Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) vs Ingredion (INGR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) has outperformed Ingredion (INGR) over the past year, gaining 27.1% versus a loss of 21.8%. Over five years, INGR leads with a -1.8% price change compared with -2.7% for CENTA. Ingredion is the larger company by market cap ($6.00 billion vs $2.19 billion), about 2.7 times the size, while Central Garden & Pet is growing revenue faster (-2.2% vs -2.8%).
On valuation, Ingredion trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 11.5x for Central Garden & Pet). Ingredion pays a dividend yielding 3.45%, while Central Garden & Pet does not currently pay one. Ingredion converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.1% versus 5.2%.
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 | CENTA | INGR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.02 | $95.11 |
| Market cap | $2.19B | $6.00B |
| 1-day change | +0.81% | +0.91% |
| YTD return | +19.97% | -13.74% |
| 1-year return | +27.11% | -21.81% |
| 5-year return | -2.68% | -1.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.97 | 10.35 |
| Forward P/E | 11.46 | 8.44 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.70 | $9.19 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 3.45% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $3.28 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.13B | $7.22B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -2.23% | -2.84% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $162.84M | $729.00M |
| Gross margin | 31.87% | 25.32% |
| Operating margin | 7.99% | 14.07% |
| Net margin | 5.20% | 10.10% |
| 52-week high | $40.80 | $123.49 |
| 52-week low | $25.97 | $93.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.17% | -22.98% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.07% | +27.04% |
| Average volume | 300.02K | 645.46K |
| Shares outstanding | 51.34M | 63.06M |
| Employees | 6,000 | 11,000 |
| 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
- Ingredion is about 2.7 times larger than Central Garden & Pet by market value ($6.00B vs $2.19B).
- CENTA has outperformed INGR by 48.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Central Garden & Pet trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.0x vs 10.3x trailing P/E).
- Ingredion offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.45% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Central Garden & Pet in Consumer Discretionary and Ingredion in Consumer Staples.
About Central Garden & Pet
CENTA 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 Ingredion
INGR stock →Ingredion Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients, and biomaterial solutions derived from wet milling and processing corn, and other starch-based materials to a range of industries worldwide. The company operates in Texture & Healthful Solutions; Food & Industrial IngredientsLATAM; and Food & Industrial IngredientsU.S./CANADA segments.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 11,000 employees
CENTA vs INGR FAQ
Which is bigger, Central Garden & Pet or Ingredion?
Ingredion (INGR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.00B compared with $2.19B for Central Garden & Pet (CENTA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CENTA or INGR?
CENTA returned +27.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -21.81% for INGR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CENTA or INGR?
INGR has the lower trailing P/E at 10.3, versus 13.0 for CENTA. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Central Garden & Pet or Ingredion?
Ingredion pays a dividend yielding 3.45%, while Central Garden & Pet does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Central Garden & Pet and Ingredion in the same industry?
No. Central Garden & Pet is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Ingredion is in Consumer Staples.