Who Owns Petco?
Petco is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker WOOF as Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. Majority owners CVC Capital Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired the company in 2016 for $4.6 billion. Petco was founded in 1965, is headquartered in San Diego, California, and operates over 1,500 stores across the US, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
Parent Company
Founded
1965
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
mid rangemass marketGlobalall-agesanimal welfaresustainable productsnatural pet foodethical sourcingcommunity impactpet healthresponsible retailingOfficial Website
Who Owns Petco?
- Parent Company: Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Publicly traded
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: WOOF
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Petco | Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. | Publicly traded |
History of Petco
- Founded: 1965
- Founders: Walter Evans
Petco originated in 1965 when Walter Evans, a co-owner of Missouri-based United Pharmacal Company (UPCO), moved to San Diego County, California. Evans set up a mail-order veterinary supply business with five associates, becoming the company's first CEO. He opened the first retail store in 1976 in La Mesa, California, selling pet and veterinary supplies.
In 1979, the company was rebranded as Petco. The first official Petco-branded store opened in Tigard, Oregon in 1980. To compete with supermarkets, Petco focused on premium pet food brands such as IAMS, Science Diet, and Nutro, which were introduced in the mid-1980s.
In 1988, Petco acquired two West Coast chains, Wellpet, Inc. and The Pet Department, bringing its store count to 130. The same year, the company was acquired by private equity firms The Spectrum Group, Inc. and the Thomas H. Lee Company.
By 1990, Petco was heavily in debt. Brian K. Devine of Toys "R" Us was hired as president and CEO to turn the company around. Devine rebranded acquired stores as Petco, prioritized premium merchandise, and introduced aquariums and fish to increase foot traffic. The company introduced mascot characters Red Ruff the dog and Blue Mews the cat in 1991.
Petco went public on NASDAQ in 1994 but was acquired by Leonard Green and Partners and Texas Pacific Group in 2000, taking it private again. The company continued expanding through acquisitions and organic growth, opening stores on the East Coast in 1992.
In 2015, Petco acquired Drs. Foster and Smith, the largest online retailer of pet supplies in the US at the time, giving Petco entry into the veterinary prescription medicine market. CVC Capital Partners and CPPIB acquired the company in February 2016 for $4.6 billion.
In January 2021, Petco held its third IPO, changing its corporate name to Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. and began trading on NASDAQ under WOOF. The company has continued expanding its focus on pet health and wellness, including ending the sale of shock collars in 2020 and removing artificial ingredients from pet foods sold in its stores.
In March 2024, CEO Ron Coughlin stepped down. Joel Anderson was appointed as CEO in September 2024. These leadership changes reflected the company's ongoing financial challenges and strategic repositioning efforts.
About Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc.
What does Petco own?
Petco operates under the Petco brand with service sub-brands including Petco Grooming (in-store grooming services), Petco Veterinary (veterinary hospitals), Vital Care (membership program), and Petco Love (nonprofit animal welfare organization). The company also sells private label pet food and supply brands including WholeHearted, Reddy, and You & Me. Petco operates 1,382 retail stores across the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
Is Petco publicly traded?
Yes, Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker WOOF. The company returned to public markets in January 2021 through an IPO that raised approximately $864 million. Prior to the IPO, Petco was privately held by TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners, who took the company private in 2006 for approximately $1.8 billion.
Who founded Petco?
Petco was founded in 1965 by Walter Evans, Lewis Weston, and William Thomas in San Diego, California. The company started as a mail-order veterinary supply business, selling pet medications and supplies to veterinarians. The founders expanded into retail in the 1970s, opening pet supply stores across California.
Where is Petco headquartered?
Petco is headquartered in San Diego, California, USA. The company has maintained its headquarters in San Diego since its founding in 1965. Petco operates retail stores, distribution centers, e-commerce fulfillment centers, and veterinary hospitals across the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
How many brands does Petco own?
Petco operates primarily under the Petco brand, with service sub-brands including Petco Grooming, Petco Veterinary, Vital Care, and Petco Love. The company also sells private label product brands including WholeHearted (pet food), Reddy (dog accessories), and You & Me (pet supplies). The company does not operate separate consumer-facing brands outside the Petco umbrella.
Who owns Petco?
Petco is a publicly traded company with a dispersed shareholder base. Institutional investors hold the majority of shares. TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners, the private equity firms that took Petco private in 2006, retained significant stakes following the 2021 IPO but have been gradually reducing their positions. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake.
