Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) vs Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO)
A side-by-side comparison of Central Garden & Pet Company and Perdoceo Education Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of October 6, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
CENT
Central Garden & Pet Company
$40.02Consumer DefensiveDelayed quote: Oct 6, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
PRDO
Perdoceo Education Corporation
$32.06Consumer DefensiveDelayed quote: Oct 6, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — CENT vs PRDO
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yCENT +96.2% (+7.0%/yr)PRDO +383.3% (+17.1%/yr)PRDO compounded faster over this window
CENT PRDO
CENT vs PRDO: by the numbers
- •CENT is the larger company ($2.50B vs $2.01B market cap).
- •PRDO trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (11.70 vs 14.93 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •PRDO converts more revenue to profit (20.63% vs 5.39% net margin).
- •PRDO grew revenue faster over the past five years (4.19% vs -0.98% CAGR).
- •PRDO pays a dividend (1.95% yield), while CENT is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CENT | PRDO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 14.93 | 11.70 |
| Forward P/E | 12.82 | 10.90 |
| PEG ratio | 4.98 | 1.72 |
| P/S ratio | 0.81 | 2.34 |
| P/B ratio | 1.43 | 1.95 |
| EV / EBITDA | 7.77 | 4.69 |
| FCF yield | 13.80% | 10.84% |
Profitability
| Metric | CENT | PRDO |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 32.54% | 77.08% |
| Operating margin | 8.11% | 24.56% |
| Net margin | 5.39% | 20.63% |
| ROE | 9.53% | 17.14% |
| ROIC | 5.88% | 13.81% |
Dividends
| Metric | CENT | PRDO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | N/A | 1.95% |
| Payout ratio | N/A | 22.63% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CENT | PRDO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -0.98% | 4.19% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 2.96% | 6.65% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 4.25% | 8.06% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 0.96% | 24.81% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, CENT or PRDO?
- PRDO has the lower trailing P/E: CENT trades at 14.93 and PRDO at 11.70. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Which has grown faster, CENT or PRDO?
- Over the past five years, PRDO grew revenue faster — CENT at a -0.98% CAGR versus PRDO at 4.19%.
- Does CENT or PRDO pay a bigger dividend?
- PRDO pays a dividend (1.95% yield), while CENT is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
- Is CENT or PRDO more profitable?
- PRDO runs the higher net margin — CENT at 5.39% versus PRDO at 20.63%.
- How have CENT and PRDO total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, CENT delivered 6.70% and PRDO delivered 17.12% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Central Garden & Pet P/E ratioPerdoceo Education P/E ratioPerdoceo Education dividend yieldCentral Garden & Pet ROEPerdoceo Education ROECentral Garden & Pet operating marginPerdoceo Education operating marginCentral Garden & Pet revenue growthPerdoceo Education revenue growthCentral Garden & Pet free cash flowPerdoceo Education free cash flow
Central Garden & Pet & Perdoceo Education appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified October 6, 2026.