Cintas Corporation Announces Fiscal 2027 First Quarter Results

CINCINNATI, September 23, 2026 -- Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported results for its fiscal 2027 first quarter ended August 31, 2026. Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was $3.01 billion compared to $2.72 billion in last year’s first quarter, an increase of 10.9%. The organic revenue growth rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, which adjusts for the impacts of acquisitions, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and workday differences, was 8.9%.

Gross margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was $1.55 billion compared to $1.37 billion in last year’s first quarter, an increase of 13.7%. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was 51.5% for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, compared to 50.3% in last year's first quarter, an increase of 120 basis points.

Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 increased 15.2% to $711.9 million compared to $617.9 million in last year's first quarter. Operating income as a percent of revenue was 23.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 compared to 22.7% in last year's first quarter. Operating income in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 included $14.4 million of transaction expenses related to the proposed UniFirst Corporation (UniFirst) acquisition.

Net income was $551.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 compared to $491.1 million in last year's first quarter, an increase of 12.3%. The first quarter of fiscal 2027 effective tax rate was 20.0% compared to 17.6% in last year's first quarter. The tax rates in both quarters were impacted by certain discrete items, primarily the tax accounting impact for stock-based compensation. First quarter of fiscal 2027 diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.36 compared to $1.20 in last year's first quarter, an increase of 13.3%. Excluding the UniFirst non-recurring transaction expenses, which had a $0.03 impact on diluted EPS, adjusted diluted EPS was $1.39 for the first quarter, an increase of 15.8% over the prior year.

Reflecting our commitment to return capital to our shareholders, on September 15, 2026, Cintas paid an aggregate quarterly dividend of $208.8 million to shareholders. During the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and through September 22, 2026, Cintas purchased shares of Cintas common stock under our share buyback programs, for a total purchase price of $544.7 million.

Todd M. Schneider, Cintas’ Chief Executive Officer, stated “We are pleased with our start to fiscal 2027. Our employee-partners delivered another strong quarter, producing record revenue and record operating margin. Organic revenue growth of 8.9% and a record gross margin reflect the value we continue to provide our customers and the impact of our ongoing investments in technology, capacity and talent. These results demonstrate the strength of our business model and our ability to help customers operate their facilities in a clean, safe and professional manner."

Mr. Schneider continued, "We continue to engage with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as it reviews our transaction with UniFirst. We remain excited about the substantial value we expect to create for shareholders and customers through the transaction, and we look forward to welcoming the UniFirst Team Partners to Cintas once the transaction is complete, which we expect to occur prior to the end of calendar 2026."

Mr. Schneider concluded, "As we look forward to what lies ahead for fiscal 2027, we are raising our full fiscal year financial guidance. We are raising our annual revenue expectations from a range of $12.10 billion to $12.25 billion to a range of $12.15 billion to $12.27 billion, and we are raising our adjusted diluted EPS expectations from a range of $5.36 to $5.50 to a range of $5.45 to $5.54. The adjusted diluted EPS guide does not include the impact of non-recurring transaction expenses related to the UniFirst acquisition."

Please note the following regarding the annual revenue guidance:

• Fiscal year 2027 has one more workday than fiscal year 2026.
• Guidance excludes expected impacts from the proposed UniFirst acquisition.
• Guidance does not assume any future acquisitions.
• Guidance assumes a constant foreign currency exchange rate.

Please note the following regarding the adjusted diluted EPS guidance:

• Fiscal year 2027 interest, net is expected to be approximately $103.0 million compared to $101.2 million in fiscal year 2026. The increase is primarily a result of the amortization of bridge loan financing expenses related to the UniFirst acquisition. Expected interest, net does not factor in any debt activity or issuance of commercial paper related to future share buybacks or acquisition activity, including the funding necessary for the proposed acquisition of UniFirst.
• Fiscal year 2027 effective tax rate is expected to be 20.4% compared to 20.2% in fiscal year 2026.
• Our adjusted diluted EPS guidance does not include the impact of future share buybacks or significant economic disruptions or downturn.
• Adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes non-recurring transaction costs related to the UniFirst acquisition, which cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

Cintas

Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index. 

Cintas will host a live webcast to review the fiscal 2027 first quarter results today at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The webcast will be available to the public on Cintas' website at www.Cintas.com. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call and will remain available for two weeks.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including statements regarding our future business plans and expectations, and including the company's fiscal 2027 full-year guidance which involve risks and uncertainties. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may” and “will” or the negative versions thereof and similar words, terms and expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of Cintas and speak only as of the date made. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about the completion and the benefits of the transaction between Cintas and UniFirst (the “Transaction”), including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in or implied by this Press Release.

The following Transaction-related factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements: the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between Cintas and UniFirst; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Cintas or UniFirst; the possibility that the Transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all (and the risk that seeking or obtaining such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Transaction); the risk that the benefits from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, trade policy (including tariff levels), laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Cintas and UniFirst operate; any failure to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Cintas and UniFirst; the possibility that the Transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of Cintas’ or UniFirst’s customers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the Transaction; the dilution caused by Cintas’ issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the Transaction; changes in the trading price of Cintas’ or UniFirst’s capital stock; and the diversion of management’s attention and time to the Transaction from ongoing business operations and opportunities. Additional important factors relating to Cintas that could cause actual results to differ from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the possibility of greater than anticipated operating costs including energy and fuel costs; lower sales volumes; loss of customers due to outsourcing trends; the performance and costs of integration of acquisitions; supply chain constraints and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and higher interest rates; changes in global trade policies, tariffs, and other measures that could restrict international trade; fluctuations in costs of materials and labor, including increased medical costs; costs and possible effects of union organizing activities; failure to comply with government regulations concerning employment discrimination, employee pay and benefits and employee health and safety; the effect on operations of exchange rate fluctuations, and other political, economic and regulatory risks; uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation; Cintas' ability to meet its aspirations relating to sustainability opportunities, improvements and efficiencies; the cost, results and ongoing assessment of internal controls over financial reporting; the effect of new accounting pronouncements; risks associated with cybersecurity threats, including disruptions caused by the inaccessibility of computer systems data and cybersecurity risk management; the initiation or outcome of litigation, investigations or other proceedings; higher assumed sourcing or distribution costs of products; the disruption of operations from catastrophic or extraordinary events including global health pandemics; the amount and timing of repurchases of Cintas' common stock, if any; changes in global tax and labor laws; the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service and the other risks and contingencies detailed in Cintas’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cintas undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements or to otherwise update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or to reflect events, circumstances or any other unanticipated developments arising after the date on which such statements are made, except otherwise as required by law. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2026, and in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The risks and uncertainties described herein are not the only ones we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties presently not known to us, or that we currently believe to be immaterial, may also harm our business.

For additional information, contact:

Scott A. Garula, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer - 513-972-3867

Jared S. Mattingley, Vice President, Treasurer & Investor Relations - 513-972-4195