What is Petco's financial performance?
For fiscal year 2025 (ended January 31, 2026), Petco reported net sales of $6.0 billion, down 2.5% from $6.12 billion in FY2024. Net income was $9.1 million, compared to a net loss of $101.8 million in FY2024. Adjusted EBITDA increased 21.3% to $408.2 million. Gross margin expanded 66 basis points to 38.7%. Free cash flow was $187 million, up 276%. The company ended FY2025 with $256.7 million in cash and $1.24 billion in net debt, with a leverage ratio of 3.0x. For FY2026, Petco projects net sales flat to up 1.5% and adjusted EBITDA of $415 million to $430 million.
- Founded: 1965
- Headquarters: San Diego, California, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: WOOF
- Revenue: $6.0 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: approximately 29,000
Where Is Petco Made / Based?
- Headquarters: San Diego, California, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Global distribution
Petco Categories & Tags
Petco Sustainability & Ethics
Petco has implemented sustainability commitments including banning artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives from pet foods and treats sold in its stores. The company aims to make half of all its products sustainable by the end of 2025. Petco removed shock collars from its stores in 2020.
The Petco Love foundation has donated millions to animal welfare organizations and supported pet adoption programs through partnerships with local shelters. The company's retail stores host adoption events and serve as community hubs for pet education.
Petco prioritizes natural and premium pet food brands, working with manufacturers who follow ethical sourcing and production practices. The company's focus on quality ingredients reflects its positioning as a health and wellness retailer.
The company implements environmental practices across its operations, including energy efficiency improvements in stores, sustainable packaging options, and waste reduction programs. E-commerce operations include environmentally conscious shipping and packaging practices.
Awards & Recognition
Petco Love and the company's animal welfare initiatives have received acknowledgment from animal welfare organizations and humane societies for supporting pet adoption and responsible pet ownership programs.
The company's transformation into a pet health and wellness destination has received recognition from retail industry organizations for innovative business models and customer experience improvements.
Petco's community engagement programs have been acknowledged for positive impacts in communities where the company operates, particularly through adoption events and educational initiatives.
The company's focus on premium and natural pet products has received positive recognition from pet nutrition experts and veterinarians for improving product quality standards in the pet supply industry.
Petco Recalls & Controversies
In October 2023, CreditRiskMonitor reported that Petco was nearing a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, reflecting significant financial challenges and debt concerns. The company has been working to address these issues through operational improvements and strategic initiatives.
Petco has experienced multiple CEO changes in recent years. Ron Coughlin stepped down in March 2024, and Joel Anderson was appointed as CEO in September 2024. These leadership changes raised questions about management stability and strategic direction.
The company has faced scrutiny over product safety claims and the quality of some pet products, particularly regarding the safety of certain pet toys and accessories. Petco has implemented stricter quality control measures in response.
Petco's veterinary services, including Vetco vaccination clinics, have faced regulatory scrutiny regarding the scope of services offered and compliance with veterinary practice regulations in some jurisdictions.
The company operates in a highly competitive retail market, facing pressure from both traditional retailers like Walmart and specialized online pet supply retailers like Chewy. This competition has put pressure on margins and market share.
As a large retailer, Petco faces ongoing challenges related to supply chain management, inventory optimization, and maintaining product availability across its store network. Labor relations challenges related to employee compensation, scheduling, and working conditions have also been reported.
Petco Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +CVC Capital Partners and CPPIB provide significant financial resources and retail expertise
- +Comprehensive pet health and wellness positioning differentiates from traditional pet supply retailers
- +Strong brand recognition and established retail network with over 1,500 store locations
- +Diverse revenue streams including retail sales, services, veterinary care, and e-commerce
- +Petco Love foundation supports animal welfare and builds brand goodwill
- +Focus on premium and natural pet products aligns with consumer health trends
Considerations
- -Financial challenges with CreditRiskMonitor reporting potential bankruptcy concerns in 2023
- -Multiple CEO transitions indicating management instability
- -Stock trading significantly below IPO price
- -Competition from Walmart, Chewy, and other online pet supply retailers
- -Dependence on majority owners CVC and CPPIB for strategic decisions
- -Economic sensitivity to consumer spending on discretionary pet products
Frequently Asked Questions About Petco
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Petco
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Petcooperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Independent Alternatives to Petco
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Asda is privately owned, unlike Petco which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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Rural King is privately owned, unlike Petco which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceSheetz
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Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. Stock Information
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