| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 15 | 44.6x | 17.3x | Bottom tier | |
Growth | 59 | 9.5% | 7.1% | Around median | |
Quality | 88 | 28.1% | 4.5% | Top tier | |
Safety | 87 | 0.4x | 2.6x | Top tier | |
Capital Return | 51 | 0.83% | 0.06% | Around median | |
Momentum | 89 | 2.1% | -1.6% | Top tier | |
Sentiment | 64 | 13 | 3 | Around median |
The floor: what the company is worth if growth stopped today
75% of today's price is what a buyer pays for growth that has not happened yet.
10-year US Treasury yield 4.96% as of 2026-10-22. Estimates computed from company data and analyst targets, 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 uniform rental and facility supplies, first aid and safety, fire protection, and direct uniform sales. It generates revenue by handling businesses' appearance, cleanliness, safety, and compliance needs through regular services and visits that allow products to be added to existing customer relationships. On the 2026-09-23 call, management stated that its customer base comprises one million customers and that more than two-thirds of new business comes from companies that had not been using a managed service program; expansion therefore depends on converting these companies to outsourcing, retaining customers, and increasing the services provided to each customer.
In quarter 1 of fiscal year 2027 (ending 2026-08), revenue reached $3.0 billion, up 10.9% year over year, with net income of $551.7 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.37. Gross margin reached 51.5% and operating margin 23.6%, compared with 50.3% and 22.7%, respectively, in quarter 1 of fiscal year 2026 (ending 2025-08). Operating cash flow reached $572.3 million, compared with $414.5 million in the comparable period, while diluted shares outstanding declined to 404.3 million from 409.3 million.
Business line performance in quarter 1 of fiscal year 2027 varied, with organic growth of 8% for uniform rental and facility services, 14.2% for first aid and safety, 9.2% for fire protection, and 9.6% for direct uniform sales. Gross margins for these businesses were 50.8%, 57.6%, 52.8%, and 38.9%, respectively, illustrating the different service economics within Cintas. Over the years, revenue increased from $8.8 billion and net income from $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2023 (ending 2023-05) to $11.3 billion and $2.0 billion in fiscal year 2026 (ending 2026-05).
Q1 FY2027 (2026-08)
When: 2026-12-17
Organic growth compared with the 8.9% level
Operating margin compared with the 23.6% level
The median analyst target is $231, within a range of $222–250, and reflects expected growth; it is a low-confidence indicative estimate because it relies on 3 analysts, and this method has an inherently optimistic bias. The discounted cash flow model value is $118, within a range of $94–155 and at a discount rate of 9.4%; it measures the value of expected cash generation and follows analysts' earnings estimates, with an inherently conservative bias. The industry multiple value is $96, within a range of $69–162, valuing next year's earnings at a median multiple of 17.1 across 27 companies, while the no-growth value is $51 and measures current after-tax operating profit remaining constant forever at a discount rate of 9.4%. The cash flow model and industry multiple ranges overlap, while the analyst target range sits above them and the no-growth value below them, a difference that reflects the pricing of expected growth versus cash generated, peer comparisons, and the assumption that growth stops. For the period ending 2026-08-31, Cintas ranks 70 out of 84 on the valuation dimension within the industry, with a score of 19 out of 100, a dimension that measures relative valuation, while the average consensus target is $234.6 with a neutral recommendation.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-10-08; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Organic growth reached 8.9% in quarter 1 of fiscal year 2027 (ending 2026-08), compared with total revenue growth of 10.9%. On the 2026-09-23 call, management said that pricing remained consistent with previous years and that the improvement came primarily from new customers, customer retention, and cross-selling. It stated that more than two-thirds of new business comes from companies that had not been using managed programs, making the conversion of these establishments to Cintas services a central part of growth.
The first aid and safety business recorded organic growth of 14.2% in quarter 1 of fiscal year 2027 (ending 2026-08), compared with 8% for uniform rental and facility services, 9.2% for fire protection, and 9.6% for direct uniform sales. Its gross margin reached 57.6%, compared with 50.8% for the rental and facility business. On 2026-09-23, management linked the performance to attention to workplace safety, training, compliance, and health, alongside improved cross-selling between safety customers and rental customers.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Last 12 months to 2026-08-31
A 2026-10-07 news report stated that Cintas and UniFirst filed a notice of substantial compliance with FTC requests regarding the proposed $5.5 billion transaction. This action starts a 30-day review period, but does not mean that final approval has been granted. On the 2026-09-23 call, management said that the required approvals in the United States and Canada were still being processed and expressed optimism about completion by the end of 2026. Fiscal year 2027 guidance also assumes no future acquisitions and excludes nonrecurring transaction costs.
During the last 12 months through 2026-08-31, operating cash flow reached $2.4 billion, equivalent to 118% of net income of $2.1 billion. Free cash flow reached $2.2 billion, with share repurchases of $1.0 billion during the same period. In quarter 1 of fiscal year 2027 (ending 2026-08), total debt reached $2.7 billion versus cash and investments of $243.6 million, so the financial picture combines strong cash generation with cash liquidity below debt levels.
The expected earnings announcement date is 2026-12-17, and management said that quarter 2 of fiscal year 2027 results would be released in December. Comparison points include organic growth of 8.9% and an operating margin of 23.6% in quarter 1 of fiscal year 2027 (ending 2026-08). The number of workdays in quarter 2 of fiscal year 2027 is equal to the comparable period, unlike the additional workday that supported the previous quarter. Maintaining fiscal year 2027 revenue guidance at $12.15–12.27 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance at $5.45–5.54 is important in assessing whether the strength of existing operations continues.