025) and the closing share price on each fiscal year-end, adjusted for stock splits. Figures in U.S. dollars; data from EODHD. Averages use the opening and closing balance of each year.
CENTA valuation and financial ratios
At the end of fiscal 2025 (September 30, 2025), Central Garden & Pet traded at 11.6 times earnings, against a 10-year median of 13.4. Based on the latest twelve months, the trailing P/E is 13.4 and the forward P/E is 10.5. Central Garden & Pet earned a return on equity of 10.4% and a return on invested capital of 9.2% in fiscal 2025. It ended the year with $1.4 billion of debt and $882.5 million in cash and short-term investments, net debt of $557.8 million. It returned $155.1 million to shareholders: $0 in dividends and $155.1 million in share buybacks, 53% of free cash flow. The share count rose 24.9% from 51.1M to 63.8M over 9 years.
See the CENTA income statement, the CENTA chart for price history, or the CENTA stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CENTA key metrics FAQ
What is Central Garden & Pet's P/E ratio?
Central Garden & Pet's trailing P/E ratio is 13.4 based on the last twelve months of earnings (as of October 18, 2026), and its forward P/E is 10.5. At the end of fiscal 2025 it was 11.6, compared with a 10-year median of 13.4.
What is Central Garden & Pet's EV/EBITDA?
Central Garden & Pet's enterprise value was 6.8 times EBITDA at the end of fiscal 2025 (enterprise value $2.4 billion, EBITDA $359.3 million); the current EV/EBITDA is 7.3.
What is Central Garden & Pet's return on equity?
Central Garden & Pet's return on equity (ROE) was 10.4% in fiscal 2025: net income of $162.8 million on average shareholders' equity of $1.6 billion.
What is Central Garden & Pet's ROIC?
Central Garden & Pet's return on invested capital was 9.2% in fiscal 2025, using after-tax operating income divided by average debt plus equity minus cash.
How much debt does Central Garden & Pet have?
Central Garden & Pet had total debt of $1.4 billion at the end of fiscal 2025, a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91 and $557.8 million of net debt (1.55 times EBITDA).
Does Central Garden & Pet buy back its shares?
Yes. Central Garden & Pet spent $155.1 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025 Shares outstanding changed −4.6% over the year, to 63.8M..
What is Central Garden & Pet's free cash flow yield?
Central Garden & Pet generated $291.1 million of free cash flow in fiscal 2025, a free cash flow yield of 15.4% on its market value at year-end ($1.9 billion).
What is Central Garden & Pet's current ratio?
Central Garden & Pet's current ratio was 3.67 at the end of fiscal 2025: current assets were 3.67 times current liabilities.