It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) . Shares have added about 13.3% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Cintas due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Cintas’ Q1 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates on Margin GainsCintas reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings of $1.39 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 by 3.0%. The bottom line increased 15.8% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $3.01 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.97 billion by 1.6% and rose 10.9% year over year.
The top line benefited from 8.9% organic revenue growth, reflecting growth after adjusting for acquisitions, foreign currency movements and workday differences. Record gross and operating margins were other key highlights in the quarter.
Cintas' Segmental ResultsThe company has two reportable segments, Uniform Rental and Facility Services and First Aid and Safety Services. Other businesses are included in All Other. Quarterly sales data are briefly discussed below.
Cintas' Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment generated revenues of $2.29 billion, up 9.7% year over year from $2.09 billion. Segment operating income rose to $575.09 million from $499.94 million.
The First Aid and Safety Services segment delivered revenues of $388.52 million, increasing 16.1% from $334.66 million in the prior-year quarter. Operating income climbed to $99.54 million from $80.33 million.
Revenues from the All Other segment totaled $330.73 million, up 13.1% from $292.40 million a year ago. Segment operating income increased to $51.67 million from $37.60 million.
Margin ProfileCintas' cost of sales totaled $1.46 billion compared with $1.35 billion in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin increased 13.7% to $1.55 billion, while gross margin as a percentage of revenue expanded to 51.5% from 50.3%.
Selling and administrative expenses were $827.24 million, up 10.5% year over year. The company also incurred $14.41 million of transaction expenses related to the proposed UniFirst Corporation acquisition. Operating income rose 15.2% to $711.89 million.
Operating margin improved to 23.6% from 22.7% in the prior-year quarter. Net income increased 12.3% to $551.71 million, while net income margin was 18.3% compared with 18.1%. The effective tax rate increased to 20.0% from 17.6%.
Cintas' Cash Flow TrendsIn the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Cintas generated $572.33 million in net cash from operating activities, up from $414.48 million in the year-ago period. Capital expenditures totaled $107.53 million compared with $101.96 million a year earlier.
Free cash flow increased to $464.80 million from $312.52 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $117.37 million, reflecting capital expenditures, purchases of investments and business acquisitions.
During the quarter, the company repurchased common stock worth $315.71 million and paid $180.70 million in dividends. Net cash used in financing activities totaled $500.17 million.
Balance SheetCintas exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $243.60 million compared with $289.02 million at the end of fiscal 2026. Accounts receivable increased to $1.59 billion from $1.56 billion, while inventories declined to $433.29 million from $446.44 million.
Total current assets were $3.93 billion compared with $3.85 billion at May 31, 2026. Long-term debt was $1.43 billion, while debt due within one year totaled $999.29 million. Total shareholders' equity increased to $5.20 billion from $5.14 billion.
Cintas' Fiscal 2027 OutlookFor fiscal 2027, the company raised its revenue guidance to $12.15-$12.27 billion from the prior projection of $12.10-$12.25 billion. Adjusted diluted earnings per share are now projected in the range of $5.45-$5.54, up from $5.36-$5.50 previously.
The guidance excludes expected impacts from the proposed UniFirst acquisition and assumes no future acquisitions and constant foreign exchange rates. Fiscal 2027 also has one more workday than fiscal 2026.
Cintas expects net interest expense of approximately $103.00 million compared with $101.20 million in fiscal 2026, with the increase primarily tied to amortization of bridge loan financing expenses related to UniFirst. The company projects an effective tax rate of 20.4% for fiscal 2027.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Cintas has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a C. However, the stock has a score of F on the value side, putting it in the bottom 20% quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Cintas has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Garbage trucks, uniform vans, elevator inspectors, and factory supply bins rarely attract investor attention, which is exactly why their long-term compounding records tend to surprise people who finally look closely.
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Garbage trucks, uniform delivery routes, elevator mechanics and parts bins rarely make headlines, and that is much of their appeal. These businesses sell services customers need whatever the economy is doing, usually under contracts that renew without much fuss. Over long periods the results add up. On an adjusted basis, one of the four names below rose an incredible 693.66% over the past ten years. For each company, here is what it does, why demand holds up, what its record shows and what could go wrong.
Waste Management: Trash Pickup With Price Escalators Written Into the Contract Waste Management (NYSE:WM | WM Price Prediction) collects, transfers, recycles and landfills municipal, commercial and industrial waste across North America. It also runs the Stericycle healthcare waste business and a fleet of renewable natural gas plants (collection, disposal, healthcare waste and RNG). Trash collection can’t be skipped, and its municipal and commercial contracts are long-dated with contractual price escalators.
The dividend record shows how the company behaved in the last two downturns. During the financial-crisis recession, the quarterly payout went from $0.29 in 2009 to $0.315 in 2010. Around the pandemic, it went from $0.5125 in 2019 to $0.545 in 2020. The records show quarterly payments in every year from 2009 through 2026, and the current payment is $0.945. The yield is modest, so the dividend matters here as evidence of steadiness more than as a source of income.
The pricing power shows up in the numbers. Core price was 5.7% in the second quarter of 2026. Labor costs rose about 4% while collection operating costs rose less than 1.7%. Adjusted operating EBITDA margin expanded 40 bps to 30.9%, and management raised its full-year margin guidance to 31.0% to 31.2%. The stock has a beta of 0.43, and on an adjusted basis it rose 298.4% over ten years, though it is down 4.29% year to date.
Risk: volume. Collection and disposal volume fell 1.8% year over year in the second quarter. Management said most of the weakness came from lost national accounts in commercial, and it narrowed full-year revenue guidance to $26.275 billion to $26.475 billion. At about 29 times trailing earnings, the stock already prices in a lot of that steadiness.
Cintas: Uniform Routes Customers Rarely Unwind Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) rents and launders workplace uniforms, mats, mops and restroom supplies. It also sells first aid, safety and fire protection services. Most customers are small and mid-sized businesses on multi-year route-based contracts. Cintas serves about 1 million customers in an addressable market management puts at 16 to 20 million businesses.
Restaurants, hospitals and factories still need clean uniforms and stocked restrooms in a recession. Through the 2008 and 2009 downturn, Cintas’s then-annual dividend went from $0.46 in February 2008 to $0.47 in February 2009 and $0.48 in February 2010. Management says the company has historically grown at multiples of GDP and employment growth, and that outsourcing can become more valuable when conditions are uncertain.
The margins tell the story. Gross margin expanded 120 bps to 51.5% in fiscal first-quarter 2027, an all-time high, and operating margin rose to 23.6% from 22.7%. Management credits route density and productivity more than price increases. It described pricing as “consistent with prior years”, and the company manages fuel costs without surcharges. Adjusted shares rose 108.12% over five years, and the latest quarterly dividend rose to $0.52 from $0.45.
Risk: the pending acquisition of UniFirst (NYSE:UNF) is under FTC review after a second request. Regulators could delay the deal or attach conditions. With the stock at about 39 times trailing and 36 times forward earnings, the valuation leaves little room for an integration stumble.
Otis Worldwide: An Installed Base That Needs Servicing for Decades Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS) makes and installs elevators, escalators and moving walkways. The steadier part of the business is servicing a portfolio of about 2.5 million units. Elevators need required maintenance and inspection across a decades-long life, and building owners rarely switch service providers. Service brought in $2.58B of second-quarter revenue of $3.86B.
Otis began trading independently in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic. Its quarterly dividend was $0.20 through 2020 and has been raised every year since, reaching $0.44 in the latest payments. In the second quarter, maintenance pricing added 3%, repair sales grew 12% and modernization organic sales grew 24%. The modernization backlog is up 26% at constant currency. Management also said it broadly offset the effects of the Middle East conflict through pricing actions.
The stock has had a rough stretch. Shares are down 22.49% year to date, and the gain since March 19, 2020, is 62.96%. At about 15 times forward earnings, it is the cheapest of the four.
Risk: service execution. Service operating margin fell 170 basis points to 23.2%, and customer retention outside China slipped, mostly in parts of the Americas. Management is spending $50 million this year on service quality and pricing to win customers back. Meanwhile, China New Equipment sales fell by a high-teens percentage.
Fastenal: Supply Bins Installed on the Customer’s Factory Floor Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST) distributes fasteners, tools, safety supplies and maintenance parts to manufacturers and construction customers. It sells through 1,500+ branches and 140,000+ vending machines and bins installed at customer sites. Industrial demand is cyclical, which makes Fastenal the most economically sensitive name here. Its durability comes from that physical lock-in. Contract customers now account for 75.8% of revenue, up from 73.2% a year ago.
Through the 2020 downturn, the dividend records show four regular payments of $0.25 plus a $0.40 payment in December. This year, management said tariffs affected the business “through cost planning and pricing discussions rather than demand.”
Price increases added about 290 bps to second-quarter sales growth and 350 bps in the first quarter. Gross margin narrowed 75 bps, but lower overhead as a share of sales (80 bps) more than made up for it, and operating margin rose to 21.0%. The departing chief executive put return on invested capital in the low 30s. Adjusted shares rose 528.49% over ten years, and the latest dividend rose to $0.26 from $0.24.
Risk: valuation. After a 29.78% gain this year, the stock trades at about 43 times trailing earnings. The average analyst target of $48.84 sits below the current $51.24, and 3 analysts rate the stock a strong sell.
What These Four Share All four rely on recurring service, customers who find switching costly and margins that have mostly held or widened over time. As Otis shows this year, their share prices can still have long, dull, or painful stretches. For investors building a long-term core, the operating record matters more than any one quarter. Upcoming earnings reports should tell us if pricing and route density keep doing their quiet work.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Element Fleet Management (OTCMKTS:ELEEF – Get Free Report) and Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and profitability.
Profitability This table compares Element Fleet Management and Cintas’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Element Fleet Management 23.33% 24.75% 3.91% Cintas 17.82% 42.57% 20.07% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Element Fleet Management and Cintas, as reported by MarketBeat.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Element Fleet Management 0 0 2 1 3.33 Cintas 1 5 8 0 2.50 Cintas has a consensus target price of $216.00, indicating a potential upside of 9.23%. Given Cintas’ higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Cintas is more favorable than Element Fleet Management. Dividends Element Fleet Management pays an annual dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Cintas pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.1%. Element Fleet Management pays out 56.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Cintas pays out 41.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Cintas has increased its dividend for 42 consecutive years.
Institutional and Insider Ownership 63.5% of Cintas shares are held by institutional investors. 14.4% of Cintas shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Earnings & Valuation This table compares Element Fleet Management and Cintas”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Element Fleet Management $1.19 billion 5.24 $279.13 million $0.74 21.46 Cintas $11.26 billion 7.03 $2.00 billion $5.07 39.00 Cintas has higher revenue and earnings than Element Fleet Management. Element Fleet Management is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cintas, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary Cintas beats Element Fleet Management on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.
(Get Free Report)
Element Fleet Management Corp. operates as a fleet management company primarily in Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. The company offers end-to-end fleet cars, trucks, and material handling support equipment acquisition; and end-to-end electric vehicle fleet including fleet planning, charging infrastructure solutions, acquisition, financing, maintenance, and remarketing. It provides commercial fleet financing comprising operating and capital lease, sale and leaseback funding, loans, rental fleet financing, client owned acquisition program, and fair market value lease for fleet cars, trucks, and equipment; and vehicle licensing and registration services, such as renewal, fleet title management, and insurance card management services. In addition, the company provides collision management services, such as 24/7 driver assistance, collision evaluation, repair management, and subrogation; fleet management outsourcing solutions; fuel, maintenance, and safety solutions; telematics and fleet connectivity solutions; and toll and violation management, as well as fleet remarketing, sale leaseback, and strategic fleet management consulting services. It serves construction, energy, oil and gas, food and beverages, healthcare, services, and transport sectors. Element Fleet Management Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Toronto, Canada.
About Cintas (Get Free Report)
Cintas Corporation engages in the provision of corporate identity uniforms and related business services primarily in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Uniform Rental and Facility Services, First Aid and Safety Services, and All Other segments. The company rents and services uniforms and other garments, including flame resistant clothing, mats, mops and shop towels, and other ancillary items; and provides restroom cleaning services and supplies, as well as sells uniforms. In addition, the company offers first aid and safety services, and fire protection products and services. It provides its products and services through its distribution network and local delivery routes, or local representatives to small service and manufacturing companies, as well as major corporations. The company was founded in 1968 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cintas Corporation was formerly a subsidiary of Cintas Corporation.
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Some businesses are so deeply embedded in daily operations that customers rarely bother to leave, and four companies have quietly built their dividends on exactly that kind of inertia. The question is whether sticky revenue alone is enough to keep…
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Customers rarely switch from a payroll provider, a trash hauler, a credit analytics subscription or a weekly uniform service once it is up and running. That repeat-by-default revenue is the shared engine behind Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX | PAYX Price Prediction), Republic Services (NYSE:RSG), Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) and Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS), and it is what keeps a dividend funded when the economy cools (the same idea behind the dividend ladder we mapped out in a free income guide here). Republic just announced a dividend increase for the 23rd consecutive year, a clean shorthand for what this kind of revenue can support. Three of these four carry modest yields, so the case rests on coverage, cash flow and payout growth.
Paychex: Payroll Switching Friction Backs the Group’s Biggest Yield Paychex runs payroll, HR and benefits administration for small and midsize businesses, and it operates a professional employer organization (PEO) that co-employs a client’s workers. Payroll repeats every pay period, and moving it means migrating tax filings and employee records, which gives this revenue real switching friction. Management calls the PEO “the best retention solution that we have,” and PEO and insurance revenue grew 12% to $367.6 million last quarter.
At $101.37, Paychex yields 4.47%, the highest in this group. The quarterly payout is $1.19, an annualized forward rate of $4.76 per share.
Dividend safety: Its payout has the weakest backing of the four. Trailing dividends of $4.54 per share sit against diluted trailing EPS of $5.04, so most earnings go straight to shareholders. Cash flow is stronger: fiscal 2026 operating cash flow was $2.5567 billion against capex of $234.9 million and dividends of $1.6 billion. The company carries about $4.6 billion of debt versus roughly $1 billion in cash and corporate investments. Recent raises took the quarterly payout from $0.98 to $1.08 to $1.19, though the dividend held at $0.62 from 2019 into early 2021, so the recent raise pattern matters more than any long unbroken streak.
Bull case: Margins are expanding. GAAP operating margin reached 38.0% versus 35.2% a year earlier, and adjusted EPS of $1.34 beat the $1.32 estimate. Management guides fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS growth of 7% to 9%, and CEO John Gibson said “we believe Paychex has never been better positioned.” After an 18.83% slide over the past month, the stock sells for roughly 18 times forward earnings, which is why the yield looks so much higher than its peers.
Risk: The client base is small businesses, which feel employment slowdowns first. Growth is already cooling: The Wall Street Journal flagged slowing sales growth, and management guided second-quarter revenue growth of about 4%.
Republic Services: Essential Contracts and 23 Straight Years of Raises Republic collects, transfers and landfills non-hazardous solid waste and runs recycling and environmental solutions operations. Its revenue repeats through municipal franchises and commercial service agreements, and customer retention held at more than 94%. Trash pickup is about as non-discretionary as a service gets, which makes this the stickiest revenue in the group.
At $212.12, the stock yields 1.18%. The board just lifted the quarterly dividend to $0.67 from $0.625, an annualized forward rate of $2.68.
