Central Garden & Pet stock trades at USD 34.08 as leadership changes
Published on 09/28/2026 at 20:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Central Garden & Pet stock was trading at USD 34.08 on Nasdaq on September 28, 2026, up USD 0.02 or 0.07 percent from the previous close. The company has moved Jason Barnes into leadership of its Garden segment after J.D. Walker retired from the role effective September 26, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance on September 21, 2026.
Garden leadership changes on September 26
Barnes took responsibility for sales, marketing and service across the Garden segment, including branded controls, grass seed, live plants, packet seeds and vendor partner businesses. Yahoo Finance reported that Barnes had served as executive vice president of Garden Consumer Products since October 2025 and joined Central Garden & Pet in 2006.
The transition follows fiscal Q3 2026 results for the quarter ended June 27, 2026. The company reported net sales of USD 882.36 million and diluted GAAP earnings per share of USD 1.45, while operating cash flow reached USD 327.46 million in the same period.
Organic sales offset reported decline
Central Garden & Pet's investor-relations page reported non-GAAP diluted EPS of USD 1.54 for fiscal Q3 2026, with organic sales up 2 percent to USD 862.0 million. Non-GAAP gross margin reached 36.0 percent, an increase of 140 basis points from the comparable period.
The comparison matters because reported revenue declined after the company exited its pet distribution business. The underlying organic increase and higher margin point to a portfolio reshaping story, while the lower GAAP EPS keeps profitability under scrutiny. Management also raised fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance to USD 2.85 or better from USD 2.70 or better, as Central Garden & Pet states in its fiscal 2026 results materials.
Analysts see room above the quote
MarketBeat reported on September 26, 2026, that six analysts held a Moderate Buy consensus and an average 12-month target price of USD 46.67. JPMorgan Chase raised its target from USD 32.00 to USD 37.00 on July 16, 2026, while retaining an Underweight rating, according to the same MarketBeat report.
Stock remains below its yearly high
CENTA traded between USD 33.60 and USD 34.32 during the September 28, 2026 session. Its 52-week range was USD 25.97 to USD 40.80, while market capitalization stood at USD 2.4 billion and volume was 91,721 shares. For investors, the central question is whether organic growth and margin expansion can offset the reported sales effect of the distribution exit.
Central Garden & Pet stock snapshot
- Company: Central Garden & Pet Company
- Ticker: CENTA
- Trading venue: Nasdaq
- Price (as of September 28, 2026, 2:14 p.m. ET): USD 34.08
- Market capitalization: USD 2.4 billion (as of September 28, 2026)
- 52-week range: USD 25.97-USD 40.80 (as of September 28, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Consumer products / Pet and garden
