Central Garden & Pet: The Patience Ends


They don't all work out. The fundamentals of Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT), first written about here on June 22, 2009 at a price of $10.16, have not improved considerably, after about a year's performance window.

What's more, the U.S.'s 'frugal consumer' era, strong competition, and the 50/50 prospect for a sluggish U.S. housing sector recovery do not provide encouragement, moving forward, hence the calculation is to close the position at this time and take the roughly $1 gain.
The First Call FY2010/FY2011 EPS estimates for CENT are $1.04 to $1.15.

Further, technically, Central's shares have straddled the key, 50-day moving average for about six months -- a sign of institutional investor (II) hesitancy. If Central's profit outlook was better, the position would be held, but the earnings outlook is tepid, hence the decision to close the position.

Should CENT's 2010-2011 earnings outlook improve, the stock may become an attractive play again.

Disclosure: Lazzaro has no positions in stocks, but does own shares in two Pimco Bond Funds: PHDAX and PYMAX.
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Last updated: February 10, 2012: 12:38 AM

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