Dividend safety: Trailing dividends of $2.50 per share compare with trailing EPS of $7.06, a comfortable margin. Free cash flow reached $2.433 billion last year, while dividends and buybacks together returned $1.6 billion. Management raised its adjusted free cash flow guidance to $2.54 billion to $2.575 billion. Debt stands at $14.2 billion, with leverage near 2.6 times and $2.8 billion of liquidity. Dividend records show the quarterly payment climbing from $0.405 in 2020 to today’s $0.67.
Bull case: Pricing power. Core price on total revenue rose 5.3% last quarter, and CEO Jon Vander Ark said “We’re pricing ahead of our cost structure.” A beta of 0.4 and a 390.99% ten-year price gain show how steadily that compounding has worked for patient holders.
Risk: Volume is shrinking. Organic volume fell 1.6% on total revenue, with residential down 4.3% on contract losses and large container down 2.2% on soft construction activity. Pricing can offset that for a while, but prolonged volume declines would slow dividend growth.
Moody’s: Analytics Subscriptions Anchor the Payout While Issuance Swings Moody’s sells credit ratings through Moody’s Investors Service and data, software and risk tools through Moody’s Analytics. The analytics side is the true subscription engine: recurring revenue represented 99% of Moody’s Analytics revenue, annualized recurring revenue (ARR) reached $3.7 billion, and retention was 95%. Ratings carry a recurring layer too, with Investors Service recurring revenue up 6% to $369 million, but most rating fees depend on new bond deals.
At $468.80, the yield is 0.84%, the lowest here. The quarterly dividend rose to $1.03 from $0.94, for an annualized forward rate of $4.12.
Dividend safety: This is the largest margin in the bundle. Trailing dividends of $4.03 per share sit against trailing EPS of $15.56, and full-year adjusted EPS guidance is $16.50 to $17.00. Free cash flow hit $688 million in the second quarter, up 47%, with full-year guidance of $2.7 billion to $2.9 billion. Moody’s plans to return more than 130% of free cash flow this year, helped by proceeds from recent portfolio actions, so buybacks take in the swings while the dividend stays small. Management says it intends to preserve balance-sheet flexibility while funding growth. The per-payment dividend has risen every year in the record since 2010, climbing from $0.105 to $1.03.
Bull case: Adjusted operating margin expanded to 55.3%, and adjusted EPS of $4.68 exceeded the $4.25 estimate. CEO Rob Fauber said customers are “increasingly turning to Moody’s intelligence, our ratings, analytics, and insights to make consequential decisions with greater confidence.” The stock sells for roughly 24 times forward earnings.
Risk: Ratings revenue depends on issuance, and issuance can freeze. Ratings produced $1.260 billion of second-quarter revenue versus $925 million from analytics, so the more cyclical half is currently the larger one. A credit-market seizure or widening spreads would cut transaction revenue quickly, even though the dividend itself is well covered.
Cintas: Weekly Route Service and a 43-Year Dividend Growth Record Cintas rents and cleans uniforms and supplies mats, restroom products, first aid kits and fire protection services, delivered by route trucks on a recurring schedule. That revenue is more routine than contractual: a business can bring the work back in-house, but few bother once the truck shows up every week. CEO Todd Schneider said over two-thirds of new business comes from companies that previously handled these tasks themselves, and management reported a “slight improvement in retention.”
At $199.91, Cintas yields 0.95%. The quarterly dividend rose 15.6% to $0.52 from $0.45, an annualized forward rate of $2.08.
Dividend safety: First-quarter free cash flow of $464.8 million, up 48.72%, compared with an aggregate dividend payment of $208.8 million. Fiscal 2026 free cash flow was $1.881 billion. Trailing dividends of $1.87 per share sit against trailing EPS of $5.08, leaving room for both raises and buybacks, which reached $544.7 million in the quarter. Schneider said “We are pleased to have increased our dividend every year since going public 43 years ago,” and recent records back the pattern, with the quarterly payment moving from $0.39 to $0.45 to $0.52.
Bull case: Gross margin hit a record 51.5%, operating margin reached an all-time high of 23.6%, and organic growth was 8.9%. Management raised fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance to $5.45 to $5.54. Over ten years, the stock has gained 685.7%.
Risk: The pending UniFirst acquisition faces an FTC second request, and Cintas booked $14.4 million in non-recurring transaction expenses last quarter. A delayed or conditioned approval would add cost and distraction, and integrating a large competitor raises execution risk.
Who This Recurring Revenue Group Suits These four suit income investors who prize a dividend that keeps rising over a big starting check. Republic and Paychex bring the strongest switching friction, Moody’s carries the largest earnings margin, and Cintas pairs a double-digit raise with surging free cash flow. Paychex supplies the current income at 4.47%, while the other three compound payouts funded by revenue that shows up again every month. For a retiree building an income stream meant to survive a downturn, repeat-by-default revenue is the foundation that counts.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Investors watching Cintas NASDAQ: CTAS and wondering where the stock price may go next need to focus on its durable growth and unmatched capital returns. They, alongside fundamentally bullish market conditions, market-leading performance, and analysts, say this stock can reach new highs, potentially before the year’s end.
The backdrop is a still-expanding labor market, which matters because Cintas's uniform and facility-services revenue grows with its customers' headcount. Labor market strength cooled over the past two years, but did not evaporate.
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The key takeaway from the labor market data is that it normalized after the COVID-19 economic disruption and is at historically strong levels. At face value, labor markets are “weak” because jobs aren’t growing as fast as they did in the wake of COVID-19. Fundamentally, though, they are as strong as they’ve been, adjusting for the impact of a forced holiday, trillions in stimulus spending, the subsequent rebound, and the supply-chain snafus it all caused.
The story in 2026 is that headcount is expanding, albeit moderately, and that the trend is expected to continue as the year progresses, driven in large part by AI and the data center buildout. While some fear the AI-driven hiring boost will be short-lived, data center buildouts take years, the industry is still in its early stages, and AI is not the only driver of labor market growth. In this environment, Cintas is positioned for several more years of strength, and the market will soon price it in.
Cintas Beats on Earnings, Raises GuidanceCintas posted a solid quarter, showing the durability of its model and the strength of its cash flow. Revenue grew 10.9% to just over $3 billion, slightly better than expected, supported by an 8.9% organic increase.
Growth was broad-based, with Uniform Rental and Facility Services revenue up 9.7%, First Aid and Safety Services up 16.1%, and All Other—which includes Fire Protection Services and Uniform Direct Sale—up 13.1%.
Margin was another strength. The company leveraged its acquisitions effectively, integrating costs while expanding its territories, increasing its client count, and driving cross-selling opportunities. The net result in the last quarter was a 120 basis point (bps) improvement in the gross margin that carried through to a 90 bps improvement in adjusted operating margin. Key details include accelerated operating, net, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth, with adjusted EPS up by 15.8% year-over-year (YOY) and 4 cents better than expected.
Guidance is yet another catalyst for this cash cow, as management improved its outlook for full-year revenue and earnings, expecting strengths to persist and potentially underestimating the tailwinds. The revenue range was lifted at the low and high ends and narrowed, leaving the midpoint and earnings targets above consensus forecasts. The likely outcome is that Cintas continues to execute and outperforms guidance.
Cintas’ Dividends and Buybacks Keep Compounding ReturnsCintas’ stock price faced many hurdles over the past year, including labor market normalization and a stock split, but the headwinds are clearing, leaving the capital returns to do their work. Cintas targets cash flow for dividends and share buybacks, which attract strong institutional interest, reduce volatility, and provide shareholders with quarterly leverage.
The dividend distribution is worth about 1.1%, not much, but enough, and it is compounded by share count reduction. Trailing 12-month buyback activity reduced the count by about 1.2%, a pace expected to continue in upcoming quarters.
One risk is that distribution growth will slow, but given the company’s 33-year history of increases and strong financial metrics, this is unlikely. The payout ratio is low, well below 60%, and dividend increases are offset by lower share counts; earnings growth also mitigates distribution risk. Cintas is not only improving its outlook for this year, but analysts also forecast low double-digit earnings growth to continue for many years.
UniFirst Deal Could Be the Catalyst That Sends Cintas HigherOne catalyst is UniFirst NYSE: UNF. The two have a definitive agreement to merge and are waiting only on FTC approval. The deal is expected to close at any time and will trigger a revaluation of the stock price. In this scenario, CTAS revenue grows by 20% overnight, margins improve almost immediately, and cash flow capacity improves significantly.
Institutional and analyst trends reflect confidence in Cintas’s long-term outlook. Fifteen analysts tracked by MarketBeat rate the stock as a consensus Moderate Buy with approximately 9% upside relative to the critical support target, and the price target rose in Q3 after a period of reductions. The takeaway is that one headwind has been removed from the price action, and institutional data suggests a tailwind is already in place. Institutions own more than 60% of the stock, accumulated throughout early 2026, and ramped up activity in early Q3, helping to lift the stock price off of its long-term lows.
Cintas's price action shows the impact of headwinds, but also a market reconnecting with its trend and rebounding. The key detail is that Q3 activity shows solid support at the long-term exponential moving average (EMA) and the potential to continue advancing, possibly to the existing high by year’s end. Longer-term, Cintas' move to new highs is all but assured, needing only time, cash flow, and capital returns to get there.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Cintas Right Now?Before you consider Cintas, you'll want to hear this.
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Cintas Corporation's (CTAS +2.97%) first-quarter earnings yesterday weren't bad by any stretch of one's imagination. The most important things I'd look for in an earnings result were there. The big question, however, is whether the stock price already reflects all of this good news.
Or, better still, does the business have enough growth runway that isn't yet reflected in the stock price?
The workday supply specialist's shares fell nearly 3.5% in yesterday's trading session following the earnings announcement, but have mostly reversed those losses today, trading up 3.2% by 1:20 p.m.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Volume, instead of price, drove growthRevenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 (ended Aug. 31, 2026) came in at $3.01 billion, a solid 10.9% increase year over year. Organic revenue growth (barring acquisitions) stood at 8.9%. Earnings per share (EPS) grew nearly 16%, clocking in at $1.39 while also beating estimates.
Cintas's primary business, its uniform rental and facility services, grew 8% organically and accounted for about 76% of total revenue. But the smaller segments grew as well.
SegmentQ1 2027 organic yoy revenue growth*Uniform rental and facility 8.0%First aid and safety 14.2%Fire protection 9.2%Uniform direct sale 9.6%Source: Q1 2027 earnings call. *y-o-y: year-over-year
On the earnings call, management emphasized that volume was the primary growth driver, rather than aggressive price increases, despite inflation being up.
Essentially, that's the durable growth the underlying business can deliver. To me, that says something about customer demand. When customers see enough value in outsourcing these supplies to Cintas, it indicates there's still significant room for growth by bringing in businesses that currently handle these needs in-house.
According to management, the total addressable market is between 16 million and 20 million businesses, while the company currently serves about a million of them. That's a massive market with plenty of room to create value.
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Margins expanded, driving profitabilityAdditionally, overall gross margin increased to a record 51.5%, primarily driven by higher profitability in other segments. The first-aid and safety segment, for example, achieved a gross margin of 57.6%.
Management said the improvement in profitability came from a lot of small productivity gains rather than one big transformational project. Again, that means management has many levers, including technology investments and automation that drive efficiency, at its disposal in order to sustain profitability.
Cross-selling is in the early phaseCEO Todd Schneider also highlighted the ability to cross-sell its various services to the same customers, reminding that the company is still early in the phase.
Here's where that's highly useful: First, it means lower costs to acquire new customers, further driving margins, and second, average volume growth from the same customer increases, further cementing the growth runway.
Essentially, having multiple avenues to grow both revenue and profits in a massively untapped addressable market is the best business to have.
CTAS Gross Profit Margin (Quarterly) data by YCharts.
Is future growth already priced in?There's little doubt that Cintas remains an excellent business. The real question for investors is whether the stock has enough room for further growth. Shares currently trade at an expensive 40.5 times trailing earnings and 36 times forward earnings.
Can the high single-digit organic growth persist while margins continue to expand, or at least remain stable, with cross-selling services really taking off? From its latest earnings results, I'm inclined to think so.
What makes me bullish about the business is its ability to rely on multiple growth levers and implement numerous productivity initiatives. Additionally, the company isn't racing against time to achieve this growth. I think the market is being conservative in its expectations for the business, and I doubt investors are looking more than two years ahead when pricing this stock. The stock price has stalled for the last 12 months or so, but I'd attribute that to the market waiting for more favorable news than anything else.
The risk is inflationThat said, if inflation continues rising, organic growth may slow to mid-single-digit gains, and the market may assign a lower P/E multiple.
On a conservative basis, if shares fall to a price-to-earnings ratio of 30 over five years while earnings grow at a modest 10% per annum, Cintas stock should still reach $245, implying a 24% upside. A higher growth rate -- or a higher valuation -- will ensure greater upside.
Key Takeaways Cintas beat Q1 earnings and revenue estimates on 8.9% organic revenue growth and record margins.Cintas raised fiscal 2027 revenue guidance to $12.15B-$12.27B and lifted adjusted EPS outlook.CTAS generated $464.8M in free cash flow and repurchased $315.7M of common stock in Q1. Cintas Corporation (CTAS - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings of $1.39 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 by 3.0%. The bottom line increased 15.8% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $3.01 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.97 billion by 1.3% and rose 10.9% year over year.
The top line benefited from 8.9% organic revenue growth, reflecting growth after adjusting for acquisitions, foreign currency movements and workday differences. Record gross and operating margins were other key highlights in the quarter.
Cintas' Segmental ResultsThe company has two reportable segments, Uniform Rental and Facility Services and First Aid and Safety Services. Other businesses are included in All Other. Quarterly sales data are briefly discussed below.
Cintas' Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment generated revenues of $2.29 billion, up 9.7% year over year from $2.09 billion. Segment operating income rose to $575.09 million from $499.94 million.
The First Aid and Safety Services segment delivered revenues of $388.52 million, increasing 16.1% from $334.66 million in the prior-year quarter. Operating income climbed to $99.54 million from $80.33 million.
Revenues from the All Other segment totaled $330.73 million, up 13.1% from $292.40 million a year ago. Segment operating income increased to $51.67 million from $37.60 million.
CTAS' Margin ProfileCintas' cost of sales totaled $1.46 billion compared with $1.35 billion in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin increased 13.7% to $1.55 billion, while gross margin, as a percentage of revenues, expanded to 51.5% from 50.3%.
Selling and administrative expenses were $827.24 million, up 10.5% year over year. The company also incurred $14.41 million of transaction expenses related to the proposed UniFirst Corporation acquisition. Operating income rose 15.2% to $711.89 million.
Operating margin improved to 23.6% from 22.7% in the prior-year quarter. Net income increased 12.3% to $551.71 million, while net income margin was 18.3% compared with 18.1%. The effective tax rate increased to 20.0% from 17.6%.
Cintas' Cash Flow TrendsIn the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Cintas generated $572.33 million in net cash from operating activities, up from $414.48 million in the year-ago period. Capital expenditures totaled $107.53 million compared with $101.96 million a year earlier.
Free cash flow increased to $464.80 million from $312.52 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $117.37 million, reflecting capital expenditures, purchases of investments and business acquisitions.
During the quarter, the company repurchased common stock worth $315.71 million and paid $180.70 million in dividends. Net cash used in financing activities totaled $500.17 million.
