Dimensional Fund Advisors LP buys 5,571 shares in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT – Free Report ) by 0.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 777,297 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,571 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP’s holdings in Central Garden & Pet were worth $29,926,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale bought a new stake in Central Garden & Pet in the second quarter valued at $51,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Central Garden & Pet by 24.5% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 162,647 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,262,000 after buying an additional 32,009 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet in the second quarter valued at about $295,000. Versor Investments LP purchased a new position in Central Garden & Pet in the second quarter valued at $270,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 6.2% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 885,333 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,085,000 after acquiring an additional 51,454 shares during the last quarter. 16.13% of shares are currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts set new price targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Central Garden & Pet in a report on Monday, July 1st to a “strong-buy” rating. Canaccord Genuity Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $48.00 price objective on shares of Central Garden & Pet in a research report on Monday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $52.50, according to MarketBeat.

See the latest stock report on CENT

Central Garden and Pet Price Performance

Shares of CENT stock opened at $34.82 on Thursday. Central Garden & Pet has a 1 year low of $30.75 and a 1 year high of $47.48. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $38.45 and a two hundred day simple moving average of $40.27. The stock has a market cap of $2.35 billion, a PE ratio of 15.61 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 3.66, and a quick ratio of 2.16.

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT – Get Your Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $996.35 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1 billion. Central Garden & Pet had a net margin of 4.42% and a return on equity of 10.66%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% year-over-year. In the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.40 per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Central Garden & Pet will post 2.11 EPS for the current year.

Insider trading at Central Garden & Pet

In related news, Director Brooks Pennington III sold 1,486 shares of Central Garden & Pet stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.80, for a total value of $48,740.80. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 40,743 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,336,370.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible via this link. In other Central Garden & Pet news, Director John Ranelli sold 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.28, for a total transaction of $85,700.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 822 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,178.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available on the SEC’s website. Also, Director Brooks Pennington III sold 1,486 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.80, for a total transaction of $48,740.80. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 40,743 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,336,370.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 63,986 shares of company stock worth $2,146,841. Company insiders own 9.53% of the company’s shares.

About Central Garden & Pet

(Free Report)

Central Garden & Pet Company manufactures and distributes various products for the lawn and garden and pet supplies markets in the United States. It operates through two segments: Pet and Garden. The pet segment offers supplies for dogs and cats, such as dog food and chews, toys, pet beds and restraints, grooming products, waste management and training pads; supplies for aquatic animals, small animals, reptiles and pet birds, including toys, cages and habitats, bedding and food and supplements; equine and animal products; animal and household health and insect control products; aquariums and terrariums, including fixtures and stands, water conditioning and supplements, water pumps and filters, and lighting systems and accessories; and live fish and small animals as well as outdoor cushions.

Further reading

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