Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) P/E Ratio History
UndervaluedTrading at 16.9x vs 5Y avg 32.3x · 75th percentile · Below historical baseline · Data 1994–2026
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P/E Ratio Analysis
As of June 20, 2026, Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.9x, with a stock price of $43.18 and trailing twelve-month earnings per share of $2.77.
The current P/E is 48% below its 5-year average of 32.3x. Over the past five years, CENT's P/E has ranged from a low of 10.6x to a high of 195.8x, placing the current valuation at the 75th percentile of its historical range.
Compared to the Consumer Defensive sector median P/E of 18.8x, CENT is roughly in line with its sector peers. The sector includes 151 companies with P/E ratios ranging from 0.0x to 193.7x.
The PEG ratio of 5.65 (P/E divided by 57% EPS growth) suggests the stock may be expensive relative to its earnings growth. Peter Lynch popularized the rule that a PEG below 1.0 indicates an attractive entry point.
Relative to the broader market, CENT trades at a notable discount to the S&P 500 median P/E of 24.4x. Investors should consider the company's growth prospects, competitive position, and earnings quality when evaluating whether the current valuation is justified.
For a comprehensive intrinsic value estimate using discounted cash flow analysis, see our CENT DCF Valuation Calculator →
Note: P/E ratio is just one valuation metric. It does not account for balance sheet strength, cash flow quality, or growth sustainability. Always conduct comprehensive due diligence before making investment decisions.
CENT Cross-Benchmark Valuation
How does the current P/E compare to sector peers and the broader market?
CENT P/E vs Peers
Food ingredients and pet food peers sorted by market cap
| Company | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | PEG Ratio | EPS Growth (1Y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2B | 21.8 | 1.68Best | -6% | |
| $360M | 8.9 | - | +142% | |
| $4B | 7.8Lowest | - | +7% | |
| $3B | 20.8 | - | +184%Best | |
| $8B | 35.0 | - | -43% | |
| $45B | 43.0 | 3.01 | +23% | |
| $748M | 82.6 | - | +109% | |
| $79B | 31.2 | 4.51 | -3% |
Lower P/E can signal a discount or weaker growth expectations; PEG adds growth context.
CENT Historical P/E Data (1994–2026)
Quarterly P/E ratios calculated from closing price and TTM EPS
| Quarter | Period End | Price | TTM EPS | P/E Ratio | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q2 | Mar 28 2026 | $37.02 | $2.75 | 13.5x | -46% |
| FY2026 Q1 | Dec 27 2025 | $32.69 | $2.45 | 13.3x | -47% |
| FY2025 Q4 | Sep 27 2025 | $33.23 | $2.55 | 13.0x | -48% |
| FY2025 Q3 | Jun 28 2025 | $35.36 | $0.58 | 61.0x | +143% |
| FY2025 Q2 | Mar 29 2025 | $35.94 | $0.25 | 143.8x | +473% |
