Upside case
Bull case
$243+43.3%
CTAS would need investors to value it at roughly 50x earnings — about 15x more generous than today's 35x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
Analysis OverviewHoldUpdated May 1, 2026
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) Stock Analysis
Wall Street verdict, consensus price target, and analyst rating breakdown — everything needed to frame the risk/reward at today's price.
Analyst consensus
Hold
Covering
30
analysts
11 bullish · 2 bearish · 30 covering CTAS
Strong Buy
0
Buy
11
Hold
17
Sell
2
Strong Sell
0
Consensus Target
$223
+32.0% vs today
Scenario Range
$117 – $243
Model bear to bull value window
Coverage
30
Published analyst ratings
Valuation Context
34.6x
Forward P/E · Market cap $68.2B
CTAS price targets
Three scenarios for where CTAS stock could go
Current
~$169
Confidence
74 / 100
Updated
May 1, 2026
Where we are now
Current · $169
Bear
$117
Base
$212
Bull
$243
Market caseClosest to today
Base case
$212+25.0%
At 43x on FY1 earnings, the base case reflects a reasonable but not stretched valuation. It prices in continued growth without assuming an exceptional setup.
Stress case
Bear case
$117-30.7%
If investor confidence fades or macro conditions deteriorate, a 11x multiple contraction could push CTAS down roughly 31% from where it trades now.
Not financial advice. Model confidence reflects internal scenario assumptions, not a guarantee of returns. Past performance does not predict future results.
Cintas Corporation
CTAS · NASDAQIndustrialsSpecialty Business ServicesMay year-end
Cintas is a uniform rental and facility services company that provides corporate identity apparel and related business services across North America. It generates revenue primarily through uniform rental and facility services — which includes garment rental, restroom supplies, and cleaning services — with additional income from first aid and safety services and fire protection products. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive national distribution network and route-based delivery system that creates high switching costs for customers through embedded service relationships.
Market Cap
$68.2B
Revenue TTM
$10.8B
Net Income TTM
$1.9B
Net Margin
17.6%
CTAS Revenue and Earnings Performance
Quarterly beat-or-miss track record against analyst estimates, plus forward revenue and EPS outlook for the next two fiscal years.
EPS Beat Rate
83%Exceptional
12 quarters tracked
Revenue Beat Rate
83%Exceptional
vs consensus estimates
Avg EPS Surprise
-2.1%
above Street consensus
Beat / Miss Record
BeatMissLeft = EPS · Right = Revenue
Q3 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
Last 4 Quarters
EPS beats: 4 of 4Q3 2025
EPS
$1.09/$1.07
Revenue
$2.7B/$2.6B
Q3 2025
EPS
$1.20/$1.19
Revenue
$2.7B/$2.7B
Q4 2025
EPS
$1.21/$1.20
Revenue
$2.8B/$2.8B
Q1 2026
EPS
$1.24/$1.24
Revenue
$2.8B/$2.8B
| Quarter | EPS (Actual / Est) | EPS Surprise | Revenue (Actual / Est) | Rev Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $1.09/$1.07 | +1.9% | $2.7B/$2.6B | +1.6% |
| Q3 2025 | $1.20/$1.19 | +0.8% | $2.7B/$2.7B | +0.7% |
| Q4 2025 | $1.21/$1.20 | +0.8% | $2.8B/$2.8B | +1.2% |
| Q1 2026 | $1.24/$1.24 | +0.0% | $2.8B/$2.8B | +0.7% |
FY1–FY2 Estimates
Revenue Outlook
FY1
$11.5B
+6.6% YoY
FY2
$12.5B
+8.4% YoY
EPS Outlook
FY1
$4.99
+6.9% YoY
FY2
$5.50
+10.1% YoY
Trailing FCF (TTM)$1.8B
FCF Margin: 16.5%
Next Earnings
—
Expected EPS
—
Expected Revenue
—
CTAS beat EPS estimates in 4 of 4 tracked quarters. A perfect track record raises the bar for the upcoming report.
CTAS Revenue Breakdown by Segment
Product and geographic revenue mix from the latest annual disclosure, with year-over-year growth by segment.
Latest disclosure
FY 2025
Total disclosed revenue $10.3B
Product Mix
Latest annual revenue by segment or product family
Uniform Rental and Facility Services
77.1%
+6.8% YoY
Tap, hover, or focus a slice to inspect segment detail.
Geographic Mix
Latest annual revenue by reported region
Segment breakdown not available for this company.
Uniform Rental and Facility Services is the largest disclosed segment at 77.1% of FY 2025 revenue, up 6.8% YoY.
