The strong results and initial FY2027 guidance confirm steady organic growth and margin expansion. Monitor the UniFirst acquisition regulatory process (FTC second request) as a potential catalyst; if it closes as expected, it could provide further scale. The stock may respond positively to the beat and guidance, but the modest surprise magnitude suggests limited upside from current levels.
Price Chart
Executive Summary
Cintas reported fiscal Q4 2026 results with revenue of $2.91B (+8.9% YoY) and GAAP EPS of $1.26 (+15.6% YoY), beating consensus estimates of $1.23. The company initiated fiscal 2027 guidance with revenue of $12.10B-$12.25B and adjusted EPS of $5.36-$5.50, implying 8.5-11.3% growth. Gross margin reached an all-time high of 51.0%, and free cash flow was $1.88B for the fiscal year. The pending UniFirst acquisition (FTC second request) remains a risk but is expected to close in H2 2026.
Key Financial Metrics
Key Facts
- Q4 revenue $2.905B, +8.9% YoY, organic growth 8.4%
- GAAP EPS $1.26, +15.6% YoY; adjusted EPS $1.29, +18.3% YoY
- Gross margin 51.0% (all-time high), operating margin 23.2%
- FY2026 revenue $11.26B, +8.9% YoY; diluted EPS $4.91, +11.6%
- FY2026 operating cash flow $2.28B, free cash flow $1.88B
- FY2027 guidance: revenue $12.10B-$12.25B, adjusted EPS $5.36-$5.50
- UniFirst acquisition: FTC second request received; expected close H2 2026
- Returned $1.65B in buybacks and dividends in FY2026
Financial Impact
Q4 EPS beat consensus by 2.4%; revenue beat by 1.2%. FY2027 guidance implies 7-9% revenue growth and 8.5-11.3% EPS growth.
Risk Factors
- UniFirst acquisition could face regulatory hurdles or delays beyond expected H2 2026 close
- Macroeconomic headwinds or tariff impacts could affect customer demand
- Higher interest expense from bridge loan financing for UniFirst deal
- Share buyback pace may slow as acquisition funding needs take priority
Market Snapshot
Investment Themes
Documents Analyzed
This report is based on 6 SEC documents filed with EDGAR.
| Document | Accession Number |
|---|---|
| 8-K Filing (Primary) | 0000723254-26-000025 |
| Document: ctas-20260715.htm | 0000723254-26-000025 |
| Document: 0000723254-26-000025-index-headers.html | 0000723254-26-000025 |
| Document: 0000723254-26-000025-index.html | 0000723254-26-000025 |
| Document: 0000723254-26-000025.txt | 0000723254-26-000025 |
| 8-K Data (Synthetic) | 0000723254-26-000025 |
Filters
| Type | Now | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jul 23, 2026 10w ago | Insider Cluster | $205.91 $203.79 | ▼ −1.03% | ▼ −4.66% | $192.60 (−6.46%) |
Jul 15, 2026 11w ago | 8-K | $192.37 $203.51 | ▲ +5.79% | ▲ +3.45% | $192.60 (+0.12%) |
Jun 12, 2026 16w ago | 8-K | $176.28 $179.64 | ▲ +1.91% | ▲ +0.13% | $192.60 (+9.26%) |
May 27, 2026 18w ago | 425 | $169.86 $169.09 | ▼ −0.45% | ▲ +1.45% | $192.60 (+13.39%) |
May 26, 2026 18w ago | 425 | $169.86 $169.09 | ▼ −0.45% | ▲ +1.45% | $192.60 (+13.39%) |
May 7, 2026 21w ago | EFFECT | $170.04 $174.72 | ▲ +2.75% | ▼ −0.38% | $192.60 (+13.27%) |
US Market Status
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