| FY2025 Q1 | Dec 28 2024 | $39.16 | $0.20 | 195.8x | +681% |
| FY2024 Q3 | Jun 29 2024 | $38.50 | $2.18 | 17.7x | -30% |
| FY2024 Q2 | Mar 30 2024 | $42.83 | $2.55 | 16.8x | -33% |
| FY2024 Q1 | Dec 30 2023 | $50.11 | $2.34 | 21.4x | -15% |
| FY2023 Q4 | Sep 30 2023 | $34.57 | $2.20 | 15.7x | -37% |
| FY2023 Q3 | Jun 24 2023 | $29.55 | $2.11 | 14.0x | -44% |
| FY2023 Q2 | Mar 25 2023 | $31.04 | $1.94 | 16.0x | -36% |
| FY2023 Q1 | Dec 24 2022 | $29.65 | $2.49 | 11.9x | -53% |
| FY2022 Q4 | Sep 24 2022 | $29.48 | $2.78 | 10.6x | -58% |
| FY2022 Q3 | Jun 25 2022 | $34.34 | $2.76 | 12.4x | -50% |
| FY2022 Q2 | Mar 26 2022 | $35.11 | $2.74 | 12.8x | -49% |
| FY2022 Q1 | Dec 25 2021 | $40.34 | $2.79 | 14.4x | -42% |
| FY2021 Q4 | Sep 25 2021 | $36.55 | $2.73 | 13.4x | -47% |
| FY2021 Q3 | Jun 26 2021 | $43.84 | $3.04 | 14.4x | -43% |
| FY2021 Q2 | Mar 27 2021 | $44.40 | $2.94 | 15.1x | -40% |
| FY2021 Q1 | Dec 26 2020 | $28.81 | $2.40 | 12.0x | -52% |
| FY2020 Q4 | Sep 26 2020 | $29.60 | $2.22 | 13.3x | -47% |
| FY2020 Q3 | Jun 27 2020 | $27.19 | $2.01 | 13.5x | -46% |
| FY2020 Q2 | Mar 28 2020 | $20.52 | $1.54 | 13.3x | -47% |
| FY2020 Q1 | Dec 28 2019 | $24.60 | $1.49 | 16.5x | -34% |
| FY2019 Q4 | Sep 28 2019 | $23.17 | $1.60 | 14.4x | -42% |
| FY2019 Q3 | Jun 29 2019 | $21.10 | $1.75 | 12.0x | -52% |
| FY2019 Q2 | Mar 30 2019 | $20.02 | $1.74 | 11.5x | -54% |
| FY2019 Q1 | Dec 29 2018 | $26.78 | $1.87 | 14.3x | -43% |
| FY2018 Q4 | Sep 29 2018 | $28.22 | $2.34 | 12.1x | -52% |
| FY2018 Q3 | Jun 30 2018 | $34.05 | $2.23 | 15.3x | -39% |
| FY2018 Q2 | Mar 31 2018 | $33.67 | $2.06 | 16.3x | -35% |
| FY2018 Q1 | Dec 30 2017 | $30.48 | $1.87 | 16.3x | -35% |
| FY2017 Q4 | Sep 30 2017 | $30.42 | $1.52 | 20.0x | -20% |
| FY2017 Q3 | Jun 24 2017 | $25.19 | $1.33 | 18.9x | -24% |
| FY2017 Q2 | Mar 25 2017 | $28.45 | $1.22 | 23.3x | -7% |
| FY2017 Q1 | Dec 24 2016 | $26.39 | $1.20 | 22.0x | -12% |
| FY2016 Q4 | Sep 24 2016 | $19.87 | $0.87 | 22.8x | -9% |
| FY2016 Q3 | Jun 25 2016 | $16.87 | $0.89 | 19.0x | -24% |
| FY2016 Q2 | Mar 26 2016 | $12.21 | $0.76 | 16.1x | -36% |
| FY2016 Q1 | Dec 26 2015 | $10.45 | $0.58 | 18.0x | -28% |
| FY2015 Q4 | Sep 26 2015 | $12.83 | $0.64 | 20.1x | -20% |
| FY2015 Q3 | Jun 27 2015 | $8.23 | $0.65 | 12.7x | -49% |
| FY2015 Q2 | Mar 28 2015 | $7.86 | $0.36 | 21.7x | -13% |
| FY2015 Q1 | Dec 27 2014 | $6.93 | $0.32 | 21.6x | -14% |
| FY2014 Q4 | Sep 27 2014 | $6.02 | $0.18 | 33.2x | +32% |
| FY2014 Q1 | Dec 28 2013 | $5.28 | $0.01 | 528.0x | +2005% |
| FY2013 Q3 | Jun 29 2013 | $5.56 | $0.21 | 26.5x | +6% |
| FY2013 Q2 | Mar 30 2013 | $6.75 | $0.40 | 16.9x | -33% |
| FY2013 Q1 | Dec 29 2012 | $7.67 | $0.39 | 19.7x | -22% |
| FY2012 Q4 | Sep 29 2012 | $9.31 | $0.44 | 21.2x | -16% |
| FY2012 Q3 | Jun 23 2012 | $7.17 | $0.44 | 16.3x | -35% |
