2,795 Shares in Central Garden & Pet Company $CENTA Purchased by EMC Capital Management

EMC Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENTA) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 2,795 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $87,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 108.0% in the first quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 756,270 shares of the company’s stock worth $24,753,000 after acquiring an additional 392,672 shares during the last quarter. Armistice Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Central Garden & Pet by 28.8% in the 1st quarter. Armistice Capital LLC now owns 1,025,085 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,551,000 after purchasing an additional 229,324 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Central Garden & Pet by 15.2% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,581,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $51,776,000 after purchasing an additional 208,800 shares during the last quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 21.1% during the first quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 1,164,376 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,110,000 after buying an additional 202,761 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet during the first quarter worth $5,923,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 50.82% of the company’s stock.

Central Garden & Pet Price Performance

CENTA stock opened at $27.53 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $28.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $31.41. Central Garden & Pet Company has a 12-month low of $25.97 and a 12-month high of $37.35. The company has a market capitalization of $1.73 billion, a PE ratio of 12.51 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 3.56, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on CENTA shares. Zacks Research cut shares of Central Garden & Pet from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on Central Garden & Pet from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Central Garden & Pet in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Central Garden & Pet from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Central Garden & Pet from $35.00 to $30.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $38.33.

Insider Activity at Central Garden & Pet

In related news, Director John Ranelli sold 3,076 shares of Central Garden & Pet stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.58, for a total value of $100,216.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 1,427 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,491.66. The trade was a 68.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider John D. Walker III sold 3,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.59, for a total transaction of $114,065.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 67,328 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,194,219.52. The trade was a 4.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 20.28% of the company’s stock.

Central Garden & Pet Company Profile

Central Garden & Pet Co engages in the production and distribution of branded and private label products for the lawn, garden, and pet supplies markets. It operates through the Pet and Garden segments. The Pet segment focuses on dog and cat supplies such as dog treats and chews, toys, pet beds and containment, grooming products, waste management and training pads, supplies for aquatics, small animals, reptiles and pet birds including toys, cages and habitats, bedding, food and supplements, products for equine and livestock, animal and household health and insect control products, live fish, and small animals, as well as outdoor cushions.