CTAS vs ROL

For growth investors, Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is the stronger pick with 11. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 7% for Cintas Corporation (CTAS). Cintas Corporation (CTAS) offers the better valuation at 38. 5x trailing P/E (34. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cintas Corporation (CTAS) a "Hold" — based on 30 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is the cheapest at 38.

5x versus Rollins, Inc. at 49. 6x. On forward P/E, Cintas Corporation is actually cheaper at 34. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Cintas Corporation wins at 2. 07x versus Rollins, Inc. 's 2. 95x.

Over the past 5 years, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) delivered a total return of +101.

7%, compared to +53. 4% for Rollins, Inc. (ROL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTAS returned +694. 8% versus ROL's +385. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 24β versus Cintas Corporation's 0. 51β — meaning CTAS is approximately 112% more volatile than ROL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 57% versus 97% for Rollins, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is pulling ahead at 11. 0% versus 7. 7% for Cintas Corporation (CTAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cintas Corporation grew EPS 16. 1% year-over-year, compared to 13. 5% for Rollins, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ROL leads at 11. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

5% net margin versus 14. 0% for Rollins, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTAS leads at 22. 8% versus 19. 4% for ROL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTAS leads at 50. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 07x versus Rollins, Inc. 's 2. 95x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) trades at 34. 6x forward P/E versus 44. 4x for Rollins, Inc. — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTAS: 32. 0% to $223. 40.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Rollins, Inc. (ROL) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 0. 9% for Cintas Corporation (CTAS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 24), 1. 3% yield, +385. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ROL: +385. 5%, CTAS: +694. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (CTAS (Industrials) and ROL (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.