CTAS' Balance SheetCintas exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $243.60 million compared with $289.02 million at the end of fiscal 2026. Accounts receivable increased to $1.59 billion from $1.56 billion, while inventories declined to $433.29 million from $446.44 million.
Total current assets were $3.93 billion compared with $3.85 billion at May 31, 2026. Long-term debt was $1.43 billion, while debt due within one year totaled $999.29 million. Total shareholders' equity increased to $5.20 billion from $5.14 billion.
Cintas' Fiscal 2027 OutlookFor fiscal 2027, the company raised its revenue guidance to $12.15-$12.27 billion from the prior projection of $12.10-$12.25 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are now projected in the range of $5.45-$5.54, up from $5.36-$5.50 previously.
The guidance excludes expected impacts from the proposed UniFirst acquisition and assumes no future acquisitions and constant foreign exchange rates. Fiscal 2027 also has one more workday than fiscal 2026.
Cintas expects net interest expense of approximately $103.00 million compared with $101.20 million in fiscal 2026, with the increase primarily tied to amortization of bridge loan financing expenses related to UniFirst. The company projects an effective tax rate of 20.4% for fiscal 2027.
CTAS’ Zacks RankPerformance of Other CompaniesIn the third quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended June 2026), Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $2.79 per share, increasing 125% from $1.24 in the year-ago quarter and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.49.
Net sales increased 7.7% year over year to $753.3 million and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $732 million.
Interparfums, Inc. (IPAR - Free Report) posted quarterly earnings of 95 cents per share in the second quarter of 2026, which decreased 4% from 99 cents reported in the prior-year period. The metric missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share.
Consolidated net sales rose 2% to $341 million from $333.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Organic sales rose 1%. Excluding headwinds related to the war in the Middle East, second-quarter organic sales increased 4%.
lululemon athletica inc. (LULU - Free Report) reported adjusted EPS of $2.06 in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended July 2026), which declined 33.5% year over year but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.79 by 15.1%.
The company’s revenues declined 4% from the year-ago period to $2.42 billion and 5% on a constant-dollar basis. Revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.47 billion by 2.1%.
Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) reported fiscal 2027 first-quarter revenue of $3.01 billion, up 10.9% from a year earlier and marking the first time the company exceeded $3 billion in quarterly revenue. Organic revenue growth, which excludes acquisitions, foreign currency movements and workday differences, was 8.9%.
Chief Executive Officer Todd Schneider said the results reflected demand for outsourced services that help businesses manage image, safety, cleanliness and compliance needs. He said Cintas continues to benefit from new customer wins, expansion within existing accounts and customer retention.
Diluted earnings per share rose 13.3% year over year to $1.36. Excluding expenses related to Cintas’ proposed UniFirst transaction, adjusted diluted EPS was $1.39, up 15.8% from the prior-year quarter. Growth Across Business Lines President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Rozakis said the company’s growth was primarily volume-driven rather than pricing-driven. Pricing remained consistent with prior years, he said, while new business, retention and cross-selling each improved.
More than two-thirds of Cintas’ new business comes from converting “non-programmers” — businesses that manage their own uniforms, facility supplies or related needs — to managed service solutions, Schneider said. Rozakis added that the company serves about 1 million customers, compared with an estimated 16 million to 20 million businesses in its addressable market.
Uniform Rental and Facility Services organic growth was 8.0%. First Aid and Safety Services organic growth was 14.2%. Fire Protection Services organic growth was 9.2%. Uniform Direct Sale organic growth was 9.6%. Rozakis said Uniform Rental growth benefited from solid new-business performance, slightly improved retention and better cross-selling. He noted that the segment also faced a favorable comparison with the prior-year first quarter, when organic growth was 7.3%, and said quarterly growth rates can vary even as the company targets mid- to high-single-digit organic growth in the business.
The company said its selected verticals — healthcare, hospitality, state and local government, and education — all continued to perform above the company average. Management also said it had not observed longer sales cycles or broad changes in customer buying behavior amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
Margins Reach New High Gross margin reached an all-time high of 51.5% of revenue. By segment, gross margin was 50.8% in Uniform Rental and Facility Services, 57.6% in First Aid and Safety Services, 52.8% in Fire Protection Services and 38.9% in Uniform Direct Sale.
Uniform Rental and Facility Services gross margin increased 110 basis points year over year, while First Aid and Safety gross margin rose 80 basis points. Rozakis attributed the gains to revenue leverage and technology investments that improve operations and customer service.
First-quarter operating income increased 15.2% to $711.9 million. Excluding UniFirst transaction-related expenses, operating income rose 17.6%. Operating margin was a record 23.6%, compared with 22.7% in the prior-year period.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Scott Garula said the quarter included one additional workday, which contributed 50 basis points to operating margin. That benefit was offset by 50 basis points of UniFirst transaction-related expenses. On an adjusted basis, operating margin expanded 90 basis points year over year.
Selling and administrative expense was 27.4% of revenue, a 10-basis-point improvement from the prior year. Management said it continues to invest in technology, sales resources and management capacity to support growth.
Fire Protection Services posted strong first-quarter margins, though Rozakis cautioned that segment results may fluctuate based on work mix and investments. The company expects to continue adding specialized technicians, leadership capacity and new locations as it expands its national footprint. Cintas is also piloting an SAP system in the Fire Protection business and expects to begin rolling it out during fiscal 2027.
Updated Outlook and Capital Allocation Cintas raised its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to a range of $12.15 billion to $12.27 billion, from a prior range of $12.10 billion to $12.25 billion. The revised range represents total growth of 7.9% to 8.9%.
The company also increased its adjusted diluted EPS outlook to $5.45 to $5.54, from $5.36 to $5.50 previously. The new forecast implies growth of 10.3% to 12.1%.
Garula said the outlook assumes one more workday in fiscal 2027 than in fiscal 2026, contributing an estimated 40 to 50 basis points to annual revenue growth, 10 to 15 basis points to operating margin and 100 to 125 basis points to incremental margins. The company expects net interest expense of approximately $103 million and an effective tax rate of 20.4% for the fiscal year.
The guidance assumes constant foreign exchange rates and excludes future acquisitions, future share repurchases, significant economic disruptions and nonrecurring costs tied to the UniFirst transaction.
Capital expenditures were $107.5 million during the quarter, or 3.6% of sales, focused on technology, automation, capacity and infrastructure. Cintas increased its regular quarterly dividend by 15.6% and had repurchased $545 million of shares through the date of the call. Schneider said the company has raised its dividend every year since going public 43 years ago.
UniFirst Transaction Remains Pending Schneider said Cintas continues to work through regulatory clearance processes in the U.S. and Canada for its proposed acquisition of UniFirst. He said the company remains optimistic the transaction will close by the end of calendar 2026, but declined to provide additional details to avoid speculation.
Management said it expects to issue fiscal 2027 second-quarter results in December.
About Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) Cintas Corporation is a provider of workplace products and services for businesses across North America. The company helps organizations manage employee appearance, workplace cleanliness, safety, and compliance through a range of recurring service programs.
Its offerings include uniform rental and workwear, branded apparel, entrance mats, restroom supplies, and facility cleaning services. Cintas also provides first-aid and safety products, training, and fire protection services, including inspection and maintenance programs for fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, alarms, and related equipment.
Headquartered in Mason, Ohio, Cintas traces its roots to a family-operated industrial laundry business established by Richard T.
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Top Headline
Cintas Corp (NASDAQ:CTAS) reported upbeat earnings for the first quarter and raised its FY2027 guidance on Wednesday.
The company posted quarterly earnings of $1.39 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.35 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $3.014 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.984 billion.
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Cintas CTAS experienced a slight decline following its Q1 (August) earnings report. The uniform rental and workplace services company surpassed earnings expectations, with revenue rising 10.9% year-over-year to $3.01 billion, aligning closely with forecasts. Notably, Cintas has raised its FY27 guidance to an earnings per share (EPS) range of $5.45 to $5.54, with revenue projected between $12.15 billion and $12.27 billion.
Organic Growth: Organic growth improved to 8.9% year-over-year, up from 8.4% in Q4. Key segments showed robust growth: Core Uniform Rental and Facility Services: 8.0% First Aid and Safety Services: 14.2% Fire Protection Services: 9.2% Uniform Direct Sales: 9.6% Demand Environment: Management remains optimistic about consistent demand. Growth is driven by converting self-managed customers to Cintas solutions, cross-selling additional products, and maintaining strong customer retention. Pricing has remained stable compared to previous years. Margins: Margins showed significant improvement, with the gross margin increasing 120 basis points year-over-year to a record 51.5%, up from 51.0% in Q4. The Uniform Rental gross margin rose 110 basis points year-over-year to 50.8%, benefiting from revenue leverage and ongoing technology investments. Looking Ahead: Cintas sees considerable opportunity in converting businesses that currently manage their workplace needs internally. The regulatory review of its pending UniFirst acquisition is ongoing, with Cintas expecting the deal to close by the end of calendar 2026. The start of FY27 for Cintas underscores the resilience of its business model and effective execution. The company’s broad growth, supported by consistent demand and strong retention, along with expanding margins to new records, is encouraging. Although Cintas raised its FY27 EPS and revenue outlook, the updated ranges were largely in line with expectations, which may explain the subdued market reaction despite a solid quarter.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.
Cintas Corporation remains a fundamentally excellent, high-quality services company, but its current 35-40x P/E valuation is unjustified given sector norms. Despite strong margins, double-digit EPS growth, and recurring revenues, CTAS offers a sub-1% yield and a sub-2.7% earnings yield, providing little risk protection. The UniFirst acquisition highlights overpayment risk, as CTAS is buying lower-quality assets that require significant turnaround to justify the price.
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) Q1 2027 Earnings Call September 23, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Jared Mattingley - VP, Treasurer, Investor Relations & Corporate Controller
Todd Schneider - CEO & Director
James Rozakis - President & COO
Scott Garula - Executive VP & CFO
Conference Call Participants
Renee Gagliardo - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division
Manav Patnaik - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Andrew J. Wittmann - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Keen Fai Tong - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Joshua Chan - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Jasper Bibb - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Jason Haas - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Seth Weber - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Curtis Nagle - BofA Securities, Research Division
Faiza Alwy - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Toni Kaplan - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Cintas Corporation Announces Fiscal 2027 First Quarter Results Conference Call. Today's call is being recorded. At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Mr. Jared Mattingley, Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.
Jared Mattingley
VP, Treasurer, Investor Relations & Corporate Controller
Thank you, Ross, and thank you for joining us. With me are Todd Schneider, Chief Executive Officer; James Rozakis, President and Chief Operating Officer; and Scott Garula, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
We will discuss our fiscal 2027 first quarter results. After our commentary, we will open the call to questions from analysts. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. This conference call contains forward-looking statements that reflect the company's current views as to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those we may discuss. I refer you to the
Cintas Keeps Beating Expectations—And the Story Isn’t OverCintas NASDAQ: CTAS reported fiscal 2027 first-quarter revenue of $3.01 billion, up 10.9% from a year earlier and marking the first time the company exceeded $3 billion in quarterly revenue. Organic revenue growth, which excludes acquisitions, foreign currency movements and workday differences, was 8.9%.
Chief Executive Officer Todd Schneider said the results reflected demand for outsourced services that help businesses manage image, safety, cleanliness and compliance needs. He said Cintas continues to benefit from new customer wins, expansion within existing accounts and customer retention.
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Cintas Corporation: The Deep Value Opportunity in Plain SightDiluted earnings per share rose 13.3% year over year to $1.36. Excluding expenses related to Cintas' proposed UniFirst transaction, adjusted diluted EPS was $1.39, up 15.8% from the prior-year quarter.
Growth Across Business Lines President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Rozakis said the company’s growth was primarily volume-driven rather than pricing-driven. Pricing remained consistent with prior years, he said, while new business, retention and cross-selling each improved.
MarketBeat Week in Review – 03/09 - 03/13More than two-thirds of Cintas’ new business comes from converting “non-programmers” — businesses that manage their own uniforms, facility supplies or related needs — to managed service solutions, Schneider said. Rozakis added that the company serves about 1 million customers, compared with an estimated 16 million to 20 million businesses in its addressable market.
Uniform Rental and Facility Services organic growth was 8.0%. First Aid and Safety Services organic growth was 14.2%. Fire Protection Services organic growth was 9.2%. Uniform Direct Sale organic growth was 9.6%. Rozakis said Uniform Rental growth benefited from solid new-business performance, slightly improved retention and better cross-selling. He noted that the segment also faced a favorable comparison with the prior-year first quarter, when organic growth was 7.3%, and said quarterly growth rates can vary even as the company targets mid- to high-single-digit organic growth in the business.
The company said its selected verticals — healthcare, hospitality, state and local government, and education — all continued to perform above the company average. Management also said it had not observed longer sales cycles or broad changes in customer buying behavior amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
Margins Reach New High Gross margin reached an all-time high of 51.5% of revenue. By segment, gross margin was 50.8% in Uniform Rental and Facility Services, 57.6% in First Aid and Safety Services, 52.8% in Fire Protection Services and 38.9% in Uniform Direct Sale.
Uniform Rental and Facility Services gross margin increased 110 basis points year over year, while First Aid and Safety gross margin rose 80 basis points. Rozakis attributed the gains to revenue leverage and technology investments that improve operations and customer service.
First-quarter operating income increased 15.2% to $711.9 million. Excluding UniFirst transaction-related expenses, operating income rose 17.6%. Operating margin was a record 23.6%, compared with 22.7% in the prior-year period.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Scott Garula said the quarter included one additional workday, which contributed 50 basis points to operating margin. That benefit was offset by 50 basis points of UniFirst transaction-related expenses. On an adjusted basis, operating margin expanded 90 basis points year over year.
Selling and administrative expense was 27.4% of revenue, a 10-basis-point improvement from the prior year. Management said it continues to invest in technology, sales resources and management capacity to support growth.
Fire Protection Services posted strong first-quarter margins, though Rozakis cautioned that segment results may fluctuate based on work mix and investments. The company expects to continue adding specialized technicians, leadership capacity and new locations as it expands its national footprint. Cintas is also piloting an SAP system in the Fire Protection business and expects to begin rolling it out during fiscal 2027.
Updated Outlook and Capital Allocation Cintas raised its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to a range of $12.15 billion to $12.27 billion, from a prior range of $12.10 billion to $12.25 billion. The revised range represents total growth of 7.9% to 8.9%.
The company also increased its adjusted diluted EPS outlook to $5.45 to $5.54, from $5.36 to $5.50 previously. The new forecast implies growth of 10.3% to 12.1%.
Garula said the outlook assumes one more workday in fiscal 2027 than in fiscal 2026, contributing an estimated 40 to 50 basis points to annual revenue growth, 10 to 15 basis points to operating margin and 100 to 125 basis points to incremental margins. The company expects net interest expense of approximately $103 million and an effective tax rate of 20.4% for the fiscal year.
The guidance assumes constant foreign exchange rates and excludes future acquisitions, future share repurchases, significant economic disruptions and nonrecurring costs tied to the UniFirst transaction.
Capital expenditures were $107.5 million during the quarter, or 3.6% of sales, focused on technology, automation, capacity and infrastructure. Cintas increased its regular quarterly dividend by 15.6% and had repurchased $545 million of shares through the date of the call. Schneider said the company has raised its dividend every year since going public 43 years ago.
