Stock Analysis
Data Source: SEC EDGAR 13F
Updated Hourly

Central Garden & Pet Co (CENTA)

265 + Investors. Track Smart Money conviction in CENTA. See who's accumulating, reducing, or initiating positions.

Current Price
-- USD
Analyst Target
-- (0 analysts)
Upside
0.00%
Net Flow Q/Q
↑ +17
Streak
2Q ▲
Buyers last Q
53%

Smart Money Signals — CENTA

Based on 266 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly

📈

Buying streak — 2 quarters in a row

last 6Q
For 2 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added CENTA than sold it. That's a consistent pattern of professional buying — not a one-time trade. When institutions keep buying quarter after quarter, it usually means they see a multi-year opportunity, not just a short-term momentum flip.
🏔️

At the ownership peak (100% of max)

100% of all-time peak
266 hedge funds hold CENTA right now — the highest count in 3.0 years. When ownership is this concentrated, any bad news can trigger a chain reaction: one big fund sells, others follow. This is a classic 'crowded trade' — high popularity doesn't equal safety.
📶

Steady growth — +11% more funds vs a year ago

fund count last 6Q
+27 new funds entered over the past year (+11% YoY). Gradual, steady growth in institutional ownership is generally a healthy signal — not a speculative rush, but consistent conviction.
🟡

Slight buying edge — 53% buying

134 buying117 selling
Last quarter: 134 funds bought or added vs 117 that reduced or exited. It's nearly a 50/50 split — some institutions are convinced, others are taking profits. This mixed picture is normal near price highs.
➡️

Steady new buyers — ~44 new funds per quarter

new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 33 → 29 → 41 → 44. A stable flow of new institutional buyers suggests ongoing interest without signs of either acceleration or slowdown.
🔒

62% of holders stayed for 2+ years

■ 62% conviction (2yr+) ■ 19% medium ■ 19% new
166 out of 266 hedge funds have held CENTA for over 2 years without selling. Long-term investors are generally harder to shake out during market stress, creating a stable ownership base that limits the risk of sudden capitulation.
📈

Growing discovery — still being found

40 → 33 → 29 → 41 → 44 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 33 → 29 → 41 → 44. A growing number of institutions are discovering CENTA each quarter. The narrative is still spreading — leaving room for ongoing capital accumulation.
🏛️

Veteran-anchored — 66% veterans vs 21% newcomers

■ 66% veterans ■ 13% 1-2yr ■ 21% new
Entry-cohort mix of 266 holders: 175 (66%) are 2+ year veterans, 34 entered 1–2 years ago, and 57 (21%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
🏆

Elite ownership — 40% AUM from top-100 funds

40% from top-100 AUM funds
49 of 266 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 40% of total institutional value in CENTA. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.
3.6
out of 10
Low Exit Risk
Exit risk score 3.6/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.

Methodology note: these Smart Money cards use consecutive 13F disclosure snapshots, not trade-by-trade execution data. "Buying", "selling", "new holders", and "trimmed" refer to quarter-over-quarter changes in reported holders, aggregate shares, or disclosed position values between filings. They are useful for ownership regime analysis and crowding, but they do not imply exact trade timing on the filing date.

Institutional Sentiment Summary — CENTA

In 2026 Q1, 134 hedge funds were net buyers of CENTA (44 opened a new position, 90 added to an existing one), while 117 reduced or exited (90 trimmed, 27 sold completely) — a 53% buyer ratio, indicating a slight buying edge. Net buying has persisted for two consecutive quarters, a positive momentum signal. 40% of total institutional value in CENTA is held by top-100 AUM funds, reflecting elite-tier ownership quality. Net fund flow last quarter: +17 funds (more new holders than closures). Total institutional holders: 266.

Hedge Fund Ownership: CENTA

How many hedge funds hold CENTA — quarterly history vs. share price
Quarterly hedge fund ownership of CENTA vs. share price

Market Analysis: CENTA

Analyst Price Targets

Avg. Price Target
--

Analyst Recommendations

Stock Performance

Real-time

Company Profile: CENTA

-- --

Institutional ownership data sourced from SEC EDGAR Form 13F-HR filings.

Is It Too Late to Buy Central Garden & Pet Co (CENTA) Based on Hedge Fund 13F Filings?

Signal Freshness measures how much CENTA has moved relative to its sector benchmark (XLP) since the 2026 Q1 13F filing. A stock that has barely outrun its sector is still a relatively fresh entry point — the fund's thesis has not yet been priced in by the broader market.

Since Quarter End March 31, 2026 · 79d ago
CENTA
+16.5%
XLP
+1.6%

CENTA outperformed XLP by +14.9% since March 31, 2026.

Since 13F Filing Date May 15, 2026 · 34d ago
CENTA
+12.3%
XLP
-1.6%

Since the filing became public, CENTA outperformed XLP by +13.9% .

Interpretation: The stock has meaningfully outrun its sector. The trade has partially played out; entry is at a premium to the fund's implied reference. Learn more →

Smart Money Signal ?
Limited Smart Money Interest

No strong consensus or elite conviction detected among institutional holders.

