Form 4: Smith Bradley G. reports acquisition/exercise transactions in CENT

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Smith Bradley G. reported acquisition or exercise transactions in a Form 4 filing for CENT. The filing lists transactions totaling 10,610 shares. Following the reported transactions, holdings were 2,797 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^*

Smith Bradley G.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1340 TREAT BOULEVARD

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)

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

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(1)		7,813	D	$0	17,544	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
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$33.49	02/11/2026		A			2,797	(2)	02/11/2032	Class A Common Stock	2,797	$0	2,797	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. On February 11, 2026, the Issuer granted restricted Class A Common Stock to the Reporting Person which will vest at the rates of 25% on February 11, 2028 and February 11, 2029, and 50% on February 11, 2030.

2. The options shall vest at the rates of 25% on February 11, 2028 and February 11, 2029, and 50% on February 11, 2030.

	/s/Bradley Smith	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 its CFO?

Central Garden & Pet’s CFO received equity awards, not open-market trades. On February 11, 2026, Bradley G. Smith was granted 7,813 restricted Class A shares and options for 2,797 shares, both structured as compensation awards with specified future vesting dates.

How many Central Garden & Pet (CENT) shares does the CFO own after this Form 4?

After the award, the CFO directly holds 17,544 Class A shares. The filing shows a grant of 7,813 restricted shares at $0, increasing his directly owned Class A common stock to 17,544 shares, plus separately held options covering an additional 2,797 Class A shares.

What stock option grant was reported for the Central Garden & Pet (CENT) CFO?

The CFO received options on 2,797 Class A shares. These stock options have an exercise price of $33.49 per share and expire on February 11, 2032. They represent the right to buy Class A common stock if exercised under the vesting schedule.

What is the vesting schedule for the Central Garden & Pet (CENT) CFO’s restricted stock grant?

The restricted shares vest in three stages over 2028–2030. The 7,813 restricted Class A shares vest 25% on February 11, 2028, another 25% on February 11, 2029, and the remaining 50% on February 11, 2030, aligning with multi-year service.

How do the Central Garden & Pet (CENT) CFO’s stock options vest?

The options follow the same three-step vesting as the restricted stock. The 2,797 options vest 25% on February 11, 2028, 25% on February 11, 2029, and 50% on February 11, 2030, tying exercise eligibility to continued service over those years.

Were the Central Garden & Pet (CENT) CFO’s equity awards open-market purchases?

No, they were grants classified as acquisitions under code “A”. Both the 7,813 restricted Class A shares and the 2,797 stock options were awarded at a price of $0 per unit, reflecting compensation grants rather than shares bought in the market.