| FY2012 Q2 | Mar 24 2012 | $7.15 | $0.28 | 25.5x | +2% |
| FY2012 Q1 | Dec 24 2011 | $6.51 | $0.37 | 17.6x | -30% |
| FY2011 Q4 | Sep 24 2011 | $5.24 | $0.48 | 10.9x | -56% |
| FY2011 Q3 | Jun 25 2011 | $7.71 | $0.55 | 14.0x | -44% |
| FY2011 Q2 | Mar 26 2011 | $6.89 | $0.64 | 10.8x | -57% |
| FY2011 Q1 | Dec 25 2010 | $7.82 | $0.59 | 13.3x | -47% |
| FY2010 Q4 | Sep 25 2010 | $7.91 | $0.71 | 11.2x | -55% |
| FY2010 Q3 | Jun 26 2010 | $7.72 | $0.97 | 8.0x | -68% |
| FY2010 Q2 | Mar 27 2010 | $7.96 | $1.01 | 7.9x | -68% |
| FY2010 Q1 | Dec 26 2009 | $8.73 | $0.99 | 8.8x | -65% |
| FY2009 Q4 | Sep 26 2009 | $9.21 | $0.94 | 9.8x | -61% |
| FY2009 Q3 | Jun 27 2009 | $8.61 | $0.62 | 13.8x | -45% |
| FY2009 Q2 | Mar 28 2009 | $6.23 | $0.40 | 15.5x | -38% |
| FY2009 Q1 | Dec 27 2008 | $4.59 | $0.21 | 21.6x | -14% |
| FY2007 Q4 | Sep 29 2007 | $6.97 | $0.45 | 15.3x | -39% |
| FY2007 Q3 | Jun 30 2007 | $9.60 | $0.56 | 17.1x | -32% |
| FY2007 Q2 | Mar 31 2007 | $11.57 | $0.77 | 15.0x | -40% |
| FY2007 Q1 | Dec 30 2006 | $37.92 | $0.86 | 43.9x | +75% |
| FY2006 Q4 | Sep 30 2006 | $37.79 | $0.94 | 40.0x | +60% |
| FY2006 Q3 | Jun 24 2006 | $32.18 | $1.17 | 27.5x | +10% |
| FY2006 Q2 | Mar 25 2006 | $42.25 | $1.77 | 23.9x | -5% |
| FY2006 Q1 | Dec 24 2005 | $36.82 | $2.42 | 15.2x | -39% |
| FY2005 Q4 | Sep 24 2005 | $34.52 | $2.50 | 13.8x | -45% |
| FY2005 Q3 | Jun 25 2005 | $37.75 | $2.44 | 15.5x | -38% |
| FY2005 Q2 | Mar 26 2005 | $32.46 | $2.27 | 14.3x | -43% |
| FY2005 Q1 | Dec 25 2004 | $31.65 | $2.14 | 14.8x | -41% |
| FY2004 Q4 | Sep 25 2004 | $24.34 | $1.99 | 12.2x | -51% |
| FY2004 Q3 | Jun 26 2004 | $28.00 | $1.97 | 14.2x | -43% |
| FY2004 Q2 | Mar 27 2004 | $27.31 | $1.97 | 13.9x | -45% |
| FY2004 Q1 | Dec 27 2003 | $21.84 | $1.74 | 12.6x | -50% |
| FY2003 Q4 | Sep 27 2003 | $19.60 | $1.73 | 11.3x | -55% |
| FY2002 Q3 | Jun 29 2002 | $13.73 | $0.59 | 23.3x | -7% |
| FY2002 Q2 | Mar 30 2002 | $8.24 | $0.14 | 59.6x | +138% |
| FY2000 Q3 | Jun 24 2000 | $7.93 | $0.57 | 13.9x | -45% |
| FY2000 Q2 | Mar 25 2000 | $7.49 | $0.48 | 15.6x | -38% |
| FY2000 Q1 | Dec 25 1999 | $7.54 | $0.46 | 16.4x | -35% |
| FY1999 Q4 | Sep 25 1999 | $6.11 | $0.78 | 7.9x | -69% |
| FY1999 Q3 | Jun 26 1999 | $8.22 | $1.06 | 7.8x | -69% |
| FY1999 Q2 | Mar 27 1999 | $11.75 | $1.15 | 10.2x | -59% |
| FY1999 Q1 | Dec 26 1998 | $10.18 | $1.03 | 9.9x | -61% |
| FY1998 Q4 | Sep 26 1998 | $14.14 | $1.02 | 13.8x | -45% |
| FY1998 Q3 | Jun 27 1998 | $22.71 | $1.01 | 22.5x | -10% |
| FY1998 Q2 | Mar 28 1998 | $30.00 | $1.10 | 27.2x | +9% |
| FY1998 Q1 | Dec 27 1997 | $20.56 | $1.02 | 20.1x | -20% |
| FY1997 Q4 | Sep 27 1997 | $22.46 | $0.92 | 24.4x | -3% |
| FY1997 Q3 | Jun 28 1997 | $18.40 | $1.06 | 17.4x | -31% |
| FY1997 Q2 | Mar 29 1997 | $14.10 | $1.53 | 9.2x | -63% |
| FY1997 Q1 | Dec 28 1996 | $16.54 | $1.35 | 12.3x | -51% |