27 top-rated funds 0 high-conviction
Consensus
6.3
/ 10
breadth
×
Elite
0.5
/ 10
conviction
Hedge Fund Positioning: CENTA
265 + Investors

Track Smart Money conviction in CENTA. See who's accumulating, reducing, or initiating positions.

Metric All 13F Filers (2026 Q1) Prior (2025 Q4) Change
Funds Holding 265 249 6.43%
13F Shares 48M 48M -0.36%
Total Value $1.42B $1.40B 1.1%
New Positions 43 41 +2
Increased Positions 90 89 +1
Closed Positions 27 34 -7
Reduced Positions 90 90 -
Total Calls 0 0 -
Total Puts 0 0 -
PUT/CALL Ratio 0.0 0.0 Bullish

Statistics: CENTA

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Enterprise Value/EBITDA --
Beta (5Y Monthly) --
Short Ratio (Days to Cover) --
Short % of Float --

Financial Highlights

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Institutional Holders (2026 Q1)

265 + investors

Explore institutional interest and hedge fund ownership dynamics. Analyze portfolio weights, new positions, and conviction trends in CENTA. Verified SEC 13F-HR filings.

QUARTER:
Top 25 CENTA holders by conviction (% of portfolio weight) — 2026 Q1 · Source: SEC Form 13F
# Investor % of Portfolio Shares Mkt Value
1 Deltroit Asset Management (UK) LLP 0.95% 183,160 $5.9M
2 Invenomic Capital Management LP 0.67% 451,328 $14.6M
3 Orchard Capital Management, LLC 0.38% 11,092 $360K
4 Martin & Co Inc /Tn/ 0.36% 64,876 $2.1M
5 Bridgeway Capital Management, LLC 0.31% 478,740 $15.5M
6 Westwood Holdings Group Inc 0.28% 1,199,188 $38.9M
7 Armistice Capital, LLC 0.28% 478,000 $15.5M
8 Farringdon Capital, Ltd. 0.22% 31,029 $1.0M
9 Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. 0.20% 228,500 $7.4M
10 Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC 0.19% 820,513 $26.6M
11 GHP Investment Advisors, Inc. 0.14% 103,055 $3.3M
12 Denali Advisors LLC 0.11% 30,500 $989K
13 RBF Capital, LLC 0.10% 58,999 $1.9M
14 Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC 0.10% 1,770,073 $56.8M
15 Credit Industriel Et Commercial 0.08% 30,845 $1000K
16 Royce & Associates LP 0.07% 229,760 $7.4M
17 Aigen Investment Management, LP 0.07% 8,024 $260K
18 Martingale Asset Management L P 0.06% 75,309 $2.4M
19 James Investment Research, INC. 0.06% 16,667 $540K
20 Guidance Capital, Inc 0.06% 8,131 $266K
21 Empowered Funds, LLC 0.05% 259,248 $8.4M
22 Aristides Capital LLC 0.05% 7,189 $233K
23 State of Wisconsin Investment Board 0.04% 597,204 $19.4M
24 William Blair Investment Management, LLC 0.04% 374,991 $12.2M
25 State of Wyoming 0.04% 10,202 $331K
Investor Ownership
History 		% of Portfolio Prev % Rank Conviction Avg Buy Price 13F Score™ 3Y / 7Y Sell Timing Shares Mkt Value Change Change % Source Quarter Filed

Frequently Asked Questions — Central Garden & Pet Co (CENTA)

What does the Smart Money Trend signal show for CENTA?

Buying streak — 2 quarters in a row: For 2 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added CENTA than sold it. That's a consistent pattern of professional buying — not a one-time trade. When institutions keep buying quarter after quarter, it usually means they see a multi-year opportunity, not just a short-term momentum flip.

What is the institutional breadth score for CENTA?

Slight buying edge — 53% buying: Last quarter: 134 funds bought or added vs 117 that reduced or exited. It's nearly a 50/50 split — some institutions are convinced, others are taking profits. This mixed picture is normal near price highs.

What is the fund quality score for CENTA holders?

Elite ownership — 40% AUM from top-100 funds: 49 of 266 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 40% of total institutional value in CENTA. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.

How long have hedge funds held CENTA?

62% of holders stayed for 2+ years: 166 out of 266 hedge funds have held CENTA for over 2 years without selling. Long-term investors are generally harder to shake out during market stress, creating a stable ownership base that limits the risk of sudden capitulation.

Is it too late to buy Central Garden & Pet Co (CENTA) following the 2026 Q1 hedge fund 13F filings?

As of today, CENTA has moved +12.3% since the 2026 Q1 13F filing date (May 15, 2026), compared to -1.6% for the XLP sector ETF — an outperformance of +13.9%. Since the quarter end (March 31, 2026), CENTA has gained +16.5% vs +1.6% for XLP. The stock has meaningfully outrun its sector. The trade has partially played out; entry is at a premium to the fund's implied reference.

Where does this institutional ownership data come from?

All holdings data is sourced from SEC Form 13F filings, which institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets are required to submit quarterly. Data is parsed directly from SEC EDGAR.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Institutional holdings data is sourced from SEC Form 13F filings and reflects positions as of the filing date. Past performance of any fund or portfolio is not indicative of future results. 13Foresight is not a registered investment adviser. Always conduct your own due diligence before making investment decisions.

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