The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company Increases Stock Position in Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA)

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in shares of Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENTA) by 9.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 691,092 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 59,368 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company’s holdings in Central Garden & Pet were worth $21,700,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quarry LP boosted its stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 503.2% during the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 754 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 629 shares during the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Central Garden & Pet during the second quarter worth $26,000. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of Central Garden & Pet by 3,558.1% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,134 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,103 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new position in Central Garden & Pet in the second quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado lifted its position in Central Garden & Pet by 37.4% during the first quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,650 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 449 shares during the period. 50.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Central Garden & Pet Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ:CENTA opened at $33.79 on Friday. Central Garden & Pet has a 1 year low of $27.70 and a 1 year high of $41.03. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $33.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 2.16 and a current ratio of 3.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86 and a beta of 0.73.

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.