STOCK TITAN

Central Garden & Pet (CENT) CAO withholds 3,924 shares for tax

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Central Garden & Pet Co’s Chief Accounting Officer, Howard Machek, delivered 3,924 shares of Class A Common Stock (CENTA) on July 13, 2026 to satisfy withholding tax due upon vesting of restricted stock. The shares were valued at $37.59, based on the average of that day’s high and low prices.

After this tax-withholding disposition, Machek holds 47,944 Class A Common shares directly, 1,000 Common shares directly, and 7,371 units representing interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the company’s 401(k) Plan, which consists of CENTA stock and cash.

Positive

  • None.

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Insider Machek Howard
Role Chief Accounting Officer
Type Security Shares Price Value
Tax Withholding Class A Common Stock 3,924 $37.59 $148K
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Units -- -- --
Holdings After Transaction: Class A Common Stock — 47,944 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 1,000 shares (Direct); Units — 7,371 shares (Indirect, By 401(k) Plan)
Footnotes (1)
  1. Shares delivered by Reporting Person in payment of the withholding tax liability upon vesting of restricted stock. The amount of shares withheld is based on the average of the high and low sales prices of CENTA on July 13, 2026. The units represent interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the Issuer's 401(k) Plan, which consist of shares of CENTA stock and cash.
Tax-withheld shares 3,924 shares Shares delivered to satisfy withholding tax on restricted stock vesting on July 13, 2026
Share valuation price $37.59 per share Average of high and low CENTA sales prices on July 13, 2026 used for withholding
Class A shares held after 47,944 shares Direct Class A Common Stock holdings after the tax-withholding disposition
Common Stock held after 1,000 shares Direct Common Stock holdings after reported transactions
401(k) CENTA units 7,371 units Interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the issuer’s 401(k) Plan
withholding tax liability financial
"Shares delivered ... in payment of the withholding tax liability upon vesting"
restricted stock financial
"withholding tax liability upon vesting of restricted stock"
Shares granted to an individual that carry limits on transfer or sale until certain conditions are met, such as staying with the company for a set time or hitting performance targets. Think of them as a locked gift that gradually opens; for investors they matter because they affect how many shares may enter the market later, signal management incentives and potential dilution, and reveal confidence in future company performance.
401(k) Plan financial
"The units represent interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the Issuer's 401(k) Plan"
A 401(k) plan is a workplace retirement account that lets employees set aside part of their pay into a tax-advantaged savings pot, often with employers adding matching contributions — like a workplace piggy bank for future income. It matters to investors because the amount people save and how employers fund these plans influence consumer spending, corporate payroll costs and the flow of money into financial markets, which can affect stock prices and company valuations.
CENTA Stock Fund financial
"The units represent interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the Issuer's 401(k) Plan"
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FAQ

What insider transaction did CENTRAL GARDEN & PET (CENT) report for Howard Machek?

Howard Machek, Central Garden & Pet’s Chief Accounting Officer, reported delivering 3,924 Class A shares to cover withholding taxes on vested restricted stock, while retaining a significant direct and 401(k) investment in company shares.

How many Central Garden & PET (CENT) shares were withheld for taxes?

A total of 3,924 shares of Central Garden & Pet Class A Common Stock (CENTA) were delivered to satisfy Machek’s withholding tax liability arising from the vesting of restricted stock on July 13, 2026.

At what price were the withheld CENTA shares valued for Howard Machek’s tax payment?

The 3,924 CENTA shares used for tax withholding were valued at $37.59 per share, based on the average of the high and low sales prices of CENTA on July 13, 2026, as specified in the footnote.

What are Howard Machek’s direct share holdings in CENTRAL GARDEN & PET (CENT) after the filing?

Following the tax-withholding disposition, Howard Machek directly holds 47,944 shares of Class A Common Stock and 1,000 shares of Common Stock of Central Garden & Pet, reflecting his continuing equity exposure to the company.

How are Howard Machek’s 401(k) holdings in CENTRAL GARDEN & PET (CENT) structured?

Machek indirectly holds 7,371 units in the CENTA Stock Fund within the company’s 401(k) Plan. These units represent interests composed of CENTA stock and cash, rather than being straightforward shares of common stock.

Does the reported CENT Form 4 show an open-market sale by Howard Machek?

No open-market sale is reported. The F-code transaction reflects shares delivered for tax withholding tied to restricted stock vesting, not a discretionary market sale of Central Garden & Pet shares by Machek.
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED 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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:0.5
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*
Machek Howard

(Last)(First)(Middle)
C/O CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
1340 TREAT BLVD, SUITE 600

(Street)
WALNUT CREEK CALIFORNIA 94597

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO [ CENT ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director10% Owner
XOfficer (give title below)Other (specify below)
Chief Accounting Officer
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
07/13/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

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)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Class A Common Stock07/13/2026F(1)3,924D$37.5947,944D
Common Stock1,000D
Units7,371IBy 401(k) Plan(2)
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)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Explanation of Responses:
1. Shares delivered by Reporting Person in payment of the withholding tax liability upon vesting of restricted stock. The amount of shares withheld is based on the average of the high and low sales prices of CENTA on July 13, 2026.
2. The units represent interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the Issuer's 401(k) Plan, which consist of shares of CENTA stock and cash.
./s/Filomena Eickstaedt as Attorney-in-fact07/14/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
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.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)