UniFirst Transaction Remains Pending Schneider said Cintas continues to work through regulatory clearance processes in the U.S. and Canada for its proposed acquisition of UniFirst. He said the company remains optimistic the transaction will close by the end of calendar 2026, but declined to provide additional details to avoid speculation.
Management said it expects to issue fiscal 2027 second-quarter results in December.
About Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS)Cintas Corporation is a provider of workplace products and services for businesses across North America. The company helps organizations manage employee appearance, workplace cleanliness, safety, and compliance through a range of recurring service programs.
Its offerings include uniform rental and workwear, branded apparel, entrance mats, restroom supplies, and facility cleaning services. Cintas also provides first-aid and safety products, training, and fire protection services, including inspection and maintenance programs for fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, alarms, and related equipment.
Headquartered in Mason, Ohio, Cintas traces its roots to a family-operated industrial laundry business established by Richard T.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Is Cintas Corp (CTAS) Undervalued After Q1 Earnings Beat? EPS at $1.36 and Revenue at $3.01 Billion, GF Score: 99/100 Strong Revenue Growth and Increased Operating Margin Demonstrated
On September 23, 2026, Cintas Corp CTAS released its 8-K filing, announcing its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2027. The company reported revenues of $3.01 billion, reflecting a commendable growth rate of 10.9% compared to $2.72 billion for the same period last year. Cintas operates as the leading provider of uniform rental and facility services in North America, delivering solutions to over a million businesses, from restaurants to hospitals. The company's services include uniform rental, restroom supplies, first aid, and safety training, positioning it significantly ahead of competitors.
Cintas is navigating challenges, particularly with its proposed acquisition of UniFirst Corporation, which is under the scrutiny of regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Todd M. Schneider, Cintas' Chief Executive Officer, conveyed optimism about the ongoing discussions, highlighting the anticipated value creation this acquisition could bring to stakeholders. Despite potential integration challenges, the company’s current performance underscores its robust operational framework and customer dedication.
Financial Performance HighlightsCintas Corp CTAS reported an operating income increase of 15.2% to $711.9 million, enhancing its operating margin to 23.6%, up from 22.7% a year prior. Net income climbed to $551.7 million compared to $491.1 million in the previous year, marking a 12.3% increase. The diluted earnings per share (EPS) rose to $1.36, slightly above the analyst estimate of $1.35. The company showcased growth from $1.20 in the prior year. The company’s adjusted diluted EPS, excluding one-time costs associated with the UniFirst transaction, reached $1.39, demonstrating a significant year-over-year increase of 15.8%. This achievement illustrates Cintas' firm commitment to enhancing shareholder value, as evidenced by the substantial quarterly dividend of $208.8 million paid to shareholders.
Interestingly, Cintas also reported organic revenue growth of 8.9%, reflecting the company's focus on operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The gross margin improved to 51.5%, marking a 120 basis points increase from last year, which bodes well for profitability and operational stability in the business services sector.
Financial statements reflect substantial strength in key areas:
Cintas Corp CTAS is illustrating healthy growth against a backdrop of strategic acquisition and organic development. The increase in operational efficiency alongside rising income metrics emphasizes a positive trajectory that could attract value-minded investors. However, the ongoing scrutiny of the UniFirst acquisition introduces a level of uncertainty that stakeholders should monitor closely.
GuruFocus Valuation CheckAccording to proprietary data from GuruFocus, Cintas Corp boasts a GF Score of 99/100, indicating a strong overall performance while its GF Value is assessed at $213.88. Currently trading at approximately $198.80, this suggests that Cintas is undervalued by around 7.1%. For value investors, such metrics provide insight into potential buying opportunities.
The company holds a Financial Strength Score of 7/10, indicating solid financial health, whereas the Profitability and Growth Ranks stand at a perfect 10/10, showcasing Cintas' remarkable ability to generate profits and grow consistently. Moreover, the 5-star Predictability rating indicates a stable outlook for future earnings. It is worth noting, however, that insider activity has shown $3.6 million in sales over the past year, which may prompt cautious optimism among potential investors.
For deeper analysis, visit the Cintas Corp stock page on GuruFocus.
Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Cintas Corp for further details.
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Cintas (CTAS) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.39 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.2 per share a year ago.
For the quarter ended August 2026, Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.01 billion, up 10.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.39, compared to $1.20 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.97 billion, representing a surprise of +1.58%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.96%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.35.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Cintas performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Revenue- Other: $719.25 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $699.48 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +14.7%.Revenue- All Other: $330.73 million compared to the $321.25 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +13.1% year over year.Revenue- Uniform Rental and Facility Services: $2.29 billion versus $2.27 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +9.7% change.Revenue- First Aid and Safety Services: $388.52 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $378.23 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +16.1%.Operating income- Uniform Rental and Facility Services: $575.09 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $560.82 million.Operating income- First Aid and Safety Services: $99.54 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $95.35 million.Operating income- All Other: $51.67 million compared to the $42.36 million average estimate based on four analysts.View all Key Company Metrics for Cintas here>>>
Shares of Cintas have returned -2.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported results for its fiscal 2027 first quarter ended August 31, 2026. Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was $3.01 billion compared to $2.72 billion in last year’s first quarter, an increase of 10.9%. The organic revenue growth rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, which adjusts for the impacts of acquisitions, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and workday differences, was 8.9%.
Gross margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was $1.55 billion compared to $1.37 billion in last year’s first quarter, an increase of 13.7%. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was 51.5% for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, compared to 50.3% in last year's first quarter, an increase of 120 basis points.
Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 increased 15.2% to $711.9 million compared to $617.9 million in last year's first quarter. Operating income as a percent of revenue was 23.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 compared to 22.7% in last year's first quarter. Operating income in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 included $14.4 million of transaction expenses related to the proposed UniFirst Corporation (UniFirst) acquisition.
Net income was $551.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 compared to $491.1 million in last year's first quarter, an increase of 12.3%. The first quarter of fiscal 2027 effective tax rate was 20.0% compared to 17.6% in last year's first quarter. The tax rates in both quarters were impacted by certain discrete items, primarily the tax accounting impact for stock-based compensation. First quarter of fiscal 2027 diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.36 compared to $1.20 in last year's first quarter, an increase of 13.3%. Excluding the UniFirst non-recurring transaction expenses, which had a $0.03 impact on diluted EPS, adjusted diluted EPS was $1.39 for the first quarter, an increase of 15.8% over the prior year.
Reflecting our commitment to return capital to our shareholders, on September 15, 2026, Cintas paid an aggregate quarterly dividend of $208.8 million to shareholders. During the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and through September 22, 2026, Cintas purchased shares of Cintas common stock under our share buyback programs, for a total purchase price of $544.7 million.
Todd M. Schneider, Cintas’ Chief Executive Officer, stated “We are pleased with our start to fiscal 2027. Our employee-partners delivered another strong quarter, producing record revenue and record operating margin. Organic revenue growth of 8.9% and a record gross margin reflect the value we continue to provide our customers and the impact of our ongoing investments in technology, capacity and talent. These results demonstrate the strength of our business model and our ability to help customers operate their facilities in a clean, safe and professional manner."
Mr. Schneider continued, "We continue to engage with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as it reviews our transaction with UniFirst. We remain excited about the substantial value we expect to create for shareholders and customers through the transaction, and we look forward to welcoming the UniFirst Team Partners to Cintas once the transaction is complete, which we expect to occur prior to the end of calendar 2026."
Mr. Schneider concluded, "As we look forward to what lies ahead for fiscal 2027, we are raising our full fiscal year financial guidance. We are raising our annual revenue expectations from a range of $12.10 billion to $12.25 billion to a range of $12.15 billion to $12.27 billion, and we are raising our adjusted diluted EPS expectations from a range of $5.36 to $5.50 to a range of $5.45 to $5.54. The adjusted diluted EPS guide does not include the impact of non-recurring transaction expenses related to the UniFirst acquisition."
Initial Guidance
Fiscal 2027
Updated Guidance
Fiscal 2027
(In millions)
Fiscal
2026
Low end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
High end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
Low end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
High end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
A
B
E
H
I
L
M
P
Q
Total revenue
$ 11,264.8
$ 12,100.0
7.4%
$ 12,250.0
8.7%
$ 12,150.0
7.9%
$ 12,270.0
8.9%
E=(B-A)/A
I=(H-A)/A
M=(L-A)/A
Q=(P-A)/A
C
D
D
D
D
Workdays in the period
260
261
261
261
261
A
F
G
J
K
N
O
R
S
Workday adjusted revenue growth
$ 11,264.8
$ 12,053.6
7.0%
$ 12,203.1
8.3%
$ 12,103.4
7.4%
$ 12,223.0
8.5%
F=(B/D)*C
G=(F-A)/A
J=(H/D)*C
K=(J-A)/A
N=(L/D)*C
O=(N-A)/A
R=(P/D)*C
S=(R-A)/A
Please note the following regarding the annual revenue guidance:
Fiscal year 2027 has one more workday than fiscal year 2026. Guidance excludes expected impacts from the proposed UniFirst acquisition. Guidance does not assume any future acquisitions. Guidance assumes a constant foreign currency exchange rate. Initial Guidance
Fiscal 2027
Updated Guidance
Fiscal 2027
Fiscal
2026
Low end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
High end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
Low end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
High end
of Range
Growth
vs. 2026
Diluted EPS
$
4.91
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
UniFirst transaction related expenses
0.03
—
—
—
—
Adjusted diluted EPS (1)
$
4.94
$
5.36
8.5
%
$
5.50
11.3
%
$
5.45
10.3
%
$
5.54
12.1
%
Please note the following regarding the adjusted diluted EPS guidance:
Fiscal year 2027 interest, net is expected to be approximately $103.0 million compared to $101.2 million in fiscal year 2026. The increase is primarily a result of the amortization of bridge loan financing expenses related to the UniFirst acquisition. Expected interest, net does not factor in any debt activity or issuance of commercial paper related to future share buybacks or acquisition activity, including the funding necessary for the proposed acquisition of UniFirst. Fiscal year 2027 effective tax rate is expected to be 20.4% compared to 20.2% in fiscal year 2026. Our adjusted diluted EPS guidance does not include the impact of future share buybacks or significant economic disruptions or downturn. Adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes non-recurring transaction costs related to the UniFirst acquisition, which cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Cintas
Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.
Cintas will host a live webcast to review the fiscal 2027 first quarter results today at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The webcast will be available to the public on Cintas' website at www.Cintas.com. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call and will remain available for two weeks.
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including statements regarding our future business plans and expectations, and including the company's fiscal 2027 full-year guidance which involve risks and uncertainties. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may” and “will” or the negative versions thereof and similar words, terms and expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of Cintas and speak only as of the date made. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about the completion and the benefits of the transaction between Cintas and UniFirst (the “Transaction”), including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in or implied by this Press Release.
The following Transaction-related factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements: the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between Cintas and UniFirst; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Cintas or UniFirst; the possibility that the Transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all (and the risk that seeking or obtaining such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Transaction); the risk that the benefits from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, trade policy (including tariff levels), laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Cintas and UniFirst operate; any failure to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Cintas and UniFirst; the possibility that the Transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of Cintas’ or UniFirst’s customers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the Transaction; the dilution caused by Cintas’ issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the Transaction; changes in the trading price of Cintas’ or UniFirst’s capital stock; and the diversion of management’s attention and time to the Transaction from ongoing business operations and opportunities.
Additional important factors relating to Cintas that could cause actual results to differ from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the possibility of greater than anticipated operating costs including energy and fuel costs; lower sales volumes; loss of customers due to outsourcing trends; the performance and costs of integration of acquisitions; supply chain constraints and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and higher interest rates; changes in global trade policies, tariffs, and other measures that could restrict international trade; fluctuations in costs of materials and labor, including increased medical costs; costs and possible effects of union organizing activities; failure to comply with government regulations concerning employment discrimination, employee pay and benefits and employee health and safety; the effect on operations of exchange rate fluctuations, and other political, economic and regulatory risks; uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation; Cintas' ability to meet its aspirations relating to sustainability opportunities, improvements and efficiencies; the cost, results and ongoing assessment of internal controls over financial reporting; the effect of new accounting pronouncements; risks associated with cybersecurity threats, including disruptions caused by the inaccessibility of computer systems data and cybersecurity risk management; the initiation or outcome of litigation, investigations or other proceedings; higher assumed sourcing or distribution costs of products; the disruption of operations from catastrophic or extraordinary events including global health pandemics; the amount and timing of repurchases of Cintas' common stock, if any; changes in global tax and labor laws; the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service and the other risks and contingencies detailed in Cintas’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Cintas undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements or to otherwise update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or to reflect events, circumstances or any other unanticipated developments arising after the date on which such statements are made, except otherwise as required by law. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2026, and in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The risks and uncertainties described herein are not the only ones we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties presently not known to us, or that we currently believe to be immaterial, may also harm our business.
Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share data)
Three Months Ended
August 31, 2026
August 31, 2025
%
Change
Revenue:
Uniform rental and facility services
$
2,294,736
$
2,091,066
9.7%
Other
719,245
627,056
14.7%
Total revenue
3,013,981
2,718,122
10.9%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of uniform rental and facility services
1,128,884
1,052,553
7.3%
Cost of other
331,554
299,008
10.9%
Selling and administrative expenses
827,244
748,702
10.5%
UniFirst Corporation transaction expenses
14,412
—
100.0%
Operating income
711,887
617,859
15.2%
Interest income
(2,649
)
(2,209
)
19.9%
Interest expense
24,706
24,161
2.3%
Income before income taxes
689,830
595,907
15.8%
Income taxes
138,119
104,767
31.8%
Net income
$
551,711
$
491,140
12.3%
Basic earnings per share
$
1.37
$
1.21
13.2%
Diluted earnings per share
$
1.36
$
1.20
13.3%
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
400,137
403,292
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
404,290
409,294
CINTAS CORPORATION SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Gross Margin and Net Income Margin Results
Three Months Ended
August 31, 2026
August 31, 2025
Uniform rental and facility services gross margin
50.8%
49.7%
Other gross margin
53.9%
52.3%
Total gross margin
51.5%
50.3%
Net income margin
18.3%
18.1%
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The press release contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of the rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. To supplement its consolidated condensed financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company provides these additional non-GAAP financial measures of free cash flow and organic revenue growth. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate to enhance understanding of its past performance as well as prospects for future performance. A reconciliation of the difference between these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are shown in the tables below.
Computation of Free Cash Flow
Three Months Ended
(In thousands)
August 31, 2026
August 31, 2025
Net cash provided by operations
$
572,331
$
414,481
Capital expenditures
(107,532
)
(101,957
)
Free cash flow
$
464,799
$
312,524
Management uses free cash flow to assess the financial performance of the Company. Management believes that free cash flow is useful to investors because it relates the operating cash flow of the Company to the capital that is spent to continue, improve and grow business operations.
