Form 4: METZ CHRISTOPHER T reports acquisition/exercise transactions in CENT

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

METZ CHRISTOPHER T reported acquisition or exercise transactions in a Form 4 filing for CENT. The filing lists transactions totaling 3,584 shares. Following the reported transactions, holdings were 15,305 shares.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

METZ CHRISTOPHER T

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

1340 TREAT BLVD, SUITE 600

(Street)

WALNUT CREEK CA 94597

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO [ CENT ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/11/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Class A Common Stock	02/11/2026		A		3,584(1)	A	$0	15,305	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Restricted stock award granted under the Company's Nonemployee Director Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

Remarks:

Exhibit 24.1; Power of Attorney

	s/Filomena Eickstaedt as Attorney-in-Fact for Christopher Metz	02/13/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did CENTRAL GARDEN & PET (CENT) report for Christopher Metz?

CENT reported that director Christopher T. Metz received a grant of 3,584 shares of Class A Common Stock. The award was a restricted stock grant under the company’s Nonemployee Director Equity Incentive Plan, rather than an open-market purchase or sale.

How many CENTRAL GARDEN & PET (CENT) shares does Christopher Metz own after this Form 4?

After the reported award, Christopher T. Metz beneficially owns 15,305 shares of CENT Class A Common Stock. These shares are reported as directly owned following the February 11, 2026 restricted stock grant disclosed in the Form 4 filing.

What was the price per share for Christopher Metz’s CENT restricted stock award?

The restricted stock award to Christopher T. Metz was granted at a price of $0 per share. This reflects a compensatory equity grant under CENTRAL GARDEN & PET’s Nonemployee Director Equity Incentive Plan, not an open-market transaction involving cash payment.

What is the transaction code used in Christopher Metz’s CENT Form 4 filing?

The transaction is coded as “A,” indicating a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities. For Christopher T. Metz, this represents a restricted stock award of 3,584 Class A Common shares under CENTRAL GARDEN & PET’s Nonemployee Director Equity Incentive Plan.

Was Christopher Metz’s CENT share transaction a purchase or a grant?

The transaction was a grant, not a market purchase. Christopher T. Metz received 3,584 restricted shares of CENT Class A Common Stock at $0 per share as director compensation under the company’s Nonemployee Director Equity Incentive Plan, as noted in the footnote.

Does Christopher Metz hold his CENTRAL GARDEN & PET (CENT) shares directly or indirectly?

Christopher T. Metz’s CENT holdings reported in this Form 4 are held directly. The filing lists 15,305 shares of Class A Common Stock as directly owned after the February 11, 2026 restricted stock award transaction.