CENT Stock Rises 8% Post-Q4 2025 on Strong Demand and Margin Resilience

Central Garden & Pet Co. (CENT) has posted an 8% increase in share price since the conclusion of the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s underlying business momentum. The gain follows a period of steady demand across its key product categories, particularly in premium pet food and specialty lawn care solutions, which contributed to a 5.2% year-over-year revenue rise in Q4. This performance was supported by disciplined inventory management and a 3.1% improvement in gross margin, which outpaced industry averages during a time of sustained commodity pressure. The company's ability to maintain pricing power and limit customer churn was underscored by a 4.8% growth in same-store sales, with its Pet & Lawn divisions delivering double-digit gains in e-commerce channels. These results were further bolstered by a strategic shift toward higher-margin private-label offerings, which now account for 37% of total sales—up from 32% in the prior-year quarter. Central Garden & Pet also reported a reduction in SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue, declining to 18.4% from 19.7% in Q4 2024. Market participants have reacted positively to the company's demonstrated resilience, with analysts upgrading CENT to 'Buy' on multiple platforms. The stock's outperformance has also attracted increased institutional interest, with insider ownership rising by 0.6 percentage points during the quarter. The momentum appears to be anchored in continued demand for premium pet care products, which remain less sensitive to macroeconomic fluctuations compared to discretionary spending.