Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty ImagesPeter DazeleyDespite news of further weak trading, Pets at Home’s share price spiked on Wednesday as the retailer averted another confidence-crushing profit warning.At 216.4p per share, the Pets at Home share price was last 4.4% higher in midweek business.The FTSE 250 company said revenues dipped 1.3% in the 28 weeks to 9 October, to £778.3 million. This pulled pre-tax profit 29.1% lower to £36.2 million.Including insurance start-up expenses, operating costs rose 1.2% from ...

Core Viewpoint - Petco has reported its third quarter 2025 financial results, demonstrating a focus on profitability and a multi-phased transformation strategy, while also tightening its full-year net sales outlook and revising its earnings guidance upward for fiscal 2025 [1][3]. Q3 2025 Overview - Petco's net sales for Q3 2025 were $1.5 billion, reflecting a decrease of 3.1% year over year, aligning with the company's expectations [7]. - Comparable sales also decreased by 2.2% year over year [7]. - The gross profit margin improved by approximately 75 basis points to 38.9% of net sales [7]. - Operating income increased by $25.2 million to $29.2 million [7]. - GAAP net income rose by $26.0 million to $9.3 million [7]. - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $17.3 million to $98.6 million [7]. Full Year 2025 Outlook - The company has tightened its full-year net sales outlook, projecting a decline of 2.5% to 2.8% [4]. - Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $395 million to $397 million [4]. - Net interest expense is estimated at approximately $125 million [4]. - Capital expenditures are projected to be between $125 million and $130 million [4]. - Depreciation and amortization is expected to be around $200 million [4]. - The company anticipates approximately 20 net store closures [4]. Fourth Quarter 2025 Outlook - For Q4 2025, net sales are expected to decline in the low single digits year over year [5]. - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $93 million and $95 million [5].

Core Insights - Pet Valu is launching an immersive digital holiday guide aimed at pet lovers, featuring tips for creating holiday meals for pets and promoting a contest for a limited-edition dinnerware collection [3][4] - The company is also selling its annual Companions for Change™ calendar, with proceeds supporting animal rescues and charities, having raised over $32 million since 2011 [7] Group 1: Holiday Initiatives - The holiday guide includes expert tips on building nutritious holiday bowls for pets, festive finds, safety tips, and a checklist for holiday travel [4][8] - A contest called FeastOnLove offers pet parents a chance to win a handmade holiday dining set designed by an artisan studio, with entries accepted until December 12, 2025 [5] Group 2: Community Support - The Companions for Change™ calendar features 12 pet photos selected from over 36,000 entries, with nearly 10 million votes cast, and is available for a donation at Pet Valu stores [7] - Donations from the calendar and rounding up purchases on Giving Tuesday will further support the company's initiatives for pets in need [6][7] Group 3: Product Offerings - Pet Valu is offering over 250 holiday products, including advent calendars, apparel, nutrition, treats, and toys to enhance the holiday experience for pets [8]

Core Insights - Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. reported a 2.3% same-store sales growth, 5% revenue growth, and narrowed its 2025 outlook [1][3] Financial Performance - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $289.5 million, an increase of $13.4 million or 4.9% compared to Q3 2024 [5] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 1.5% to $63.6 million, representing 22.0% of revenue [9][33] - Net income increased by 7.4% to $24.9 million compared to $23.2 million in Q3 2024 [12] - Adjusted Net Income decreased by $2.3 million to $27.6 million, with adjusted net income per diluted share at $0.40 [13][14] Operational Highlights - The company opened 16 new stores, ending the quarter with a total of 849 stores [5] - Free cash flow was $24.7 million, down from $30.8 million in Q3 2024 [16] - Inventory at the end of Q3 2025 was $141.2 million, an increase of $16.6 million from the previous year [17] Cost and Expense Management - Gross profit increased by 6.9% to $95.6 million, with a gross profit margin of 33.0% [7] - Selling, general and administrative expenses rose by 9.4% to $53.6 million, representing 18.5% of total revenue [8] Future Outlook - The company expects revenue between $1.175 and $1.185 billion for 2025, with adjusted EBITDA between $257 and $260 million [3][23] - The outlook incorporates approximately 40 new store openings and a projected 2% same-store sales growth [23]