Computation of Organic Revenue Growth
Three Months Ended
August 31, 2026
August 31, 2025
Growth
%
A
B
G
Revenue
$
3,013,981
$
2,718,122
10.9%
G=(A-B)/B
C
D
Workdays in the period
66
65
E
F
H
Workday adjusted revenue
$
2,968,315
$
2,718,122
9.2%
E=(A/C)*D
F=(B/D)*D
H=(E-F)/F
Acquisition and foreign currency exchange impact, net
(0.3)%
Organic revenue growth
8.9%
Management believes that organic revenue growth is valuable to investors because it reflects the revenue performance compared to a prior period with the same number of revenue generating days and excludes the impact from acquisitions and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT DATA
(In thousands)
Uniform Rental
and Facility Services
First Aid
and Safety Services
All
Other
Corporate
Total
For the three months ended August 31, 2026
Revenue
$
2,294,736
$
388,517
$
330,728
$
—
$
3,013,981
Cost of sales
1,128,884
164,700
166,854
—
1,460,438
Gross margin
1,165,852
223,817
163,874
—
1,553,543
Selling and administrative expenses
590,764
124,275
112,205
—
827,244
UniFirst Corporation transaction expenses
—
—
—
14,412
14,412
Operating income (loss)
$
575,088
$
99,542
$
51,669
$
(14,412
)
$
711,887
For the three months ended August 31, 2025
Revenue
$
2,091,066
$
334,657
$
292,399
$
—
$
2,718,122
Cost of sales
1,052,553
144,489
154,519
—
1,351,561
Gross margin
1,038,513
190,168
137,880
—
1,366,561
Selling and administrative expenses
538,576
109,841
100,285
—
748,702
Operating income
$
499,937
$
80,327
$
37,595
$
—
$
617,859
Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
August 31,
2026
May 31,
2026
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
243,599
$
289,018
Accounts receivable, net
1,587,573
1,555,190
Inventories, net
433,286
446,435
Uniforms and other rental items in service
1,309,995
1,276,174
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
357,292
286,225
Total current assets
3,931,745
3,853,042
Property and equipment, net
1,768,378
1,740,501
Investments
448,875
438,662
Goodwill
3,548,696
3,544,212
Service contracts, net
272,972
287,869
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
274,590
271,088
Other assets, net
407,479
393,766
$
10,652,735
$
10,529,140
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
506,502
$
461,157
Accrued compensation and related liabilities
159,159
237,042
Accrued liabilities
841,215
889,198
Income taxes, current
140,129
44,070
Operating lease liabilities, current
58,370
56,505
Debt due within one year
999,291
998,987
Total current liabilities
2,704,666
2,686,959
Long-term liabilities:
Debt due after one year
1,429,554
1,429,086
Deferred income taxes
548,906
537,919
Operating lease liabilities
224,159
221,379
Accrued liabilities
540,918
513,910
Total long-term liabilities
2,743,537
2,702,294
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, no par value:
100 shares authorized, none outstanding
—
—
Common stock, no par value, and paid-in capital:
1,700,000 shares authorized
FY 2027: 780,726 issued and 399,517 outstanding
FY 2026: 779,537 issued and 400,147 outstanding
2,931,963
2,851,129
Retained earnings
13,416,890
13,073,999
Treasury stock:
FY 2027: 381,209 shares
FY 2026: 379,390 shares
(11,235,046
)
(10,869,708
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
90,725
84,467
Total shareholders’ equity
5,204,532
5,139,887
$
10,652,735
$
10,529,140
Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
Three Months Ended
August 31, 2026
August 31, 2025
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$
551,711
$
491,140
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation
78,918
77,589
Amortization of intangible assets and capitalized contract costs
48,408
48,348
Stock-based compensation
31,047
30,348
Deferred income taxes
9,132
13,496
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net
(32,734
)
(3,635
)
Inventories, net
12,817
(2,398
)
Uniforms and other rental items in service
(33,880
)
(34,760
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and capitalized contract costs
(108,897
)
(62,382
)
Accounts payable
46,486
(22,501
)
Accrued compensation and related liabilities
(77,801
)
(94,275
)
Accrued liabilities and other
(49,338
)
(101,114
)
Income taxes, current
96,462
74,625
Net cash provided by operating activities
572,331
414,481
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(107,532
)
(101,957
)
Purchases of investments
(7,179
)
(6,538
)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
(3,916
)
(7,602
)
Other, net
1,260
(130
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(117,367
)
(116,227
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock-based compensation awards
159
2,669
Dividends paid
(180,700
)
(157,766
)
Repurchase of common stock
(315,710
)
(266,097
)
Other, net
(3,917
)
(2,807
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(500,168
)
(424,001
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Wednesday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
Wall Street expects General Mills Inc. (NYSE:GIS) to post quarterly earnings of 72 cents per share on revenue of $4.35 million before the opening bell, according to data from Benzinga Pro. General Mills shares rose 0.1% to $35.48 in the after-hours trading session. Worthington Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:WOR) reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results. Worthington reported quarterly earnings of 82 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 75 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $343.886 million, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $331.267 million. Worthington shares surged 18.8% to $70.00 in the after-hours trading session. Analysts are expecting Cintas Corp (NASDAQ:CTAS) to post quarterly earnings of $1.35 per share on revenue of $2.98 billion. The company will release earnings before the market opens. Cintas shares gained 0.3% to $199.30 in after-hours trading. Check out our premarket coverage here
KB Home (NYSE:KBH) reported upbeat financial results for the third quarter after the market close on Tuesday. KB Home reported third-quarter revenue of $1.297 billion, beating analyst estimates of $1.294 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. The company reported third-quarter earnings of $1.05 per share, beating estimates of 89 cents per share. KB Home shares slipped 1.8% to $47.70 in the after-hours trading session. Analysts expect Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) to post quarterly earnings of $1.32 per share on revenue of $1.63 billion before the opening bell. Paychex shares gained 1.2% to $115.93 in the after-hours trading session. Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Shares of Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have given a hold recommendation, eight have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $212.3077.
CTAS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $231.00 price objective on shares of Cintas in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Cintas from $200.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $230.00 price target (up from $228.00) on shares of Cintas in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $250.00 price target (up from $245.00) on shares of Cintas in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Cintas from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $200.00 to $230.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 16th.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Cintas
Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Cintas in the second quarter worth about $4,520,425,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Cintas by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,293,485 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,746,453,000 after acquiring an additional 97,220 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Cintas in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $923,672,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Cintas in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $644,334,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in Cintas by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,438,568 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $458,622,000 after purchasing an additional 50,838 shares in the last quarter. 63.46% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Cintas Price Performance NASDAQ CTAS opened at $196.88 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 1.43. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $202.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $185.64. Cintas has a 52-week low of $161.16 and a 52-week high of $219.16. The company has a market cap of $78.89 billion, a PE ratio of 52.64, a P/E/G ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.91.
Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 15th. The business services provider reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $2.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.87 billion. Cintas had a net margin of 17.75% and a return on equity of 42.05%. Cintas’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.09 earnings per share. Cintas has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.360-5.500 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Cintas will post 5.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Cintas Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th were given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 14th. This is a boost from Cintas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Cintas’s payout ratio is currently 55.61%.
About Cintas (Get Free Report)
Cintas Corporation is a provider of workplace products and services for businesses across North America. The company helps organizations manage employee appearance, workplace cleanliness, safety, and compliance through a range of recurring service programs.
Its offerings include uniform rental and workwear, branded apparel, entrance mats, restroom supplies, and facility cleaning services. Cintas also provides first-aid and safety products, training, and fire protection services, including inspection and maintenance programs for fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, alarms, and related equipment.
Headquartered in Mason, Ohio, Cintas traces its roots to a family-operated industrial laundry business established by Richard T.
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Key Takeaways CTAS is expected to post 9.2% revenue growth and 12.5% EPS growth in fiscal Q1 results.CTAS may benefit from customer retention, AED Rentals demand, and 2024 acquisition synergies.CTAS faces pressure from higher SG&A costs, employee expenses and a stronger U.S. dollar. Cintas Corporation (CTAS - Free Report) is scheduled to release first-quarter fiscal 2027 (ended August 2026) results on Sept. 23, before market open.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CTAS’ fiscal first-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.97 billion, indicating growth of 9.2% from the prior-year quarter’s figure. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $1.35 per share, which has been stable in the past 60 days. The figure indicates growth of 12.5% from the year-ago quarter's figure.
The company has a stellar earnings surprise history, having outperformed the consensus estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, the average beat being 1.8%. In the last reported quarter, its earnings of $1.29 per share beat the consensus estimate of $1.24 by 4%.
Let’s see how things have shaped up before Cintas’ fiscal first-quarter earnings release.
Factors to Note Ahead of CTAS’ ResultsStrong customer retention and penetration of additional products and services into existing customers are expected to have driven the Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment’s performance in the fiscal first quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s revenues is pegged at $2.27 billion, indicating an 8.7% jump from the year-ago reported number.
Solid demand for the company’s AED Rentals is likely to have supported the performance of the First Aid and Safety Services segment. Also, strong customer retention levels and an improved sales mix are likely to have boded well for the segment. The consensus mark for the segment’s revenues is pegged at $378 million, which implies a 13.2% increase from the year-ago reported figure.
Also, synergistic gains from the acquisitions of Paris Uniform Services (March 2024) and SITEX (February 2024) are expected to have boosted Cintas’ top line in the to-be-reported quarter. While the Paris Uniform Services buyout has strengthened CTAS’ market presence in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and West Virginia, the SITEX acquisition has enhanced its footprint in the U.S. central Midwest region.
However, the escalating selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses pose a threat to CTAS’ bottom line. An increase in employee-partner-related expenses is expected to have pushed up the SG&A expenses, which is likely to have impacted the company’s margins in the fiscal first quarter.
Given Cintas’ extensive geographic presence, its operations are subject to global political risks and foreign exchange headwinds. A stronger U.S. dollar is likely to have hurt CTAS’ overseas business in the quarter.
Earnings WhispersOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for CTAS this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as elaborated below.
Earnings ESP: CTAS has an Earnings ESP of +3.60% as the Most Accurate Estimate is pegged at $1.40 per share, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: CTAS currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Performance of Some CompaniesIn the third quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended June 2026), Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $2.79 per share, increasing 125% from $1.24 in the year-ago quarter and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.49.
Net sales increased 7.7% year over year to $753.3 million and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $732 million.
Interparfums, Inc. (IPAR - Free Report) posted quarterly earnings of 95 cents per share in the second quarter of 2026, which decreased 4% from 99 cents reported in the prior-year period. The metric missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share.
Consolidated net sales rose 2% to $341 million from $333.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Organic sales rose 1%. Excluding headwinds related to the war in the Middle East, second-quarter organic sales increased 4%.
lululemon athletica inc. (LULU - Free Report) reported adjusted EPS of $2.06 in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended July 2026), which declined 33.5% year over year but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.79 by 15.1%.
The company’s revenues declined 4% from the year-ago period to $2.42 billion and 5% on a constant-dollar basis. Revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.47 billion by 2.1%.
Wall Street analysts expect Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $1.35 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 12.5%. Revenues are expected to be $2.97 billion, up 9.2% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.1% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.
In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain Cintas metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.
Analysts forecast 'Revenue- Other' to reach $699.48 million. The estimate indicates a change of +11.6% from the prior-year quarter.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenue- All Other' will likely reach $321.25 million. The estimate points to a change of +9.9% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenue- Uniform Rental and Facility Services' will reach $2.27 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +8.7%.
The consensus estimate for 'Revenue- First Aid and Safety Services' stands at $378.23 million. The estimate suggests a change of +13% year over year.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Operating income- Uniform Rental and Facility Services' of $560.82 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $499.94 million in the same quarter last year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Operating income- First Aid and Safety Services' will reach $95.35 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $80.33 million.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Operating income- All Other' should come in at $42.36 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $37.60 million.
View all Key Company Metrics for Cintas here>>>
Over the past month, shares of Cintas have returned -2.7% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.3% change. Currently, CTAS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggesting that its performance may align with the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 1,370,595 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $233,111,000. Bank of America Corp DE owned about 0.34% of Cintas at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec bought a new position in shares of Cintas during the 2nd quarter worth $21,295,000. Man Group plc purchased a new stake in Cintas during the second quarter valued at about $119,083,000. Invst LLC bought a new position in Cintas during the second quarter worth about $592,000. First Bancorp Inc ME bought a new position in Cintas during the second quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Jupiter Topco LLC purchased a new position in shares of Cintas in the second quarter worth about $6,661,000. 63.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Cintas Stock Up 0.3% CTAS stock opened at $199.46 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $201.14 and its 200 day moving average is $185.72. The stock has a market cap of $79.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. Cintas Corporation has a 1-year low of $161.16 and a 1-year high of $219.16.
Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The business services provider reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.05. Cintas had a net margin of 17.75% and a return on equity of 42.05%. The business had revenue of $2.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.87 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.09 earnings per share. Cintas’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. Cintas has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.360-5.500 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Cintas Corporation will post 5.49 EPS for the current fiscal year. Cintas Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th were given a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. This is a boost from Cintas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 14th. Cintas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.61%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently issued reports on CTAS. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and issued a $206.00 price target on shares of Cintas in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Cintas from $255.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 15th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $230.00 target price (up from $228.00) on shares of Cintas in a report on Thursday, July 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $231.00 target price on shares of Cintas in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Cintas in a report on Thursday, September 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $212.31.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on CTAS
About Cintas (Free Report)
Cintas Corporation is a provider of workplace products and services for businesses across North America. The company helps organizations manage employee appearance, workplace cleanliness, safety, and compliance through a range of recurring service programs.
Its offerings include uniform rental and workwear, branded apparel, entrance mats, restroom supplies, and facility cleaning services. Cintas also provides first-aid and safety products, training, and fire protection services, including inspection and maintenance programs for fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, alarms, and related equipment.
Headquartered in Mason, Ohio, Cintas traces its roots to a family-operated industrial laundry business established by Richard T.
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The market expects Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended August 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on September 23. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis uniform rental company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.35 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +12.5%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.97 billion, up 9.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.09% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Cintas?For Cintas, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.60%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that Cintas will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Cintas would post earnings of $1.24 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.29, delivering a surprise of +4.03%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Cintas appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) will release its first quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Analysts expect the Cincinnati, Ohio-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.36 per share, up from $1.20 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Cintas’ quarterly revenue is $2.98 million. It reported $2.72 million last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On July 15, Cintas reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results.
Shares of Cintas fell 0.9% to close at $198.95 on Tuesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
UBS analyst Joshua Chan maintained the stock with a Buy rating and raised the price target from $228 to $230 on July 16, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 51%. RBC Capital analyst Ashish Sabadra maintained the stock with a Sector Perform rating with a price target of $206 on July 16, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%. Wells Fargo analyst Jason Haas maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $245 to $250 on July 16, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 59%. Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann maintained the stock with an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $200 to $214 on July 16, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%. Truist Securities analyst Jasper Bibb maintained the stock with a Buy rating and lowered the price target from $255 to $225 on June 15, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%. Trending
Considering buying CTAS stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Key Takeaways Volatility has ticked higher amid higher oil prices and rising treasury yields weighing on sentiment. Companies with consistent demand patterns can help weather volatility. ADM, CTAS, and SYY all currently fit the defensive criteria, with each also seeing favorable EPS revisions. Volatility has picked up considerably in recent sessions, with higher Treasury yields, rising energy prices, and weakness across parts of the AI trade, weighing on sentiment.
Defensive-styled stocks can be attractive for riding out longer-term volatility, as these companies generally benefit from steadier demand trends, making their businesses less sensitive to swings in the broader economic environment.
Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) , Sysco (SYY - Free Report) , and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) all fit the criteria, with each also seeing positive EPS revisions.
Cintas Remains Operationally SteadyCintas, a current Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), provides uniforms, facility services, first aid and safety products, and fire protection services to businesses. Its offerings provide a defensive quality, as companies consistently need clean uniforms, restroom supplies, safety products, and other products that it provides.
