Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) vs Utz Brands (UTZ)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) has outperformed Utz Brands (UTZ) over the past year, gaining 23.9% versus a gain of 19.6%. Over five years, CENTA leads with a -3.5% price change compared with -10.8% for UTZ. Central Garden & Pet is the larger company by market cap ($2.19 billion vs $2.06 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Central Garden & Pet trades at a lower forward P/E (11.5x vs 17.2x 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 | CENTA | UTZ |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.02 | $14.32 |
| Market cap | $2.19B | $2.06B |
| 1-day change | +0.81% | +0.21% |
| YTD return | +19.01% | +37.96% |
| 1-year return | +23.89% | +19.63% |
| 5-year return | -3.46% | -10.78% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.97 | — |
| Forward P/E | 11.46 | 17.15 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.70 | $-0.33 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.60% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.372 |
| 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 | $14.33 |
| 52-week low | $25.97 | $6.78 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.17% | -0.07% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.07% | -0.07% |
| Average volume | 300.02K | 3.47M |
| Shares outstanding | 51.34M | 88.61M |
| Employees | 6,000 | 3,100 |
| 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
- 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 Defensive and Utz Brands 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 Utz Brands
UTZ stock →Utz Brands, Inc. manufactures branded salty snacks in the United States.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 3,100 employees
CENTA vs UTZ FAQ
Which is bigger, Central Garden & Pet or Utz Brands?
Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.19B compared with $2.06B for Utz Brands (UTZ).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CENTA or UTZ?
CENTA returned +23.89% over the past 12 months, compared with +19.63% 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?
Yes. Both are classified in the Packaged Foods industry within the Consumer Defensive sector.