Central Garden & Pet (CENT) vs Utz Brands (UTZ)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Central Garden & Pet (CENT) has outperformed Utz Brands (UTZ) over the past year, gaining 29.8% versus a gain of 17.2%. Over five years, CENT leads with a +3.7% price change compared with -11.0% for UTZ. Central Garden & Pet is the larger company by market cap ($2.51 billion vs $2.06 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Central Garden & Pet trades at a lower forward P/E (13.1x vs 17.1x for Utz Brands). Utz Brands pays a dividend yielding 2.60%, while Central Garden & Pet does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CENT | UTZ |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $40.15 | $14.29 |
| Market cap | $2.51B | $2.06B |
| 1-day change | +0.32% | +0.14% |
| YTD return | +24.88% | +37.67% |
| 1-year return | +29.81% | +17.23% |
| 5-year return | +3.70% | -10.97% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.87 | — |
| Forward P/E | 13.14 | 17.12 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.70 | $-0.33 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.60% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.372 |
| 52-week high | $46.97 | $14.33 |
| 52-week low | $28.77 | $6.78 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.52% | -0.28% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.00% | +0.14% |
| Average volume | 97.53K | 3.47M |
| Shares outstanding | 9.65M | 88.61M |
| Employees | 6,000 | 3,100 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Consumer Specialties | Packaged Foods |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CENT has outperformed UTZ by 12.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Utz Brands offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.60% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Central Garden & Pet in Consumer Discretionary and Utz Brands in Consumer Staples.
About Central Garden & Pet
CENT stock →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.
Consumer Discretionary · Consumer Specialties · 6,000 employees
About Utz Brands
UTZ stock →Utz Brands, Inc. manufactures branded salty snacks in the United States.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 3,100 employees
CENT vs UTZ FAQ
Which is bigger, Central Garden & Pet or Utz Brands?
Central Garden & Pet (CENT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.51B compared with $2.06B for Utz Brands (UTZ).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CENT or UTZ?
CENT returned +29.81% over the past 12 months, compared with +17.23% for UTZ (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Central Garden & Pet or Utz Brands?
Utz Brands pays a dividend yielding 2.60%, while Central Garden & Pet does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Central Garden & Pet and Utz Brands in the same industry?
No. Central Garden & Pet is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Utz Brands is in Consumer Staples.