Resilience has continued to show up in its results, with revenue in its latest quarter climbing 8.9% YoY to $2.9 billion, while its gross margin remained at an all-time high.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with EPS revisions for its current and next fiscal years remaining on a favorable trend. The overall combination of recurring demand and steady growth makes it an attractive consideration during volatile periods.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Sysco Sports Favorable Growth OutlookSysco is the global leader in selling and distributing food and related products to customers who prepare meals away from home. Its customer base includes restaurants, healthcare facilities, educational facilities, and lodging establishments.
Food demand brings obvious defensive qualities, and Sysco’s broad customer base adds another layer of stability. Its latest results remained constructive, with Q4 sales climbing 4.7% YoY and U.S. Foodservice volume rising 2.5%.
The company also guided for 6-7% sales growth and 9-11% adjusted EPS growth for FY27, providing a favorable growth backdrop as both quarterly and annual EPS revisions remain on a bullish trajectory.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Keep in mind that Sysco recently issued a $1 billion common stock offering to help finance its massive $29.1 billion acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, though its overall longer-term defensive nature still remains intact.
Archer Daniels Midland Raises GuidanceArcher Daniels Midland is one of the world’s largest agricultural processors, handling crops and producing ingredients used throughout the food, beverage, animal nutrition, and energy industries.
Its positioning across the global food supply chain gives the business strong defensive qualities, as demand for agricultural products and food ingredients generally remains resilient across varying economic environments.
ADM posted adjusted EPS of $1.84 in its latest quarter, nearly doubling from the same period last year, while management also raised its full-year earnings guidance following the strong results.
EPS revisions for its current and next fiscal years have shifted bullishly since February, with the stock currently a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bottom Line
Recent volatility has given investors several reasons to consider more defensive-styled stocks, with higher yields, rising energy prices, and weakness across several high-growth areas of the market all weighing on sentiment.
For those looking to increase a portfolio's defensive capabilities, Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) , Sysco (SYY - Free Report) , and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM - Free Report) could all be considerations.
All three benefit from relatively resilient demand profiles, while favorable EPS revisions provide a solid fundamental base.
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Textile - Apparel industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
This uniform rental company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 2.42%.
For the last reported quarter, Cintas came out with earnings of $1.29 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24 per share, representing a surprise of 4.03%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.23 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.24 per share, delivering a surprise of 0.81%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Cintas. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Cintas has an Earnings ESP of +3.60% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on September 23, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
For those looking to find strong Consumer Discretionary stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Consumer Discretionary peers, we might be able to answer that question.
Cintas is a member of our Consumer Discretionary group, which includes 261 different companies and currently sits at #13 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.
The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Cintas is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CTAS' full-year earnings has moved 1.3% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.
According to our latest data, CTAS has moved about 5.5% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, stocks in the Consumer Discretionary group have lost about 12.3% on average. This means that Cintas is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.
One other Consumer Discretionary stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is PIGEON CORP (PGENY - Free Report) . The stock is up 15.2% year-to-date.
In PIGEON CORP's case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 8.3% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Breaking things down more, Cintas is a member of the Textile - Apparel industry, which includes 22 individual companies and currently sits at #178 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 10.4% so far this year, so CTAS is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.
In contrast, PIGEON CORP falls under the Consumer Products - Discretionary industry. Currently, this industry has 29 stocks and is ranked #100. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +4.2%.
Investors with an interest in Consumer Discretionary stocks should continue to track Cintas and PIGEON CORP. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.
Some companies keep writing bigger dividend checks even when their end markets are shrinking, and the trait that separates them from the rest has nothing to do with yield. Five names across insurance, automation, and home improvement have quietly built…
Dividend growth beats dividend yield when the cycle turns against you. The five names below span home improvement, insurance, uniform services, and industrial automation, and each has kept raising its payout while its end markets wobbled. The shared hook is durability: Cintas just reported its 55th year of the last 57 that Cintas grew both its top and bottom lines, and that kind of operating consistency is what actually funds a rising dividend when the market is not cooperating.
A quick housekeeping note before the names. Home Depot and Lowe’s are direct competitors in the same end market, so owning both concentrates you in home improvement and housing turnover rather than diversifying you. Size positions accordingly.
Home Depot: A Housing-Cycle Compounder Still Writing Bigger Checks Home Depot (NYSE:HD | HD Price Prediction) currently pays a quarterly dividend of $2.33 per share, or $9.32 annualized. The trailing yield sits at 1.44% against a share price of $310.48. That is modest, but the check keeps growing: the quarterly went from $2.25 in 2024 to $2.30 in 2025, then to $2.33 in 2026.
On safety, FY2025 free cash flow was $12.646B against operating cash flow of $16.325B, and net debt/EBITDA sits at 2.65x with interest coverage of 8.66x. FY2025 diluted EPS came in at $14.23, giving the payout comfortable coverage. Home Depot returned approximately $2.3 billion in dividends to shareholders during the quarter and still funded $880 million in capex.
Bull case for income investors: management said “the headline here for us this quarter is that our teams took share in a difficult environment”, and Pro/SRS/GMS expansion adds durable, sticky revenue that funds continued raises. The stock is -23.12% over one year, which lifts the entry yield.
Risk: “Housing turnover, just as one point in the economy that we watch, has been at historical lows”, and FCF fell 22.54% YoY in FY2025, tightening the near-term coverage cushion.
Chubb: An All-Weather Insurer With a Fortress Balance Sheet Chubb (NYSE:CB) raised its quarterly dividend from $0.97 to $1.02 per share earlier this year, an annualized $4.08. The trailing yield is 1.15%. The dividend record shows a higher quarterly rate in each successive year from 2019 through 2026.
Coverage is not the concern here. Q2 2026 P&C underwriting income was more than $1.9 billion, up almost 19% year over year, with a consolidated combined ratio of 83.8. Adjusted net investment income hit a record $1.88 billion, and adjusted operating cash flow was $3.5 billion. Book value reached $75 billion, or $195.45 per share. Chubb returned $1.4 billion of capital to shareholders during the quarter, split between buybacks and the dividend.
Bull case: Evan Greenberg called Chubb “an all-weather firm” and expressed confidence in “double digit” EPS and tangible book value growth. A reinvestment rate of 5.5% above the portfolio book yield of 5.1% is a structural tailwind for future dividend capacity. Shares are up 23.44% over one year.
Risk: property and financial-lines pricing is softening quickly. North America commercial property pricing was down about 6%, and Greenberg warned that “Pricing in numerous areas of casualty are failing to keep pace with loss costs, which are hardly benign.”
Cintas: Recurring Revenue That Funds Double-Digit Raises Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) just moved its quarterly dividend from $0.45 to $0.52 per share, for an annualized $2.08. Yield is only 0.9%, so this is dividend growth, not income. The prior raise, from $0.39 to $0.45, took effect in 2025.
Safety is exceptional. FY2026 free cash flow was $1.881B (+7.07%) on revenue of $11.265B (+8.94% YoY). Full-year gross margin was 50.7%, up 70 basis points from the prior year, and adjusted diluted EPS was $4.94, up 12.3%. Cintas returned $1.7 billion in dividends and buybacks for the year. Management said “Our annual dividend remains an important component of shareholder return, and our share buyback program continues to be executed opportunistically.”
Bull case: recurring uniform-rental and facility-services revenue behaves like a subscription. FY2027 guidance calls for revenue of $12.10B–$12.25B and adjusted diluted EPS of $5.36–$5.50. Management’s framing: “We grow in multiples of employment, we grow in multiples of GDP.”
Risk: the pending UniFirst deal received an FTC second request, and the shares trade at a premium forward multiple of 37x, leaving little room for execution slips.
Lowe’s: A Buyback-Heavy Balance Sheet Still Raising the Payout Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW) raised its quarterly dividend from $1.20 to $1.25 per share at the July ex-date, for an annualized $5. Yield stands at 2.37%, the highest in this group. CFO Brandon Sink referenced “our status as a dividend aristocrat” on the Q2 call.
Coverage read: Q2 FY26 free cash flow was $3.1 billion, dividends paid were $673 million, and return on invested capital was 25.5%. FY2026 guidance calls for adjusted diluted EPS of about $12.25 on sales near $92 billion. The FCF yield reads at 6.87%, which is what funds continued raises.
Bull case: comparable sales were positive in nine of 13 merchandise divisions, appliances put up a seventh consecutive quarter of positive comps, and management believes “there is $20 and $50 billion of pent-up deferred project demand in home improvement.”
Risk: shareholders’ equity is -$7.437B from aggressive buybacks, adjusted debt/EBITDA sits at 3.0 times versus a target of 2.75 times, and shares are down 24.67% over one year on the DIY slowdown.
Emerson Electric: Automation Cash Flow Feeding a Long Dividend Record Emerson (NYSE:EMR) currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.555 per share, or $2.22 annualized, for a yield of 1.44%. The most recent raise took the quarterly from 0.5275 to 0.555, and the payment history shows steady annual increases going back through 2010 in the supplied record.
Coverage is deep. Q3 FY26 free cash flow was $1.3 billion, up 36%, with a margin of 27.1%. Full-year FCF guidance is approximately $3.6 billion, and the FY2026 capital return plan is $2.2 billion, split $1.2 billion in dividends and $1 billion of share repurchases. Adjusted segment EBITDA margin expanded 140 basis points to 28.5%.
Bull case: underlying orders grew 7%, growth verticals rose 27%, and the project funnel expanded to $12.4 billion, up 8% year over year. Power, semiconductor, and software exposure gives the dividend a secular tailwind.
Risk: Europe sales declined 1% and China was down 3%, so international cyclicality remains the swing factor.
Bottom Line for Income-Focused Investors These are dividend growers, and that is the point. Home Depot and Lowe’s fund raises through housing-cycle scale, Chubb through underwriting profitability and record investment income, Cintas through recurring-revenue compounding, and Emerson through an automation and power backlog that keeps cash flow expanding. Pair Chubb, Cintas, and Emerson if you want diversification away from housing turnover, since owning both HD and LOW doubles that single macro exposure. (If you want to go one step further on payout longevity, we ranked ten companies with 50+ years of consecutive raises by valuation in a free report here: 10 Dividend Kings to Buy Now and Hold Forever.)
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today announced that it will release fiscal year 2027 first quarter results on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The Company will conduct a conference call to address the financial results. A live webcast of the call will be available to individual investors and the public beginning at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The webcast will be available at www.Cintas.com. Click on the webcast icon and then follow i.
Investors with an interest in Textile - Apparel stocks have likely encountered both Superior Group (SGC) and Cintas (CTAS). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?
Algert Global LLC decreased its position in shares of Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS – Free Report) by 6.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 35,500 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 2,514 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC’s holdings in Cintas were worth $6,038,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Investor s Fiduciary Advisor Network LLC bought a new stake in Cintas in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $229,000. Cibc World Market Inc. bought a new stake in Cintas in the second quarter worth about $8,715,000. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp bought a new position in Cintas in the 2nd quarter valued at $3,621,000. Osmosis Investment Management UK Ltd bought a new stake in Cintas during the 2nd quarter valued at about $306,000. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cintas during the second quarter valued at approximately $11,315,000. 63.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $230.00 price target (up from $228.00) on shares of Cintas in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $250.00 target price (up from $245.00) on shares of Cintas in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Argus upgraded Cintas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Cintas from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Cintas from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $200.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cintas currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $212.31.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Cintas Cintas Trading Up 0.5% CTAS stock opened at $205.78 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $193.10 and its 200 day moving average is $185.32. Cintas Corporation has a 12-month low of $161.16 and a 12-month high of $219.16. The stock has a market cap of $82.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.02, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28.
Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The business services provider reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.87 billion. Cintas had a net margin of 17.75% and a return on equity of 42.05%. Cintas’s quarterly revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.09 earnings per share. Cintas has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.360-5.500 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Cintas Corporation will post 5.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Cintas Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Cintas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Cintas’s payout ratio is 55.61%.
Cintas Profile (Free Report)
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) is a provider of business services and products focused on workplace appearance, safety and facility maintenance. The company is best known for its uniform rental and corporate apparel programs, which include rental, leasing and direct-purchase options, laundering and garment repair. Cintas markets its services to a wide range of end-users, including manufacturing, food service, healthcare, hospitality, retail and government customers.
Beyond uniforms, Cintas offers a suite of facility services and products designed to help organizations maintain clean, safe and compliant workplaces.
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Shares of Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $212.3077.
Several research firms have recently issued reports on CTAS. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $230.00 price target (up from $228.00) on shares of Cintas in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Cintas from $255.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $231.00 target price on shares of Cintas in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Cintas from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, Bank of America raised Cintas from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $200.00 to $230.00 in a report on Thursday, July 16th.
View Our Latest Report on Cintas
Cintas Price Performance Shares of CTAS opened at $204.18 on Friday. Cintas has a fifty-two week low of $161.16 and a fifty-two week high of $219.16. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $194.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $185.45. The stock has a market cap of $81.71 billion, a PE ratio of 54.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 1.43. Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The business services provider reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.05. Cintas had a net margin of 17.75% and a return on equity of 42.05%. The firm had revenue of $2.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.87 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.09 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. Cintas has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.360-5.500 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Cintas will post 5.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Cintas Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. This is a positive change from Cintas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. Cintas’s dividend payout ratio is currently 55.61%.
Institutional Trading of Cintas Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CTAS. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in Cintas by 16,328.1% during the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 89,228,560 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $15,175,993,000 after buying an additional 88,685,413 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Cintas in the second quarter worth $4,520,425,000. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Cintas by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 15,311,491 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $2,879,632,000 after buying an additional 210,477 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Cintas by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,293,485 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,746,453,000 after acquiring an additional 97,220 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Cintas during the fourth quarter worth $923,672,000. Institutional investors own 63.46% of the company’s stock.
Cintas Company Profile (Get Free Report)
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) is a provider of business services and products focused on workplace appearance, safety and facility maintenance. The company is best known for its uniform rental and corporate apparel programs, which include rental, leasing and direct-purchase options, laundering and garment repair. Cintas markets its services to a wide range of end-users, including manufacturing, food service, healthcare, hospitality, retail and government customers.
Beyond uniforms, Cintas offers a suite of facility services and products designed to help organizations maintain clean, safe and compliant workplaces.
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Investors with an interest in Textile - Apparel stocks have likely encountered both Superior Group (SGC) and Cintas (CTAS). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?
Americký prezident Donald Trump se v nakupování cenných papírů činí i v létě. Z nově zveřejněného finančního přiznání amerického Úřadu pro vládní etiku (Office of Government Ethics) vyplývá, že v červnu provedl více než tisíc transakcí, přičemž celková hodnota obchodů se pohybovala mezi 78 až 263 miliony dolary. Dokument uvádí u jednotlivých transakcí pouze hodnotová pásma, nikoliv přesné částky.
Mezi největší obchody se zařadil prodej podílu v ETF od společnosti Vanguard, jehož hodnota se pohybovala mezi pěti a 25 miliony dolarů. Významné pak byly nákupy akcií společností Berkshire Hathaway, Visa, Mastercard či Cintas, informovala agentura Bloomberg.
Trump, respektive nezávislí manažeři spravující jeho portfolio, provedli také sérii obchodů s akciemi Palantiru. Začátkem června nejprve nakoupili menší objem akcií, následně část pozice během měsíce prodali a po oznámení dohody mezi Spojenými státy a Íránem se k nákupům znovu vrátili, všiml si Bloomberg.
