Why Central Garden (CENT) is Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates Again

Core Viewpoint - Central Garden (CENT) is a strong candidate for investors looking for stocks that consistently beat earnings estimates, particularly in the consumer products - discretionary industry [1] Earnings Performance - Central Garden has a history of beating earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 13.53% over the last two quarters [2] - In the most recent quarter, the company reported earnings of $1.56 per share, exceeding the expected $1.34 per share, resulting in a surprise of 16.42% [3] - For the previous quarter, Central Garden's earnings were $1.04 per share against an estimate of $0.94 per share, leading to a surprise of 10.64% [3] Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Recent estimates for Central Garden have been increasing, with a positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) indicating a strong likelihood of an earnings beat [6][9] - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [7] - Central Garden currently has an Earnings ESP of +6.56%, suggesting analysts are optimistic about the company's earnings prospects [9] Importance of Earnings ESP - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the Most Accurate Estimate reflecting the latest analyst revisions [8] - A positive Earnings ESP combined with a Zacks Rank of 3 indicates a potential earnings beat, while a negative Earnings ESP may reduce predictive power but does not necessarily indicate a miss [9][10]