| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 18 | 40.5x | 17.8x | Bottom tier | |
Growth | 57 | 8.9% | 7.1% | Around median | |
Quality | 83 | 27.7% | 4.5% | Top tier | |
Safety | 81 | 0.8x | 2.6x | Top tier | |
Capital Return | 23 | — | 2.12% | Bottom tier | |
Momentum | 60 | -0.7% | 2.9% | Around median | |
Sentiment | 63 | 13 | 3 | Around median |
Estimates — analyst targets and a simplified DCF, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Cintas Corporation provides recurring solutions for businesses to manage image, safety, cleanliness, and compliance, including uniform rental, facility services, first aid and safety, fire protection, and direct uniform sales. Its model relies on adding new customers through its route network, then increasing spending through cross-selling to existing customers; approximately two-thirds of new customers in fiscal 2026 Q4 came from businesses that had managed these needs themselves before transitioning to a managed program. Within the Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment, uniform rental represented 47% of revenue, dust control 20%, hygiene services 16%, linens 11%, shop towels 3%, and catalog sales 3%.
In fiscal 2026 Q4, revenue increased 8.9% to $2.91 billion, and organic growth was 8.4%. Gross margin reached 51%, up approximately 130 basis points year over year, and operating income rose 12.7% to $673 million, with a reported operating margin of 23.2% and an adjusted margin of 23.6% after excluding UniFirst transaction expenses. Diluted earnings per share were $1.26, while adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 18.3% to $1.29.
In fiscal 2026, Cintas generated revenue of approximately $11.26 billion, up 8.9%, with organic growth of 8.3%. Gross margin was 50.7%, up 70 basis points, while operating margin reached 23.1% and adjusted operating margin reached a record 23.3%. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 12.3% to $4.94, exceeding the previous guidance range of $4.86–$4.90 after excluding UniFirst transaction expenses.
The average analyst price target is $231.25, above the 52-week range high of $219.17, with targets ranging from $214 to $250 and an overall consensus of “Neutral.” This divergence reflects a balance between expected adjusted earnings-per-share growth of 8.5%–11.3% in fiscal 2027 and the potential slowdown in revenue growth, energy pressures, the SAP implementation, and regulatory approval risks related to the UniFirst transaction.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-27; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Management expects fiscal 2027 revenue of between $12.1 billion and $12.25 billion, with total growth of between 7.4% and 8.7%. The plan relies on adding new customers, customer retention, cross-selling, and pricing near historical levels, without assuming additional acquisitions. The additional workday adds approximately 40 basis points to annual revenue growth, while the company targets adjusted diluted earnings per share of between $5.36 and $5.50.
In fiscal 2026 Q4, First Aid and Safety Services led with organic growth of 13.2%. Fire Protection Services achieved organic growth of 10.7%, while Uniform Rental and Facility Services grew 7.9%. Management stated that the healthcare, hospitality, education, local government, and state government sectors grew at rates above the company’s overall growth.
Gross margin was 51% in fiscal 2026 Q4, up approximately 130 basis points year over year. The company relies on route density, production facility utilization, a multi-supplier and multi-region supply chain, as well as Garment Sharing, SmartTruck, and automated sorting. In fiscal 2026, adjusted operating margin reached a record 23.3%, with an adjusted incremental margin of approximately 30%.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Cintas announced the transaction in March 2026, and UniFirst shareholders approved the merger in June 2026. Regulatory approvals in the United States and Canada remain in process, and the company received a second request for information from the FTC. Fiscal 2027 guidance excludes nonrecurring transaction expenses and does not assume completion of the acquisition or its financial impact.
Guidance assumes operating margin expansion of between 10 and 60 basis points during fiscal 2027. Management expects energy pressure near the fiscal 2026 Q4 impact of approximately 20 basis points. The SAP implementation in Fire Protection Services will also create annual pressure of approximately 100 basis points on that segment’s margin, alongside fluctuations in revenue mix and the integration of acquisitions.
Cintas generated operating cash flow of $709.1 million in fiscal 2026 Q4. During fiscal 2026, it spent $395.1 million on capital expenditures, equivalent to 3.5% of revenue, and $164.5 million on route-based business acquisitions. It also returned $1.7 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases and expects capital expenditure intensity to remain between 3.5% and 4%.