CTAS Valuation Snapshot
Current multiples compared to the S&P 500, the company's sector, and its own five-year average.
Relative Value Signal
Significantly Overvalued
Fair value est. $106 — implies -37.5% from today's price.
Premium to Fair Value
37.5%
above fair value
Deep DiscountFair ValueVery Expensive
vs S&P 500 Trailing P/E
CTAS
38.5x
vs
S&P 500
25.1x
+53% premium
vs Industrials Trailing P/E
CTAS
38.5x
vs
Industrials
25.7x
+50% premium
vs CTAS 5Y Avg P/E
Today
38.5x
vs
5Y Average
40.3x
In line with benchmark
Forward PE
34.6x
S&P 500
19.1x
+81%
Industrials
20.7x
+67%
5Y Avg
—
—
Trailing PE
38.5x
S&P 500
25.1x
+53%
Industrials
25.7x
+50%
5Y Avg
40.3x
-4%
PEG Ratio
2.30x
S&P 500
1.72x
+34%
Industrials
1.64x
+40%
5Y Avg
—
—
EV/EBITDA
24.7x
S&P 500
15.2x
+63%
Industrials
13.7x
+81%
5Y Avg
26.2x
-5%
Price/FCF
38.8x
S&P 500
21.1x
+84%
Industrials
21.2x
+84%
5Y Avg
39.4x
-2%
Price/Sales
6.6x
S&P 500
3.1x
+111%
Industrials
1.6x
+316%
5Y Avg
6.5x
+1%
Dividend Yield
0.88%
S&P 500
1.87%
-53%
Industrials
1.27%
-31%
5Y Avg
0.88%
-0%
| Metric | CTAS | S&P 500 | Industrials | 5Y Avg CTAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward PE | 34.6x | 19.1x+81% | 20.7x+67% | — |
| Trailing PE | 38.5x | 25.1x+53% | 25.7x+50% | 40.3x |
| PEG Ratio | 2.30x | 1.72x+34% | 1.64x+40% | — |
| EV/EBITDA | 24.7x | 15.2x+63% | 13.7x+81% | 26.2x |
| Price/FCF | 38.8x | 21.1x+84% | 21.2x+84% | 39.4x |
| Price/Sales | 6.6x | 3.1x+111% | 1.6x+316% | 6.5x |
| Dividend Yield | 0.88% | 1.87% | 1.27% | 0.88% |
CTAS trades above S&P 500 benchmarks on 6 of 6 measured multiples — commands a broad premium across most valuation dimensions.
Forward P/E and PEG reflect analyst consensus estimates. Historical averages use trailing ratios where forward data is unavailable.S&P 500 and sector benchmarks both use trailing median P/E — similar readings indicate the broader index and sector are priced alike.
Open valuation toolCTAS Financial Health
Verdict
Exceptional
CTAS generates $1.8B in free cash flow at a 16.5% margin — 25.8% ROIC signals a durable competitive advantage · returns 2.3% of market cap to shareholders annually.
Cash Engine
Revenue, margins, and cash generation
Revenue (TTM)
Trailing-twelve-month sales base
$10.8B
Revenue Growth
TTM vs prior year
+8.6%
Gross Margin
Gross profit as a share of revenue
50.2%
Operating Margin
Operating income divided by revenue
23.0%
Net Margin
Net income divided by revenue
17.6%
EPS (TTM)
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months
$4.67
Free Cash Flow (TTM)
Cash generation after capex
$1.8B
FCF Margin
FCF as share of revenue — the primary cash quality signal
16.5%
Capital Quality
ROIC, leverage, and debt serviceability
ROIC
Return on invested capital — primary competitive quality signal
25.8%
ROA
Return on assets, trailing twelve months
18.7%
Cash & Equivalents
Liquid assets on the balance sheet
$264M
Net Debt
Total debt minus cash
$2.4B
Debt Serviceability
Net debt as a multiple of annual free cash flow
1.3× FCF
~1.3 years to full repayment at current FCF run-rate
ROE
Return on equity, trailing twelve months
42.6%
Shareholder Returns
How capital is returned to owners
Total shareholder yield
2.3%
Dividend
0.9%
Buyback
1.4%
Share Repurchases
Trailing buyback outflow — dollar magnitude of capital returned
$935M
Dividend / Share
Annualized trailing dividend per share
$1.49
Payout Ratio
Share of earnings distributed as dividends
33.7%
Shares Outstanding
Declining as buybacks retire shares
410M
All figures from the trailing twelve months. ROIC uses invested capital (equity + net debt).
