UNF vs ABM vs CTAS vs SCI

For growth investors, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is the stronger pick with 7.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for Service Corporation International (SCI). ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) offers the better valuation at 15. 5x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Service Corporation International (SCI) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the cheapest at 15.

5x versus Cintas Corporation at 37. 9x. On forward P/E, ABM Industries Incorporated is actually cheaper at 10. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ABM Industries Incorporated wins at 0. 04x versus UniFirst Corporation's 15. 58x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) delivered a total return of +92.

4%, compared to -14. 5% for ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTAS returned +671. 6% versus ABM's +47. 0%. 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), Service Corporation International (SCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus ABM Industries Incorporated's 0. 71β — meaning ABM is approximately 500% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UniFirst Corporation (UNF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is pulling ahead at 7.

7% versus 2. 9% for Service Corporation International (SCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ABM Industries Incorporated grew EPS 102. 3% year-over-year, compared to 0. 0% for UniFirst Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTAS leads at 9. 6% 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 1. 9% for ABM Industries Incorporated — 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 3. 7% for ABM. 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, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 04x versus UniFirst Corporation's 15. 58x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 35. 5x for UniFirst Corporation — 25. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTAS: 33. 8% to $223. 40.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 0. 5% for UniFirst Corporation (UNF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Service Corporation International (SCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 1. 7% yield, +222. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCI: +222. 7%, ABM: +47. 0%), 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 (UNF (Industrials) and ABM (Industrials) and CTAS (Industrials) and SCI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: UNF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ABM is a small-cap deep-value stock; CTAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.