CENT (Central Garden & Pet Co) Operating Income: $259 Mil (TTM As of Mar. 2026)


CENT Central Garden & Pet Co CENT
72 GF Score
Price $43.02
GF Value $37.56
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
! 6 Warning Signs
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What is Central Garden & Pet Co Operating Income?

Central Garden & Pet Co CENT +1.58% 72 Operating Income is $259 Mil as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates CENT with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of $37.56 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review.

Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Income for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was $114 Mil. Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was $259 Mil.

Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Income for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was $114 Mil. Central Garden & Pet Co's Revenue for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was $906 Mil. Therefore, Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 12.57%.

Warning Sign:

Central Garden & Pet Co operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -1.8%.

Central Garden & Pet Co's 5-Year average Growth Rate for Operating Margin % was -1.80% per year.

Operating Income or EBIT is linked to Return on Capital for both regular definition and Joel Greenblatt's definition. Central Garden & Pet Co's annualized ROC % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 14.12%. Central Garden & Pet Co's annualized ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 34.86%.


Central Garden & Pet Co  (NAS:CENT) Operating Income Explanation

1. Operating Income or EBIT is linked to Return on Capital for both regular definition and Joel Greenblatt's definition.

Central Garden & Pet Co's annualized ROC % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is calculated as:

ROC % (Q: Mar. 2026 )
=NOPAT/Average Invested Capital
=Operating Income * ( 1 - Tax Rate % )/( (Invested Capital (Q: Dec. 2025 ) + Invested Capital (Q: Mar. 2026 ))/ count )
=455.744 * ( 1 - 23.47% )/( (2401.193 + 2538.73)/ 2 )
=348.7808832/2469.9615
=14.12 %

where

Invested Capital(Q: Dec. 2025 )
=Total Assets - Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense - Excess Cash
=Total Assets - Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense - ( Cash, Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities - max(0, Total Current Liabilities - Total Current Assets+Cash, Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities))
=3643.427 - 521.084 - ( 721.15 - max(0, 573.995 - 1965.694+721.15))
=2401.193

Invested Capital(Q: Mar. 2026 )
=Total Assets - Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense - Excess Cash
=Total Assets - Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense - ( Cash, Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities - max(0, Total Current Liabilities - Total Current Assets+Cash, Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities))
=3745.528 - 553.556 - ( 653.242 - max(0, 605.162 - 2087.723+653.242))
=2538.73

Note: The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) data.

2. Joel Greenblatt's definition of Return on Capital:

Central Garden & Pet Co's annualized ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is calculated as:

ROC (Joel Greenblatt) %(Q: Mar. 2026 )
=EBIT/Average of (Net fixed Assets + Net Working Capital)
=EBIT/Average of (Property, Plant and Equipment+Net Working Capital)
     Q: Dec. 2025  Q: Mar. 2026
=EBIT/( ( (Property, Plant and Equipment + Net Working Capital) + (Property, Plant and Equipment + Net Working Capital) )/ count )
=474.276/( ( (563.507 + max(723.46, 0)) + (553.135 + max(880.925, 0)) )/ 2 )
=474.276/( ( 1286.967 + 1434.06 )/ 2 )
=474.276/1360.5135
=34.86 %

where Working Capital is:

Working Capital(Q: Dec. 2025 )
=(Accounts Receivable + Total Inventories + Other Current Assets) - (Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense + Defer. Rev. + Other Current Liabilities)
=(357.803 + 836.27 + 50.471) - (521.084 + 0 + 1.1368683772162E-13)
=723.46

Working Capital(Q: Mar. 2026 )
=(Accounts Receivable + Total Inventories + Other Current Assets) - (Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense + Defer. Rev. + Other Current Liabilities)
=(603.152 + 782.33 + 48.999) - (553.556 + 0 + 0)
=880.925

When net working capital is negative, 0 is used.

Note: The EBIT data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) EBIT data.

