MetaCap

Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) vs Seneca Foods (SENEA)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.

Summary

Seneca Foods (SENEA) has outperformed Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) over the past year, gaining 58.0% versus a gain of 27.1%. Over five years, SENEA leads with a +240.8% price change compared with -2.7% for CENTA. Central Garden & Pet is the larger company by market cap ($2.19 billion vs $1.20 billion), about 1.8 times the size.

On valuation, Seneca Foods trades at a lower trailing P/E (10.2x vs 13.0x for Central Garden & Pet).

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

CENTA+27.11%SENEA+57.99%
+90%+38%-14%
Oct 8, 20251 yearOct 8, 2026
CENTA-0.76%SENEA+233.26%
+292%+119%-54%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

CENTA versus SENEA key metrics
MetricCENTASENEA
Share price$35.02$177.03
Market cap$2.19B$1.20B
1-day change+0.81%+3.16%
YTD return+19.97%+60.02%
1-year return+27.11%+57.99%
5-year return-2.68%+240.77%
P/E ratio (TTM)12.9710.22
Forward P/E11.46—
EPS (TTM)$2.70$17.32
Dividend yield0.00%0.00%
Annual dividend$0.00$0.00
Revenue (latest FY)$3.13B—
Revenue growth (YoY)-2.23%—
Net income (latest FY)$162.84M—
Gross margin31.87%—
Operating margin7.99%—
Net margin5.20%—
52-week high$40.80$210.00
52-week low$25.97$99.58
Distance from 52-week high-14.17%-15.70%
Analyst consensusnonenone
Avg. price target upside+32.07%+14.10%
Average volume300.02K100.08K
Shares outstanding51.34M5.22M
Employees6,0002,900
SectorConsumer DefensiveConsumer Staples
IndustryPackaged FoodsPackaged 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

  • SENEA has outperformed CENTA by 30.9 percentage points over the past year.
  • Central Garden & Pet trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.0x vs 10.2x trailing P/E).
  • The two companies sit in different sectors: Central Garden & Pet in Consumer Defensive and Seneca 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 Defensive · Packaged Foods · 6,000 employees

About Seneca Foods

SENEA stock →

Seneca Foods Corporation provides packaged fruits and vegetables in the United States and internationally. The company offers canned, frozen, and jarred fruits and vegetables; and packaged snack chips and other food products under the private label, as well as under various national and regional brands that the company owns or licenses, including Aunt Nellie's, CherryMan, Green Giant, Green Valley, Libby's, READ, and Seneca.

Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 2,900 employees

CENTA vs SENEA FAQ

Which is bigger, Central Garden & Pet or Seneca Foods?

Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.19B compared with $1.20B for Seneca Foods (SENEA).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, CENTA or SENEA?

SENEA returned +57.99% over the past 12 months, compared with +27.11% for CENTA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, CENTA or SENEA?

SENEA has the lower trailing P/E at 10.2, 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.

Are Central Garden & Pet and Seneca Foods in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Packaged Foods industry within the Consumer Defensive sector.

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