Open full ratios pageCTAS Stock Risk Factors
Key factors that could pressure the stock price, compress the multiple, or weigh on future results.
AI analysis · updated April 11, 2026
High Risk
Valuation Concerns
Cintas trades at a P/E ratio that is significantly above its 20‑year average multiple, suggesting that future growth may already be priced in. A slowdown in earnings could trigger a sharp price correction.
Medium
Economic Sensitivity & Labor Market
The business is cyclical and highly sensitive to economic slowdowns and unemployment. Higher unemployment reduces the need for uniforms and services, directly impacting revenue.
Medium
Regulatory & Legal Exposure
Workers conducting fire and safety inspections without proper licenses or permits could expose Cintas to liability and regulatory scrutiny, potentially leading to fines or operational restrictions.
Medium
Customer Churn Risk
Cintas has reported revenue losses tied to customer churn, with a declining business retention rate. Losing key clients erodes recurring revenue streams.
Medium
Gross Margin Decline
The company has seen a decline in gross margins, driven by rising service costs. Lower margins squeeze profitability and reduce earnings growth.
Lower
New Ventures Uncertainty
Cintas has expanded into new business lines to counter slowing growth, but these ventures may fail to generate expected returns.
Lower
Automation Impact
Adoption of automation technology could replace human workers in uniformed professions, diminishing demand for Cintas’ core uniform services.
These are risk mechanisms, not predictions. The key question is which would force a cut to earnings estimates or a lower multiple than the market currently prices in.
Why CTAS Stock Could Outperform
Structural drivers behind the upside case and why the stock could outperform over the next 12 months.
AI analysis · updated April 11, 2026
Consistent Revenue and Margin Growth
Cintas reported Q3 fiscal 2026 revenue of $2.84 billion, up 8.9% year‑over‑year and 8.2% organic growth. Consolidated gross margin hit 51.0%, a 40‑basis‑point increase YoY, while net income rose to $502.5 million from $463.5 million.
Guidance Upside Signals Strong Outlook
The company raised its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $11.21 billion–$11.24 billion, implying 8.4%–8.7% growth. Adjusted diluted EPS guidance was increased to $4.86–$4.90, representing 10.5%–11.4% growth.
UniFirst Deal Fuels Scale and Synergies
Cintas agreed to acquire UniFirst for approximately $5.5 billion, expected to close in the second half of 2026. The acquisition is projected to generate substantial value through operating‑cost synergies.
Dividend Aristocrat Boosts Shareholder Value
The company has paid a dividend every year since 1983 and is recognized as a Dividend Aristocrat, underscoring its commitment to returning capital to shareholders.
Route‑Based Model Drives Recurring Margins
Cintas’s route‑based recurring revenue model enables margin expansion via pricing, customer retention, and route density, supported by expanding product and service offerings and effective cross‑selling.
A real bull case compounds — each driver matters most when it strengthens margins, supports capital returns, and keeps the company above the market's minimum growth bar simultaneously.
CTAS Stock Price Performance
52-week range context and price returns across multiple time horizons. Dividend contribution is shown separately in the Capital Return section.
Current Price
$169.25
52W Range Position
6%
52-Week Range
Current price plotted between the 52-week low and high.
52-Week Low
$165.46
+2.3% from the low
52-Week High
$229.24
-26.2% from the high
1 Month
-1.42%
3 Month
-12.81%
YTD
-8.5%
1 Year
-20.1%
3Y CAGR
+13.2%
5Y CAGR
+14.2%
10Y CAGR
+22.4%
Range context matters because valuation compression and earnings misses rarely hit from the same starting point. A stock already far below its high can still fall, but it is no longer carrying the same embedded optimism as one pressing a fresh peak.
CTAS vs Peers
Valuation, growth, and margin comparison against the closest publicly traded peers for this company.
Peer Set
Accurate peer set
Forward PE
34.6x
vs 25.8x median
+34% above peer median
Revenue Growth
+6.6%
vs +7.0% median
-6% below peer median
Net Margin
17.6%
vs 1.8% median
+890% above peer median
| Company | Mkt Cap | Fwd PE | Rev Grw | Margin | Rating | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CTA CTAS Cintas Corporation | $68.2B | 34.6x | +6.6% | 17.6% | Hold | +32.0% |
UNF UNF UniFirst Corporation | $4.7B | 35.5x | +5.8% | 5.7% | Hold | -19.9% |
ARM ARMK Aramark | $11.9B | 20.4x | +7.0% | 1.7% | Buy | +4.3% |
ABM ABM ABM Industries Incorporated | $2.4B | 10.3x | +4.8% | 1.8% | Hold | +22.9% |
ROL ROL Rollins, Inc. | $26.1B | 44.4x | +9.9% | 13.8% | Hold | +18.3% |
CSG CSGP CoStar Group, Inc. | $14.8B | 25.8x | +14.6% | 0.7% | Buy | +77.4% |
This peer comparison reflects companies with similar business models, product lines, or market positioning, supplemented by industry grouping when direct matches are limited.