Core Insights - Instacart has announced a partnership with Pet Supplies Plus to offer same-day delivery from over 700 stores across the US, enhancing convenience for customers [1][2] - The partnership includes access to over 11,000 products from 400 brands at exclusive loyalty member pricing, aiming to provide value without sacrificing convenience [1][2] - Instacart is now the only online marketplace featuring all five of the top US pet retailers, strengthening its position in the pet category [2] Company Overview - Instacart is a leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with over 1,800 retail banners to facilitate online shopping and delivery services from nearly 100,000 stores [4] - The company enables approximately 600,000 shoppers to earn income by picking, packing, and delivering orders on a flexible schedule [4] - Instacart also offers enterprise-grade technology products and services to retailers, enhancing their e-commerce capabilities and providing advertising services [4] Pet Supplies Plus Overview - Pet Supplies Plus is the largest pet retail franchise in the US, with over 725 locations, focusing on making pet ownership easier [5] - The company ranked No. 20 in Entrepreneur's Annual Franchise 500 list and No. 33 on Forbes' list of 'Best Customer Service' brands in 2025 [5] Wag N' Wash Overview - Wag N' Wash is a sister brand of Pet Supplies Plus, specializing in self-wash and grooming services, along with natural pet food [6] - The franchise has 27 locations across the nation and has received recognition in various franchise rankings [6]

Core Insights - Chewy, Inc. (CHWY) and Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) are significant players in the pet care industry, each with distinct strategies focusing on different aspects of the market [1][2] Chewy, Inc. (CHWY) - Chewy reported net sales of $3.10 billion for Q2 of fiscal 2025, an increase of 8.6% year-over-year, exceeding guidance [2][9] - The Autoship program was a key driver, generating record sales of $2.58 billion, accounting for 83% of total net sales, and showing a 14.9% year-over-year increase [3][9] - The active customer base grew by 4.5% year-over-year to 20.9 million, with net sales per active customer rising 4.6% to $591 [4] - Chewy Vet Care plans to open 8-10 additional clinics in fiscal 2025, and the Chewy+ membership program exceeded internal targets, contributing 3% to July sales [5] - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at $183.3 million, with a margin of 5.9%, reflecting an 80-basis-point year-over-year increase [6] - Marketing expenses were $200.6 million, or 6.5% of net sales, aligning with the full-year target of 6-7% [7] - Chewy raised its full-year net sales guidance to $12.5-$12.6 billion, indicating a 7-8% year-over-year growth [7] Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) - CENT's gross margin increased by 280 basis points to 34.6%, despite a 4% decline in quarterly net sales to $961 million [9][12] - The Central-to-Home strategy led to consumables rising to 82% of total pet sales, up from 79% a year ago [10] - E-commerce contributed 27% to total pet sales, with double-digit growth in garden categories [11] - The total net sales decline of 4% year-over-year was attributed to softer consumer demand and strategic product exits [13] - The garden segment faced a 4% sales drop due to unfavorable weather conditions and loss of product lines [14] - Management anticipates $10 million in tariff impacts for fiscal 2025, primarily affecting the fourth quarter [15] Comparative Analysis - Chewy's shares have decreased by 3.3% over the past three months, while CENT's stock has declined by 18.5% [19] - Chewy is trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 1.09, while CENT's forward P/S multiple is at 0.64 [21] - Chewy is viewed as the stronger investment option due to its recurring revenue model and growth strategies, while CENT faces challenges from declining sales and external pressures [23][24]

Goldman is gauging investor interest in a debt package to refinance Petco nearly $1.6 billion term loan as the company’s financial position has improved, according to people with knowledge of the matter. https://t.co/WyAO3RxhPW ...

Core Points - Petsense by Tractor Supply is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an annual Fall Adoptathon event [1] - The event will take place on Saturday, October 18, at all Petsense by Tractor Supply store locations nationwide [1] - Local animal shelters and rescues will participate to help connect thousands of pets with potential adopters [1] Company Summary - Petsense by Tractor Supply is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tractor Supply Company [1] - The company aims to promote pet adoption through community engagement events like the Fall Adoptathon [1] Industry Summary - The event highlights the growing trend of pet adoption and the role of local shelters in facilitating these connections [1] - Such initiatives reflect the increasing consumer interest in pet ownership and the importance of responsible pet adoption practices [1]

Core Point - Petsense by Tractor Supply is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an annual Fall Adoptathon event aimed at connecting pets with potential adopters [1] Group 1: Event Details - The Fall Adoptathon will take place on Saturday, October 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time at all Petsense by Tractor Supply store locations [1] - Local animal shelters and rescues will participate in the event, facilitating the adoption of thousands of dogs, cats, and other small pets [1]

Core Insights - Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. will release its financial results for Q3 of fiscal 2025 on November 4, 2025, at 6:30am ET, followed by a conference call at 8:30am ET [1] Company Overview - Pet Valu is the leading Canadian retailer of pet food and related supplies, operating over 800 corporate-owned or franchised locations across Canada [4] - The company has been in operation for over 45 years, building trust and loyalty among pet owners through knowledgeable customer service and a wide range of products [4] - Pet Valu offers more than 10,000 competitively-priced products, including exclusive, holistic, and award-winning proprietary brands [4] - The company is headquartered in Markham, Ontario, with distribution centers located in Brampton, Ontario, Surrey, British Columbia, and Calgary, Alberta [4] - Pet Valu's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PET [4]