Commerce Bank Lowers Stock Holdings in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA)

Commerce Bank lessened its stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA) by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,101 shares of the company’s stock after selling 530 shares during the quarter. Commerce Bank’s holdings in Central Garden & Pet were worth $568,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its position in Central Garden & Pet by 1,038.2% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 129,744 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,789,000 after buying an additional 118,345 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Central Garden & Pet by 30.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,636,319 shares of the company’s stock worth $208,093,000 after purchasing an additional 1,306,309 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Central Garden & Pet by 0.8% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,653,753 shares of the company’s stock worth $120,682,000 after purchasing an additional 29,780 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in Central Garden & Pet by 31.0% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 76,262 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,817,000 after purchasing an additional 18,047 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its holdings in Central Garden & Pet by 215.8% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 24,539 shares of the company’s stock valued at $803,000 after purchasing an additional 16,768 shares in the last quarter. 50.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Central Garden & Pet Stock Performance

Shares of CENTA stock opened at $33.22 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $30.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $33.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 2.16 and a current ratio of 3.66. The stock has a market cap of $2.24 billion, a PE ratio of 15.31 and a beta of 0.73. Central Garden & Pet has a 1 year low of $27.70 and a 1 year high of $41.03.

Insider Transactions at Central Garden & Pet

In related news, Chairman William E. Brown sold 60,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.54, for a total value of $2,012,400.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 1,125,773 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $37,758,426.42. This represents a 5.06 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 20.28% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on CENTA shares. StockNews.com cut Central Garden & Pet from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Central Garden & Pet from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $41.33.

Central Garden & Pet Company Profile

Central Garden & Pet Company produces 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 provides 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, and food and supplements; products for equine and livestock; animal and household health and insect control products; aquariums and terrariums, including fixtures and stands, water conditioners and supplements, water pumps and filters, and lighting systems and accessories; and live fish and small animals, as well as outdoor cushions.