CTAS Dividend and Capital Return
CTAS returns capital mainly through $935M/year in buybacks (1.4% buyback yield), with a modest 0.88% dividend — combining for 2.3% total shareholder yield.
Dividend SustainableFCF Well Covered
Total Shareholder Yield
2.3%
Dividend + buyback return per year
Buyback Yield
1.4%
Dividend Yield
0.88%
Payout Ratio
33.7%
How CTAS Splits Its Return
Div 0.88%
Buyback 1.4%
Dividend 0.88%Buybacks 1.4%
Dividend Profile
Yield, cadence, and growth quality
Dividend / Share
Trailing annualized cash dividend
$1.49
Growth Streak
Consecutive years of dividend increases
4Y
3Y Div CAGR
17.0%
5Y Div CAGR
13.9%
Ex-Dividend Date
—
Payment Cadence
Semi-Annual
5 payments over the last 12 months
Buyback Engine
How much per-share support comes from repurchases
Repurchases (TTM)
Cash used for buybacks in the latest trailing period
$935M
Estimated Shares Retired
6M
Approx. Share Reduction
1.3%
Shares Outstanding
Current diluted share count from the screening snapshot
410M
At 1.3%/year, buybacks mechanically lift EPS even with flat earnings — each remaining share represents a slightly larger piece of the company.
| Year | Div / Share | YoY Grw | BB Yield | Total Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.90 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | $1.68 | +15.5% | 1.0% | 1.7% |
| 2024 | $1.46 | +16.4% | 1.0% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | $1.25 | +19.0% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| 2022 | $1.05 | +23.5% | 3.6% | 4.5% |
FAQ
7 questionsCTAS Investor Questions
Common questions answered from live analyst data and company financials.
01Is Cintas Corporation (CTAS) stock a buy or sell in 2026?
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is rated Hold by Wall Street analysts as of 2026. Of 30 analysts covering the stock, 11 rate it Buy or Strong Buy, 17 rate it Hold, and 2 rate it Sell or Strong Sell. The consensus 12-month price target is $223, implying +32.0% from the current price of $169. The bear case scenario is $117 and the bull case is $243.
02What is the CTAS stock price target for 2026?
The Wall Street consensus price target for CTAS is $223 based on 30 analyst estimates. The high-end target is $250 (+47.7% from today), and the low-end target is $184 (+8.7%). The base case model target is $212.
03Is Cintas Corporation (CTAS) stock overvalued in 2026?
CTAS trades at 34.6x times forward earnings. The stock trades at a notable premium to the broad market, which is typical for businesses with strong free cash flow and above-average growth expectations. Based on current multiples versus the peer group, the relative model signals significantly overvalued. Whether the stock is over or undervalued ultimately depends on whether consensus earnings estimates are achievable.
04What are the main risks for Cintas Corporation (CTAS) stock in 2026?
The primary risks for CTAS in 2026 are: (1) Valuation Concerns — Cintas trades at a P/E ratio that is significantly above its 20‑year average multiple, suggesting that future growth may already be priced in. (2) Economic Sensitivity & Labor Market — The business is cyclical and highly sensitive to economic slowdowns and unemployment. (3) Regulatory & Legal Exposure — Workers conducting fire and safety inspections without proper licenses or permits could expose Cintas to liability and regulatory scrutiny, potentially leading to fines or operational restrictions. Each factor has the potential to pressure earnings or compress the stock's valuation multiple.
05What is Cintas Corporation's revenue and earnings forecast?
Analyst consensus estimates CTAS will report consensus revenue of $11.5B (+6.6% year-over-year) and EPS of $4.99 (+6.9% year-over-year) for the upcoming fiscal year. The following year, analysts project $12.5B in revenue.
06When does Cintas Corporation (CTAS) report its next earnings?
A confirmed upcoming earnings date for CTAS is not yet available. Check the Earnings section above for the most recent quarterly report dates and forward estimates.
07How much free cash flow does Cintas Corporation generate?
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) generated $1.8B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months — a free cash flow margin of 16.5%. CTAS returns capital to shareholders through dividends (0.9% yield) and share repurchases ($935M TTM).