3. Operating Income is also linked to Operating Margin %:

Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is calculated as:

Operating Margin %=Operating Income (Q: Mar. 2026 )/Revenue (Q: Mar. 2026 )
=113.936/906.152
=12.57 %

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

4. Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the Operating Income growth rate using Operating Income per share data.


Be Aware

Compared with a company's EBITDA margin, Operating Margin can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).

If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin may decline. Often the Operating Margin declines well before the company's revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.

For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokia's Operating Margin had already been in decline since 2002, although its earnings per share were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).

Therefore, Operating Margin is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.


Central Garden & Pet Co Operating Income Related Terms


Central Garden & Pet Co Operating Income Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Income can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Central Garden & Pet Co Operating Income Chart

Central Garden & Pet Co Annual Data
Trend Sep16 Sep17 Sep18 Sep19 Sep20 Sep21 Sep22 Sep23 Sep24 Sep25
Operating Income
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 254.50 260.04 210.65 185.39 250.04

Central Garden & Pet Co Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Operating Income Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 93.32 135.13 -6.40 16.53 113.94
CENT
72GF Score
Central Garden & Pet Co CENT
Operating Income is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Central Garden & Pet Co Operating Income Calculation

Operating Income, is the profit a company earned through operations. All expenses, including cash expenses such as cost of goods sold (COGS), research & development, wages, and non-cash expenses, such as depreciation, depletion and amortization, have been deducted from the sales.

Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $259 Mil.

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Operating Income →
What does a Operating Income of $259 Mil mean?
Central Garden & Pet Co (CENT) has a Operating Income of $259 Mil as of Mar. 2026. Operating Income equals sales less all operating expenses. It is linked to EBIT. View historical data on Central Garden & Pet Co and its competitors.
Is Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Income too high?
Central Garden & Pet Co's current Operating Income is $259 Mil. Overall, Central Garden & Pet Co has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Income compare to FRPT and MZTI?
Central Garden & Pet Co's Operating Income of $259 Mil can be compared against companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Income for a Consumer Packaged Goods company?
A good Operating Income depends on the Consumer Packaged Goods industry context. However, Operating Income should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Income mean?
A high Operating Income can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating Income equals sales less all operating expenses. It is linked to EBIT. View historical data on Central Garden & Pet Co and its competitors. Central Garden & Pet Co's current Operating Income is $259 Mil. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Central Garden & Pet Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Central Garden & Pet Co (CENT) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $37.56, compared to a current price of $43.02 — trading 14.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Income is $259 Mil. Central Garden & Pet Co's overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Income calculated?
Operating Income is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Central Garden & Pet Co (CENT), the current Operating Income is $259 Mil as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Central Garden & Pet Co (CENT) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Central Garden & Pet Co stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $43.02 is trading 14.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of $37.56. GuruFocus considers Central Garden & Pet Co to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for CENT:

  • Operating Income: $259 Mil
  • GF Value™: $37.56 vs. price of $43.02 (14.5% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 72/100 with 6 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the CENT stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Central Garden & Pet Co Business Description

Other Exchanges CENTA:USAGP7A:Germany
Address 1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600, Walnut Creek, CA, USA, 94597
Central Garden & Pet Co offers solutions that support healthier pets, greener lawns, and thriving gardens. Its products include dog and cat treats, chews, toys, beds, containment, grooming supplies, aquatics, small animal and bird supplies, equine and livestock products, insect control solutions, grass seed, wild bird feed, fertilizers, pest controls, live plants, and packet seeds, sold under brands such as Aqueon, Nylabone, Kaytee, Farnam, Pennington, Ferry Morse, Amdro, and Sevin. The company operates through two segments, Pet and Garden, and sells through retailers, independent stores, eCommerce channels, and professional markets. It has sales and distribution operations mainly across the United States, with additional facilities in Canada and Mexico.
72GF Score

Get the complete analysis for CENT

Operating Income is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$43.02
Price
$37.56
GF Value