Central Garden & Pet Company A (CENTA)

Debt-to-equity ratio

Sep 30, 2024 Sep 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2022 Sep 30, 2021 Sep 30, 2020
Long-term debt US$ in thousands 1,189,810 1,187,960 1,186,240 1,184,680 693,956
Total stockholders’ equity US$ in thousands 1,555,650 1,451,350 1,333,710 1,222,250 1,076,800
Debt-to-equity ratio 0.76 0.82 0.89 0.97 0.64

September 30, 2024 calculation

Debt-to-equity ratio = Long-term debt ÷ Total stockholders’ equity
= $1,189,810K ÷ $1,555,650K
= 0.76

Central Garden & Pet Company A's debt-to-equity ratio has shown a fluctuating trend over the past five years. The ratio decreased from 0.97 in 2021 to 0.64 in 2020, indicating a reduction in reliance on debt financing relative to equity. However, this trend reversed in the following years, as the ratio increased to 0.89 in 2022, 0.82 in 2023, and further to 0.76 in 2024.

The debt-to-equity ratio of Central Garden & Pet Company A, though fluctuating, remains above 0.5 in all years, signifying a higher proportion of debt compared to equity in financing the company's operations and investments. This indicates a moderate level of financial leverage, which may expose the company to higher financial risk due to its reliance on debt to fund growth and operations.

It is important for investors and stakeholders to monitor changes in the debt-to-equity ratio over time to assess the company's capital structure and financial health. A consistently increasing ratio may raise concerns about the company's ability to manage its debt obligations and sustain profitability, while a decreasing ratio could indicate a healthier balance between debt and equity financing.


Peer comparison

Sep 30, 2024

Company name
Symbol
Debt-to-equity ratio
Central Garden & Pet Company A
CENTA
0.76
Central Garden & Pet Company
CENT
0.76
Vestis Corporation
VSTS
1.27