Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) vs Post (POST)
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 Post (POST) over the past year, gaining 27.1% versus a loss of 30.3%. Over five years, POST leads with a +7.6% price change compared with -2.7% for CENTA. Post is the larger company by market cap ($3.26 billion vs $2.19 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, Post trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 11.5x for Central Garden & Pet). Central Garden & Pet converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.2% versus 4.1%.
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 | POST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.02 | $74.23 |
| Market cap | $2.19B | $3.26B |
| 1-day change | +0.81% | +2.33% |
| YTD return | +19.97% | -25.06% |
| 1-year return | +27.11% | -30.32% |
| 5-year return | -2.68% | +7.62% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.97 | 13.50 |
| Forward P/E | 11.46 | 10.32 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.70 | $5.50 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.13B | $8.16B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -2.23% | +2.97% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $162.84M | $335.70M |
| Gross margin | 31.87% | 28.68% |
| Operating margin | 7.99% | 9.80% |
| Net margin | 5.20% | 4.11% |
| 52-week high | $40.80 | $117.28 |
| 52-week low | $25.97 | $71.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.17% | -36.71% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.07% | +40.11% |
| Average volume | 300.02K | 940.02K |
| Shares outstanding | 51.34M | 43.96M |
| Employees | 6,000 | 13,180 |
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Packaged Foods | 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 POST by 57.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Post grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+2.97% vs -2.23%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Central Garden & Pet in Consumer Defensive and Post 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 Defensive · Packaged Foods · 6,000 employees
About Post
POST stock →Post Holdings, Inc. operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 13,180 employees
CENTA vs POST FAQ
Which is bigger, Central Garden & Pet or Post?
Post (POST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.26B compared with $2.19B for Central Garden & Pet (CENTA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CENTA or POST?
CENTA returned +27.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -30.32% for POST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CENTA or POST?
CENTA has the lower trailing P/E at 13.0, versus 13.5 for POST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Central Garden & Pet and Post in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Packaged Foods industry within the Consumer Defensive sector.