| FY1996 Q4 | Sep 28 1996 | $16.25 | $0.99 | 16.4x | -35% |
| FY1996 Q3 | Jun 29 1996 | $14.10 | $1.08 | 13.1x | -48% |
| FY1996 Q2 | Mar 30 1996 | $7.44 | $0.09 | 82.7x | +230% |
| FY1995 Q2 | Mar 31 1995 | $3.18 | $0.10 | 31.8x | +27% |
| FY1995 Q1 | Dec 31 1994 | $3.23 | $0.27 | 12.0x | -52% |
| FY1994 Q4 | Sep 30 1994 | $5.09 | $0.50 | 10.2x | -59% |
| FY1994 Q3 | - | $6.26 | $0.84 | 7.5x | -70% |
| FY1994 Q2 | - | $7.64 | $1.17 | 6.5x | -74% |
| FY1994 Q1 | Dec 31 1993 | $9.79 | $1.24 | 7.9x | -69% |
Average P/E for displayed period: 25.1x
Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
Historical Returns
32+ years return with dividends reinvested.
DCA Calculator
See how regular investing compounds over time.
Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
CENT — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CENT stock.
What is CENT's P/E ratio?
Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) trailing twelve-month P/E ratio is 16.9x, based on TTM diluted EPS of $2.77. The 5-year average P/E is 32.3x and the historical range spans 10.6x to 195.8x.
Is CENT stock overvalued or undervalued?
CENT trades at 16.9x P/E, below its 5-year average of 32.3x. At the 75th percentile of its historical range (10.6x–195.8x), the stock is priced at a discount to its own history.
Is CENT stock expensive?
No, CENT is not expensive on a historical basis. The current P/E of 16.9x is below the 5-year average of 32.3x and sits at the 75th percentile of its valuation range.
What is CENT's historical P/E range?
Over the past 5 years, CENT's P/E ratio has ranged from 10.6x to 195.8x, with a median of 14.4x and an average of 32.3x. The current P/E of 16.9x places the stock at the 75th percentile of this range. Full historical data spans 1994–2026.
How does CENT's P/E compare to the S&P 500?
CENT trades at 16.9x P/E versus the S&P 500 median of 24.4x. The 31% discount to the market suggests lower growth expectations or perceived higher risk.
How does CENT's valuation compare to Consumer Defensive peers?
Central Garden & Pet Company P/E of 16.9x compares to the Consumer Defensive sector median of 18.8x. The discount suggests lower growth expectations, weaker margins, or higher perceived risk relative to peers. See the peer comparison table on this page for ticker-by-ticker P/E and PEG.
What is CENT's PEG ratio?
CENT PEG ratio is 5.65, based on a P/E of 16.9x and EPS growth of 57.4%. A PEG above 2.0 indicates a premium valuation relative to earnings growth — typically considered expensive.
What is CENT's earnings yield?
CENT earnings yield is 5.91%, the inverse of its 16.9x P/E ratio. Earnings yield represents the percentage of each dollar invested that the company earns. It can be compared directly to bond yields to assess relative attractiveness of stocks versus fixed income.