Central Garden Pet Maintains Buy Rating with $45.00 Price Target

Canaccord Genuity analyst Brian McNamara maintained a Buy rating for Central Garden Pet with a $45.00 price target, citing the company's strong fundamentals. The stock has a Moderate Buy analyst consensus rating with a $35.44 average price target. Despite a negative corporate insider sentiment, CENT market cap is $2.32B and has a P/E ratio of 21.44.

Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA) stock has seen significant fluctuations in recent days, with a notable gain of 2.15% on Monday, July 14, 2025, pushing the price from $35.75 to $36.52. This gain follows a string of positive days, with the stock rising for 5 consecutive days and up by 15.97% over the past two weeks [1].

The stock's recent performance has been driven by multiple positive signals. Analysts from StockInvest.us have issued buy signals from both short and long-term moving averages, suggesting a positive outlook. Additionally, the stock has shown a "Golden Star Signal" on the long-term chart, indicating a rare and potentially profitable combination of moving averages and price lines [1].

However, the stock's performance has not been without challenges. On July 11, 2025, the stock surged 6.86% to an intraday high of $38.95, but it remains 11.24% below its 52-week high of $43.88. The stock's price target from analysts ranges from $35.00 to $50.00, with an average target of $43.40, suggesting a potential upside of 11.42% from the current price [3].

Despite the mixed signals, the company's fundamentals remain strong. Central Garden & Pet has raised its fiscal 2025 non-GAAP EPS forecast to approximately $2.60, driven by robust operational execution, favorable product mix, and its Cost and Simplicity initiatives. The company's strategic goals and investments are focused on fostering long-term growth across its Pet and Garden segments [2].

Analysts from Canaccord Genuity, including Brian McNamara, maintain a Buy rating for Central Garden Pet with a $45.00 price target, citing strong fundamentals. The stock has a Moderate Buy analyst consensus rating with a $35.44 average price target [3]. However, a negative corporate insider sentiment and a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.44 should be considered by investors.

In conclusion, Central Garden & Pet Company stock presents a mixed picture. While strong fundamentals and analyst ratings suggest potential upside, recent price movements and technical signals indicate caution. Investors should closely monitor the stock's performance and consider the company's strategic initiatives and potential risks.

References:
[1] https://stockinvest.us/stock/CENTA
[2] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2972152/central-garden-pet-raises-fiscal-2025-nongaap-eps-outlook-fiscal-2025-nongaap-eps-now-expected-to-be-approximately-260-centa-stock-news
[3] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2972786/central-garden-pet-co-cent-stock-price-up-686-on-jul-11