V případě Berkshire Hathaway prezident v polovině června nakoupil akcie v hodnotě až několika milionů dolarů a později část pozice prodal. Třeba u Mety Platforms naopak nejprve prodával v objemu jednoho až pěti milionů dolarů a následně ke konci měsíce opět menší objemy dokupoval. V seznamu obchodovaných společností se objevily rovněž Coinbase či Home Depot.
Podle zveřejněných dokumentů Trump v průběhu celého roku 2025 uskutečnil více než 21 tisíc obchodů s cennými papíry. Jejich souhrnná hodnota se pohybovala mezi 600 miliony a 1,86 miliardy dolarů. V některých případech přiznání ukazuje nákupy a prodeje stejného titulu uskutečněné ve stejný den.
Bílý dům odmítá, že by rozsah obchodní aktivity představoval střet zájmů. Administrativa zdůrazňuje, že investiční portfolio prezidenta spravují nezávislí manažeři bez jeho přímého vlivu. Podle mluvčího Bílého domu Davise Inglea jsou aktiva držena na diskrečních účtech a investována prostřednictvím modelových portfolií, která automaticky kopírují vybrané akciové indexy.
„Ani prezident Trump, ani žádný člen jeho rodiny nemá žádnou možnost řídit, ovlivňovat nebo poskytovat informace ohledně toho, jak je v rámci portfolia investováno nebo kdy jsou investice nakupovány či prodávány. Veškerá investiční rozhodnutí činí výhradně nezávislí manažeři,“ uvedl mluvčí.
Také Eric Trump, výkonný viceprezident Trump Organization a Trumpův syn, už dříve uvedl, že majetek je veden v blind trustu.
The Consumer Discretionary group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Consumer Discretionary sector should help us answer this question.
Cintas is a member of our Consumer Discretionary group, which includes 260 different companies and currently sits at #9 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.
The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Cintas is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CTAS' full-year earnings has moved 1.3% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.
According to our latest data, CTAS has moved about 6.1% on a year-to-date basis. In comparison, Consumer Discretionary companies have returned an average of -7.3%. This means that Cintas is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Another Consumer Discretionary stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is American Outdoor Brands, Inc. (AOUT - Free Report) . The stock has returned 49.2% year-to-date.
In American Outdoor Brands, Inc.'s case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 46.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
To break things down more, Cintas belongs to the Textile - Apparel industry, a group that includes 22 individual companies and currently sits at #146 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has lost an average of 4.1% so far this year, so CTAS is performing better in this area.
American Outdoor Brands, Inc., however, belongs to the Leisure and Recreation Products industry. Currently, this 24-stock industry is ranked #78. The industry has moved -11% so far this year.
Investors interested in the Consumer Discretionary sector may want to keep a close eye on Cintas and American Outdoor Brands, Inc. as they attempt to continue their solid performance.
BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 26,578,230 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $4,520,425,000. BlackRock Inc. owned approximately 6.64% of Cintas as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Nemes Rush Group LLC purchased a new stake in Cintas during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. First United Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Cintas in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Cintas by 1,712.5% during the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 145 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Cintas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Finally, Camelot Portfolios LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cintas in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.46% of the company’s stock.
Cintas Stock Performance NASDAQ:CTAS opened at $199.45 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The company has a market capitalization of $79.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.91. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $189.72 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $184.77. Cintas Corporation has a twelve month low of $161.16 and a twelve month high of $219.87.
Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The business services provider reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.05. Cintas had a return on equity of 42.05% and a net margin of 17.75%.The company had revenue of $2.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.09 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. Cintas has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.360-5.500 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Cintas Corporation will post 5.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cintas Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Cintas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Cintas’s dividend payout ratio is currently 55.61%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently commented on CTAS. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Cintas from $200.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Argus upgraded shares of Cintas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $230.00 price target (up from $228.00) on shares of Cintas in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $250.00 target price (up from $245.00) on shares of Cintas in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price target on Cintas from $255.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $212.31.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Cintas
Cintas Profile (Free Report)
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) is a provider of business services and products focused on workplace appearance, safety and facility maintenance. The company is best known for its uniform rental and corporate apparel programs, which include rental, leasing and direct-purchase options, laundering and garment repair. Cintas markets its services to a wide range of end-users, including manufacturing, food service, healthcare, hospitality, retail and government customers.
Beyond uniforms, Cintas offers a suite of facility services and products designed to help organizations maintain clean, safe and compliant workplaces.
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AMG National Trust Bank bought a new position in shares of Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) during the undefined quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 11,600 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,973,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors
Baxter Bros Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 8,800 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,497,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also
David Brock Denton, EVP and general counsel of Cintas Corporation (CTAS -0.33%), disposed of 3,479 shares on August 10, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$705,000Shares sold (directly held)3,479Post-transaction shares29,069Post-transaction shares (directly held)28,096Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)973Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($202.71); post-transaction value based on the August 10 market close ($202.71).
Key questionsWhat was the catalyst for this specific disposition?
The transaction was a non-discretionary transfer to satisfy tax withholding requirements triggered by the vesting of 5,718 restricted shares previously granted under the Cintas Corporation Equity Compensation Plan.What is the extent of the executive's remaining direct and indirect exposure?
Denton retains direct ownership of 28,096 shares and indirect ownership of 973 shares through a 401(k) plan, representing a total ownership stake of less than 0.01% in the company.Are there additional equity incentives that could impact future ownership levels?
The reporting owner holds additional direct derivative securities, representing options outstanding, including vested and unvested awards, which vest in annual one-third increments starting on the third anniversary of the grant date.Does this transaction reflect a change in management's outlook on the stock?
Because this disposition was non-discretionary and used to cover automatic tax obligations related to equity compensation, it does not reflect the insider's independent view on the stock's valuation or current performance.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-11)$205.28Market Capitalization$82.1 billionRevenue (TTM)$11.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$2.0 billionCompany SnapshotCintas Corporation provides professional uniform rental and maintenance services, first aid and safety solutions, and facility services, generating revenue primarily through recurring service contracts across the United States, Canada, and Latin America.The company operates a subscription-based business model where customers pay recurring fees for uniform rental, cleaning, and maintenance services, supplemented by sales of first aid and safety products and facility services.Cintas serves a diverse customer base, including manufacturing facilities, healthcare institutions, hospitality businesses, and other commercial enterprises requiring professional workwear and safety solutions.Cintas Corporation is a leading specialty business services provider with a market capitalization of $82.1 billion and TTM revenues of $11.3 billion, demonstrating substantial scale and market presence. The company's diversified service portfolio and recurring revenue model provide stable cash flows and competitive advantages through high customer switching costs and operational efficiency. With 48,100 employees and established operations across North America and Latin America, Cintas maintains a strong market position in the professional services sector.
What this transaction means for investorsThe insider pattern with Cintas this week was clear. At least five executives had stock vest and gave a piece of it back for taxes on the same day, with Denton in this case keeping about 28,000 shares. When the CEO, chairman, CFO, operating chief, and top lawyer all file the same routine withholding at once, it basically just says the company granted equity on a common schedule; in other words, it certainly doesn't signal anything about their view of the firm.
The business under all those filings, meanwhile, is in good shape. Cintas grew revenue nearly 9% last fiscal year and reached a record 51% gross margin, extending a steady growth record. The item on Denton's desk that matters most to shareholders is the pending acquisition of UniFirst, a deal his legal team is shepherding through an FTC second request, the regulator's signal that it wants a harder look before letting the industry leader buy a sizable rival. Whether that deal clears is an open question, and that's what an investor worried about Cintas should actually be looking at.
Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cintas. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Scott Garula, EVP and CFO of Cintas Corporation (CTAS -0.33%), disposed of 2,958 shares of common stock on August 10, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold2,958Transaction value~$600,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)~105,495Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)20Post-transaction value~$21.4 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($202.71); post-transaction value based on the August 10 market close ($202.71).
Key questionsWhat was the nature of this transaction?
This was a non-discretionary disposition of shares to cover tax withholding obligations resulting from the vesting of restricted stock awards and was not an open-market sale.How does this affect the insider's total equity exposure?
Garula reduced his direct equity holdings by 3%, yet he maintains a substantial position valued at roughly $21.4 million as of the August 10 market close.What was the net change in ownership following the vesting event?
The executive realized a net increase in their direct position because the underlying vesting event involved 10,695 shares, more than offsetting the 2,958 shares disposed of for tax purposes.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-11)$205.28Market Capitalization$82.1 billionRevenue (TTM)$11.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$2.0 billionCompany SnapshotCintas Corporation provides professional uniform rental and maintenance services, first aid and safety solutions, and facility services, generating revenue primarily through recurring service contracts across the United States, Canada, and Latin America.The company operates a subscription-based business model where customers pay recurring fees for uniform rental, cleaning, and maintenance services, supplemented by sales of first aid and safety products and facility services.Cintas serves a diverse customer base, including manufacturing facilities, healthcare institutions, hospitality businesses, and other commercial enterprises requiring professional workwear and safety solutions.Cintas Corporation is a leading specialty business services provider with a market capitalization of $82.1 billion and TTM revenues of $11.3 billion, demonstrating substantial scale and market presence. The company's diversified service portfolio and recurring revenue model provide stable cash flows and competitive advantages through high customer switching costs and operational efficiency. With 48,100 employees and established operations across North America and Latin America, Cintas maintains a strong market position in the professional services sector.
What this transaction means for investorsGarula had 10,695 shares vest and gave up 2,958 of them to cover the tax, so he walked away owning nearly 7,700 more shares than he did the day before. That's clearly not a sale, and it leaves him holding about $21 million in stock, which is certainly enough to ensure his incentives remain aligned with the performance of the company.
As the finance chief, Garula is the one who set the expectations Cintas now has to hit. The company closed fiscal 2026 with revenue up almost 9% and a record 51% gross margin, and his first full-year guidance as CFO (he stepped into the position in June of last year) projects revenue of $12.1 billion to $12.25 billion with adjusted earnings of $5.36 to $5.50 a share. Notably, that outlook leaves out the pending UniFirst acquisition entirely, so it reflects only the business Cintas already runs. Ultimately, those targets Garula laid out are the base case, and if the UniFirst deal clears the FTC, whatever it adds comes on top of numbers the company has told investors it can reach on its own.
Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cintas. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Jim Rozakis, the company's president and COO, disposed of 4,041 shares of Cintas Corporation (CTAS -0.33%) on August 10, as disclosed in a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value~$819,000Shares sold (Directly held)4,041Post-transaction shares (Total)285,219Post-transaction shares (Directly held)282,322Post-transaction shares (Indirectly held)2,897Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($202.71); post-transaction value based on the August 10 market close ($202.71).
Key questionsWhat was the primary driver for this stock disposition?
The transaction was non-discretionary and occurred automatically to cover tax liabilities arising from the lapse of restrictions on equity awards previously granted to the executive under the Cintas equity compensation plan.How is the executive's remaining equity structured?
The executive maintains a direct position of 282,322 shares of common stock and an indirect position of 2,897 shares held through a 401(k) plan.What is the executive's current ownership stake in the company?
Following this disposition, Rozakis holds an estimated 0.07% of the company's outstanding common stock.Does the executive hold any other forms of equity compensation?
While this filing specifically addressed common stock holdings, the executive also holds derivative securities that represent further potential interest in the company's equity.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-12)$203.51Market Capitalization$81.4 billionRevenue (TTM)$11.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$2.0 billionCompany SnapshotCintas Corporation provides professional uniform rental and maintenance services, first aid and safety equipment, and facility services, generating the majority of its revenue from the Uniform Rental and Facility Services division, which includes flame-resistant apparel and related offerings.The company operates a recurring revenue business model in which it rents, maintains, and services workwear and business essentials for enterprise and mid-market customers, creating predictable cash flows and long-term customer relationships.Cintas primarily serves industrial, manufacturing, healthcare, and commercial enterprises across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, with a focus on mission-critical business services that enhance workplace safety and professional appearance.Cintas Corporation is a leading provider of specialized business services with a market capitalization of $81.4 billion and TTM revenues of $11.3 billion, positioning it as a dominant player in the professional services sector. The company's diversified service portfolio and geographic footprint across North America and Latin America provide substantial scale and recurring revenue stability. Cintas maintains competitive advantages through its extensive distribution network, integrated service delivery model, and strong customer retention driven by the essential nature of its uniform rental and facility services offerings.
What this transaction means for investorsThis filing only details tax withheld on vested stock, and the transaction itself leaves Rozakis with more than 280,000 shares. He is also one of several senior leaders whose equity vested on the same date and triggered the same routine withholding, which makes this seem all the more routine rather than discretionary.
Meanwhile, Cintas has been doing well operationally. The company pushed its gross margin to a record 51% last fiscal year while lifting revenue nearly 9%, the payoff from squeezing more efficiency out of its routes, its plants, and its technology as it services uniforms and facilities for hundreds of thousands of businesses. Management guided to further margin gains in the year ahead. That steady operational improvement is what has compounded Cintas into a $70 billion company from an unglamorous trade. That said, one thing to watch on the operations side is the pending purchase of rival UniFirst; folding in a competitor of that size is a major integration test, and how smoothly Rozakis and his team absorb it will shape whether the deal adds to margins or strains them. The transaction is expected to close later this year.
Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cintas. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Todd M. Schneider, the CEO of Cintas Corporation (CTAS -0.33%), disposed of 35,599 shares of common stock on August 10, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold35,599Transaction value$7.2 millionPost-transaction shares (directly held)691,407Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)3,466Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($202.71); post-transaction value based on the August 10 market close ($202.71).
Key questionsWhat was the motivation behind this transaction?
This was a non-discretionary sell-to-cover event in which the company withheld shares to satisfy tax withholding requirements triggered by the vesting of restricted stock awards previously granted to the executive.How does this impact the insider's long-term alignment with the company?
Despite the disposition of 35,599 shares, Schneider remains a major individual shareholder with a combined direct and indirect stake of 694,873 shares, valued at $140.9 million as of the August 10 market close.What is the broader context of the insider's ownership stake?
Following this transaction, Schneider's total beneficial ownership represents a close to 0.2% stake in the company, which has a total market capitalization of $82.1 billion.How has the stock performed leading up to this vesting event?
As of the transaction date, the company's stock had delivered a one-year return of (10%), with the shares priced at $202.71 at the time of the tax withholding.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-11)$205.28Market Capitalization$82.1 billionRevenue (TTM)$11.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$2.0 billionCompany SnapshotCintas Corporation provides professional uniform rental and maintenance services, first aid and safety solutions, and facility services, generating revenue primarily through recurring service contracts across the United States, Canada, and Latin America.The company operates a subscription-based business model where customers pay recurring fees for uniform rental, cleaning, and maintenance services, supplemented by sales of first aid and safety products and facility services.Cintas serves a diverse customer base, including manufacturing facilities, healthcare institutions, hospitality businesses, and other commercial enterprises requiring professional workwear and safety solutions.Cintas Corporation is a leading specialty business services provider with a market capitalization of $82.1 billion and TTM revenues of $11.3 billion, demonstrating substantial scale and market presence. The company's diversified service portfolio and recurring revenue model provide stable cash flows and competitive advantages through high customer switching costs and operational efficiency. With 48,100 employees and established operations across North America and Latin America, Cintas maintains a strong market position in the professional services sector.
