JPMorgan Chase & Co. Has $8.20 Million Stock Holdings in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA - Free Report) by 17.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 248,207 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 37,393 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned approximately 0.38% of Central Garden & Pet worth $8,203,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in Central Garden & Pet by 668.6% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 930 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 809 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Central Garden & Pet in the 4th quarter valued at $102,000. KBC Group NV grew its position in Central Garden & Pet by 50.1% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 3,606 shares of the company's stock worth $119,000 after purchasing an additional 1,204 shares during the last quarter. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. bought a new position in shares of Central Garden & Pet during the 4th quarter worth about $237,000. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB acquired a new position in shares of Central Garden & Pet during the fourth quarter valued at about $264,000. 50.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Central Garden & Pet

In other Central Garden & Pet news, insider John D. Walker III sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.86, for a total transaction of $328,600.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 67,111 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,205,267.46. This represents a 12.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 20.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Central Garden & Pet Price Performance

CENTA stock traded down $0.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $30.79. The company had a trading volume of 287,786 shares, compared to its average volume of 309,387. The company has a current ratio of 3.47, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $31.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $31.84. Central Garden & Pet has a fifty-two week low of $27.70 and a fifty-two week high of $41.03. The company has a market cap of $2.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.92 and a beta of 0.75.

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.03) by $0.24. Central Garden & Pet had a net margin of 3.77% and a return on equity of 10.08%. Equities research analysts expect that Central Garden & Pet will post 2.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on CENTA. StockNews.com raised Central Garden & Pet from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Central Garden & Pet from $34.00 to $31.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Argus cut shares of Central Garden & Pet from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Central Garden & Pet currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $41.00.

About Central Garden & Pet

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.