Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) vs Nomad Foods (NOMD)
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 Nomad Foods (NOMD) over the past year, gaining 27.1% versus a loss of 13.3%. Over five years, CENTA leads with a -2.7% price change compared with -59.6% for NOMD. Central Garden & Pet is the larger company by market cap ($2.20 billion vs $1.55 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Nomad Foods trades at a lower forward P/E (6.8x vs 11.5x for Central Garden & Pet). Nomad Foods pays a dividend yielding 5.28%, 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 | CENTA | NOMD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.11 | $11.11 |
| Market cap | $2.20B | $1.55B |
| 1-day change | +0.26% | +0.54% |
| YTD return | +19.97% | -11.67% |
| 1-year return | +27.11% | -13.33% |
| 5-year return | -2.68% | -59.60% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.00 | 10.79 |
| Forward P/E | 11.49 | 6.82 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.70 | $1.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 5.28% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.587 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.13B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -2.23% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $162.84M | — |
| Gross margin | 31.87% | — |
| Operating margin | 7.99% | — |
| Net margin | 5.20% | — |
| 52-week high | $40.80 | $13.08 |
| 52-week low | $25.97 | $8.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.95% | -15.06% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.73% | +21.69% |
| Average volume | 300.02K | 1.54M |
| Shares outstanding | 51.34M | 139.79M |
| Employees | 6,000 | 7,024 |
| 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
- CENTA has outperformed NOMD by 40.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Nomad Foods offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.28% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Central Garden & Pet in Consumer Discretionary and Nomad Foods 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 Nomad Foods
NOMD stock →Nomad Foods Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes a range of frozen food products in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company offers frozen fish products, including fish fingers, coated fish, and natural fish; ready-to-cook vegetable products, such as peas and spinach; and frozen poultry and meat products, comprising nuggets, grills, and burgers.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 7,024 employees
CENTA vs NOMD FAQ
Which is bigger, Central Garden & Pet or Nomad Foods?
Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.20B compared with $1.55B for Nomad Foods (NOMD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CENTA or NOMD?
CENTA returned +27.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.33% for NOMD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CENTA or NOMD?
NOMD has the lower trailing P/E at 10.8, 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 Nomad Foods?
Nomad Foods pays a dividend yielding 5.28%, while Central Garden & Pet does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Central Garden & Pet and Nomad Foods in the same industry?
No. Central Garden & Pet is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Nomad Foods is in Consumer Staples.