What this transaction means for investorsSchneider still holds nearly 695,000 shares worth around $141 million, so this move barely moves the needle in terms of his overall stake. Plus, the filing makes clear it's purely for tax withholdings.
More importantly, the company just closed one of its stronger years. Cintas grew fiscal fourth-quarter revenue 8.9% to $2.91 billion and reached a record 51% gross margin, capping a year of double-digit earnings growth that few in its unglamorous business of uniform rental and facility services can match. On the earnings call, Schneider said Cintas stays focused on "what it can control," but the development worth tracking sits ahead of it, since the company has agreed to buy rival UniFirst, a deal now working through an FTC second request that could reshape the industry if it clears.
Cintas is already the dominant player in uniform services, and folding in a major competitor would extend that lead, which is precisely why regulators are taking a closer look before letting it through. Shares have jumped over 20% from lows earlier in 2026, but they remain down over the past year, signaling investors might still be a little apprehensive even if a bit more bullish.
Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cintas. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Executive Chairman Scott D. Farmer disposed of 15,923 shares of Cintas Corporation (CTAS -0.33%) at $202.71 per share on August 10, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (direct)15,923Transaction value$3.2 millionPost-transaction shares (directly held)87,899Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)56.0 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($202.71); post-transaction value based on the August 10 market close ($202.71).
Key questionsWhat was the specific nature of this share disposition?
The sale was non-discretionary, executed to cover tax obligations associated with the lapse of restrictions on equity awards, and does not reflect the executive's view on the company stock.How is the executive's remaining equity position structured?
Scott D. Farmer maintains a primary interest through indirect holdings, including 33.5 million shares held by a limited liability limited partnership and 22.1 million shares held through various limited liability companies.Which other entities contribute to the indirect ownership total?
The reporting person also holds shares through a limited partnership, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, a spouse, and trusts established for the benefit of himself and his family.What is the company's current market valuation context?
The transaction occurred with shares priced at $202.71, as the stock has generated a return of -10% over the one-year period ending on the August 10 transaction date.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-11)$205.28Market Capitalization$82.1 billionRevenue (TTM)$11.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$2.0 billionCompany SnapshotCintas Corporation provides professional uniform rental and maintenance services, first aid and safety solutions, and facility services, generating revenue primarily through recurring service contracts across the United States, Canada, and Latin America.The company operates a subscription-based business model in which customers pay recurring fees for uniform rental, cleaning, and maintenance services, supplemented by sales of first-aid and safety products and facility services.Cintas serves a diverse customer base, including manufacturing facilities, healthcare institutions, hospitality businesses, and other commercial enterprises requiring professional workwear and safety solutions.Cintas Corporation is a leading specialty business services provider with a market capitalization of $82.1 billion and TTM revenues of $11.3 billion, demonstrating substantial scale and market presence. The company's diversified service portfolio and recurring revenue model provide stable cash flows and competitive advantages through high customer switching costs and operational efficiency. With 48,100 employees and established operations across North America and Latin America, Cintas maintains a strong market position in the professional services sector.
What this transaction means for investorsFarmer's stake runs to tens of millions of shares spread across partnerships, family LLCs, trusts, and the employee plan, forming a fortune worth well over $11 billion, so the shares withheld to cover taxes here are almost invisible against it. Ultimately, this is the founding family's chairman meeting a tax bill on vested stock, and his holdings anchor him to Cintas far more tightly than any single filing could loosen.
Meanwhile, Cintas grew fiscal fourth-quarter revenue 8.9% to $2.9 billion and posted a record 51% gross margin, closing a year of double-digit earnings growth. Despite that growth, the shares have slipped about 10% over the past year, a disconnect that suggests the market had priced Cintas for near-perfection, with even excellent results being measured against an especially high bar. For anyone weighing the stock, the question is not the Farmer family's commitment, which is enormous and unchanged, but whether a premium valuation can hold while growth stays steady rather than accelerating.
Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cintas. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 2.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Cintas due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Cintas' Q4 Earnings & Revenues Surpass Estimates, Increase Y/YCintas reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.29 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24 by 4%. The bottom line increased 18.3% from the year-ago quarter figure. Revenues of $2.91 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.88 billion by 1% and rose 8.9% year over year.
The top line was driven by 8.4% organic revenue growth, reflecting solid demand across its route-based businesses. Record gross margins also stood out as a key highlight in the quarter.
Cintas’ Segmental ResultsThe company has two reportable segments, Uniform Rental and Facility Services and First Aid and Safety Services. Other businesses, like Uniform Direct Sale and Fire Protection Services, are included in All Other. Quarterly sales data are briefly discussed below.
Cintas’ Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment generated revenues of $2.20 billion, up 8.2% year over year from $2.03 billion. Segment operating income rose to $529.5 million from $465.1 million, reflecting steady demand and operating leverage.
The First Aid and Safety Services segment delivered revenues of $368.1 million, increasing 13.5% from $324.4 million in the prior-year quarter. Operating income climbed to $98.6 million from $76.7 million, supported by strong demand for safety and compliance solutions.
Revenues from the All Other segment totaled $339.4 million, up 8.6% from $312.6 million a year ago. Segment operating income increased to $59 million from $55.7 million.
Margin ProfileCintas’ cost of sales (comprising costs related to uniform rental and facility services and others) increased 6.2% year over year to $1.42 billion. Cintas reported gross profit of $1.48 billion, up 11.6% year over year. Gross margin improved 130 basis points to 51%, marking a record high.
Selling and administrative expenses totaled $793.2 million, up 8.9% from the year-ago quarter figure. Despite this increase, operating income rose 12.7% to $673 million.
Operating margin was 23.2%, up from 22.4% in the prior-year quarter, helped by higher sales. Net income increased 14% to $511 million, with a tax rate of 21.2%.
Cintas’ Balance Sheet & Cash FlowExiting fiscal 2026, Cintas had cash and cash equivalents of $289 million compared with $264 million at the end of fiscal 2025. Long-term debt was about $1.43 billion compared with $2.42 billion at the end of fiscal 2025.
In fiscal 2026, it generated net cash of $2.28 billion from operating activities, up 5.1% from the year-ago period. Capital expenditures in the same period totaled $395.1 million, down 3.4% year over year.
The company repurchased shares worth $952.1 million compared with $934.8 million in the previous fiscal year. Dividend payments totaled $701.5 million, up 14.7% year over year.
Fiscal 2027 OutlookFor fiscal 2027, the company expects revenues to be in the range of $12.10-$12.25 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are projected in the range of $5.36-$5.50. The guidance excludes any expected impacts associated with the pending UniFirst acquisition.
Management expects net interest expense of approximately $105 million and an effective tax rate of 20.2% for the year. The outlook assumes stable foreign exchange rates and excludes contributions from acquisitions.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Cintas has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Following the exact same course, the stock has a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the lowest quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Cintas has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
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Income investors have a narrow window to capture a wave of dividend payments locking in this month. Three large-cap names, led by Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX | SBUX Price Prediction), are going ex-dividend today, August 14, 2026, and two more are queued for the following two weeks. Starbucks alone will send roughly $707 million out the door on the coming pay date, a figure that reflects the size of the coffee giant’s shareholder base rather than a headline yield.
Quick mechanics: to receive an upcoming dividend, you must own the shares before the ex-dividend date. Once the ex-date arrives, buyers no longer capture that specific payment, though the stock typically opens lower by roughly the dividend amount.
Starbucks (SBUX) Starbucks yields 2.29% on an annualized rate of $2.48. The upcoming quarterly payment of $0.62 per share hits accounts on August 28, 2026, and the ex-dividend date is today, August 14. That makes yesterday’s session the last chance to buy and still qualify for this distribution.
The coverage read is tighter than the yield suggests. Trailing GAAP EPS sits at $1.72, below the annualized dividend of $2.48, though management raised the FY26 non-GAAP EPS guide to $2.55 to $2.65, which puts the payout ratio in the mid-90% range on adjusted earnings. The stock trades at a rich 63 trailing PE and is up 30.51% year to date, so the yield is compressed. CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” plan is delivering comp momentum, but the dividend needs FY26 guidance to hold.
Honeywell (HON) Honeywell (NYSE:HON) is going ex-dividend today, August 14, 2026, with a payment of $0.70 per share on September 4. The yield reads 3.99% on an annualized $9.40 per share basis, though investors should note the current quarterly payment was reset lower from $1.19 after the June 29, 2026 Aerospace spin-off. That is a mechanical adjustment tied to the separation.
Coverage looks solid on the remaining business. Trailing EPS of $26.01 comfortably supports the reset quarterly rate, with the trailing PE at 9 and return on equity at 46.6%. Shares are up 15.56% year to date. For income accounts, the reduced payout still leaves ample cushion against reported earnings power.
Cintas (CTAS) Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) is also ex-dividend today, August 14, 2026. The new quarterly payment of $0.52 per share, up from the prior $0.45 rate, will be paid September 15. Headline yield is a modest 0.88%, but the growth cadence is the story: base quarterly dividends have stepped up from roughly $0.39 in early 2025 to $0.52 today.
Trailing EPS of $4.90 against an annualized rate of $1.80 keeps the payout ratio well under half of earnings, with operating margin at 23.7% and return on equity at 40.7%. This is a low-yield, high-growth compounder rather than a high current-income play, and the valuation reflects it at 41 trailing earnings.
CDW Corp (CDW) CDW (NASDAQ:CDW) is not ex-dividend today, but the deadline is close. Ex-date is August 25, 2026 for the $0.63 quarterly payment payable September 10, meaning buyers must own the stock before August 25 to qualify. The yield sits at 1.84%, backed by a 12-year streak of annual increases.
Coverage is not a concern. Trailing EPS of $8.65 against annualized dividends of $2.515 leaves the payout ratio near the high 20% range, and the forward PE of 11 looks reasonable given 10.0% revenue growth last quarter.
T-Mobile US (TMUS) T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS) is the last of the group, with an ex-date of August 28, 2026 for a $1.02 per share payment on September 10. Yield stands at 2.30% on an annualized $4.08 basis, and the quarterly rate has climbed from $0.65 in 2024 to $1.02 today.
Coverage is comfortable. Trailing EPS of $9.90 puts the payout ratio near 40%, and the balance sheet backs a large capital return program alongside 25.2% operating margins. Shares have lagged, down 25.53% over the past year, which is why the yield now screens higher than it has historically.
The Bottom Line Chasing a single quarterly payment rarely works as a standalone strategy, since the price adjustment on the ex-date typically offsets the dividend in the short run. What matters for a retirement portfolio is whether the underlying payout is durable, and by that measure, Cintas, CDW, and T-Mobile screen with the cleanest coverage math, while Honeywell’s reset needs another quarter of clarity. If the goal is to capture the Starbucks, Honeywell, or Cintas distribution, the buy-by deadline has already passed at today’s open. For CDW and T-Mobile, the clock is still running.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
After reaching an important support level, Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) could be a good stock pick from a technical perspective. CTAS surpassed resistance at the 20-day moving average, suggesting a short-term bullish trend.
The 20-day simple moving average is a well-liked trading tool because it provides a look back at a stock's price over a 20-day period. Additionally, short-term traders find this SMA very beneficial, as it smooths out short-term price trends and shows more trend reversal signals than longer-term moving averages.
Similar to other SMAs, if a stock's price moves above the 20-day, the trend is considered positive, while price falling below the moving average can signal a downward trend.
CTAS could be on the verge of another rally after moving 13.8% higher over the last four weeks. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock.
Looking at CTAS's earnings estimate revisions, investors will be even more convinced of the bullish uptrend. There have been 10 revisions higher for the current fiscal year compared to none lower, and the consensus estimate has moved up as well.
With a winning combination of earnings estimate revisions and hitting a key technical level, investors should keep their eye on CTAS for more gains in the near future.
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) announced that the Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per share of common stock payable on September 15, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 14, 2026. Cintas has a strong record of returning capital to its shareholders and has consistently raised its dividend each year since Cintas' initial public offering 43 years ago in 1983. Any future dividend declarations, inc.
Bank of Nova Scotia lowered its stake in Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS – Free Report) by 22.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 100,320 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 29,701 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia’s holdings in Cintas were worth $16,969,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. One Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Cintas by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. One Capital Management LLC now owns 6,160 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,159,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Cintas by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 5,058 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $951,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. grew its position in Cintas by 0.8% during the first quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 7,198 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,236,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. grew its position in Cintas by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 4,381 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $824,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Finally, Woodward Diversified Capital LLC increased its holdings in Cintas by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Woodward Diversified Capital LLC now owns 1,288 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $242,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. 63.46% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Cintas Trading Up 1.3% Shares of NASDAQ CTAS opened at $205.91 on Friday. Cintas Corporation has a twelve month low of $161.16 and a twelve month high of $226.75. The firm has a market cap of $82.38 billion, a PE ratio of 55.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.94. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $179.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $183.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28.
Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The business services provider reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.87 billion. Cintas had a return on equity of 42.05% and a net margin of 17.75%.The business’s revenue was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.09 EPS. Cintas has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.360-5.500 EPS. Analysts expect that Cintas Corporation will post 5.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CTAS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $250.00 price objective (up from $245.00) on shares of Cintas in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $206.00 target price on shares of Cintas in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Cintas from $200.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Cintas from $255.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 15th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on Cintas from $181.00 to $160.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $212.31.
View Our Latest Report on Cintas
Cintas Company Profile (Free Report)
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) is a provider of business services and products focused on workplace appearance, safety and facility maintenance. The company is best known for its uniform rental and corporate apparel programs, which include rental, leasing and direct-purchase options, laundering and garment repair. Cintas markets its services to a wide range of end-users, including manufacturing, food service, healthcare, hospitality, retail and government customers.
Beyond uniforms, Cintas offers a suite of facility services and products designed to help organizations maintain clean, safe and compliant workplaces.
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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS – Free Report) by 17.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,896,919 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 277,798 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 0.47% of Cintas worth $320,843,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Nemes Rush Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cintas during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. First United Bank & Trust acquired a new position in shares of Cintas during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Cintas by 1,712.5% during the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 145 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Swiss RE Ltd. bought a new stake in Cintas during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Finally, Camelot Portfolios LLC acquired a new stake in Cintas in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. 63.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup lowered their price target on Cintas from $181.00 to $160.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $231.00 price objective on shares of Cintas in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $250.00 target price (up from $245.00) on shares of Cintas in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $230.00 target price (up from $228.00) on shares of Cintas in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Cintas from $255.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Cintas has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $212.31.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Cintas
Cintas Trading Up 0.5% Shares of NASDAQ CTAS opened at $201.36 on Thursday. Cintas Corporation has a one year low of $161.16 and a one year high of $226.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.56 billion, a PE ratio of 53.84, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $177.80 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $183.06.
Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The business services provider reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.87 billion. Cintas had a return on equity of 42.05% and a net margin of 17.75%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.09 EPS. Cintas has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.360-5.500 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Cintas Corporation will post 5.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
About Cintas (Free Report)
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) is a provider of business services and products focused on workplace appearance, safety and facility maintenance. The company is best known for its uniform rental and corporate apparel programs, which include rental, leasing and direct-purchase options, laundering and garment repair. Cintas markets its services to a wide range of end-users, including manufacturing, food service, healthcare, hospitality, retail and government customers.
Beyond uniforms, Cintas offers a suite of facility services and products designed to help organizations maintain clean, safe and compliant workplaces.
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