10 Cheap Small Cap Stocks to Invest In Now

7. Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENT)

​Forward P/E: 12.22

Market Cap: $1.95 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENT) is one of the best cheap small cap stocks to invest in now. On November 25, KeyBanc analyst Bradley Thomas reiterated a bullish stance on Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENT), maintaining a Buy rating with a $50 price target. The same day, Canaccord Genuity analyst Brian McNamara also maintained a Buy rating on the stock and set a price target of $50.

The ratings followed Central Garden & Pet Company’s (NASDAQ:CENT) release of fiscal Q4 2025 results on November 24, with net sales for fiscal 2025 reaching $3.1 billion compared to $3.2 billion in the prior year. The company delivered fiscal 2025 GAAP EPS of $2.55 compared to $1.62, and non-GAAP EPS of $2.73 versus $2.13. 2025 thus marked a record year on the bottom line for Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENT), marked by the disciplined execution of its Cost and Simplicity agenda and continued margin expansion.

Management expects fiscal 2026 non-GAAP EPS to be $2.70 or better, and stated that while the external dynamic is continuing to be dynamic, the company is confident that its Central to Home strategy and team position would allow it to build on this momentum in fiscal 2026.

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENT) produces and distributes branded and private label products for the garden, lawn, and pet supplies markets. The company’s operations are divided into the Pet and Garden segments.