Cintas Corporation research snapshot
CTAS AI stock analysis reads Cintas as a high-quality route-based workplace services company that just delivered a record fiscal 2026, with revenue of $11.26 billion up 8.9%, adjusted diluted EPS of $4.94 up 12.3%, an all-time high adjusted operating margin of 23.3%, and a fiscal 2027 guidance of $12.1 billion to $12.25 billion revenue and $5.36 to $5.50 adjusted EPS that exceeded consensus. At the August 2, 2026 data cutoff, CTAS closed near $204.63 on July 31, 2026 with an implied market capitalization of about $81.89 billion. The offset is a premium valuation near 41.7x trailing EPS and 37.3x forward EPS, an FTC second request on the pending UniFirst acquisition, and energy cost pressure. The analysis supports a scenario framework, not a certain price prediction, and should be used for information only.
Current price
$204.63
Market cap
$81.89 billion
AI score
74 / 100
Rating
High-quality route-based compounder with a premium valuation
Trend status
Bullish medium-term trend above the 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages
Data cutoff (updated monthly)
August 4, 2026
Informational use only. This page is not investment advice.
| Dimension | Conclusion | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Business quality | Cintas sells mission-critical uniforms, facility services, first aid, safety, and fire protection to more than one million businesses, with recurring route-based revenue and 55 years of top-line and bottom-line growth out of the last 57. | High |
| Moat | Route density, switching friction, brand trust, broad product coverage, service consistency, scale purchasing, and technology such as Smart Truck and garment sharing support a wide moat that customers value more than small price differences. | High |
| Management | Todd Schneider and the leadership team delivered a record fiscal 2026 with 8.3% organic growth, a record adjusted operating margin of 23.3%, and a fiscal 2027 guide above consensus, while balancing reinvestment, route-based M&A, and $1.7 billion of shareholder returns. | High |
| Financial trend | Fiscal 2026 revenue of $11.26 billion grew 8.9%, adjusted diluted EPS of $4.94 grew 12.3%, adjusted operating margin hit an all-time high of 23.3%, and free cash flow reached $1.88 billion. | High |
| Valuation | At $204.63, CTAS screens near 41.68x trailing GAAP EPS, 37.30x forward adjusted EPS, 7.27x sales, 15.94x book value, 43.54x trailing free cash flow, and a 1.02% dividend yield. | High |
| Technical trend | CTAS closed near $204.63 on July 31, 2026, above its 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, with 14-day RSI near 60.5 and 14-day ADX near 38 confirming trend strength. | Medium |
| Risk level | Main risks are valuation compression, slower organic growth, energy and labor cost pressure, weaker small-business demand, UniFirst regulatory delay or conditions, and integration execution after the transaction closes. | Medium-high |
| AI confidence | High for descriptive facts and cross-checked math that matched across StockAnalysis, Barchart, and the Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings call. Lower for forward return estimates because UniFirst timing, multiples, energy costs, and organic growth assumptions are uncertain. | High data confidence |
| Investment certainty | Medium certainty. The page gives a research framework and scenario ranges, not a buy or sell instruction. | Medium |
CTAS AI stock forecast
The CTAS AI stock forecast uses scenario math around the July 31, 2026 close of $204.63 and fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $4.94. The three-scenario framework produced a bearish area near $172, a base area near $218, and a bullish area near $270 before dividends, using adjusted EPS growth of 5%, 8%, and 11% and exit multiples of 30x, 35x, and 40x over three years.
$255 to $285
More likely if organic growth stays near high single digits, First Aid and Safety and Fire Protection keep double-digit growth, margins keep expanding, UniFirst closes in the second half of calendar 2026 without heavy concessions, and investors keep a high-30s to 40x earnings multiple.
$205 to $230
More likely if adjusted EPS compounds near high single digits, 8.3% organic growth holds, margins expand in line with the 10 to 60 basis point fiscal 2027 guidance, UniFirst closes on schedule, and the stock holds near a 35x earnings multiple.
$160 to $185
More likely if organic growth falls below mid-single digits, small-business demand weakens, energy or labor costs pressure margins, the UniFirst transaction is delayed or restricted by regulators, or the market compresses the multiple toward the 30x area near the $160 low analyst target.
CTAS AI technical analysis
CTAS AI technical analysis is constructive as of the August 2, 2026 data cutoff. The stock closed near $204.63 on July 31, 2026, above its 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, with 14-day RSI near 60.5, 14-day ADX near 38 confirming a trending move, and the 52-week high of $226.75 as the key overhead resistance.
| Level | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Current price | $204.63 | StockAnalysis real-time quote at the July 31, 2026 close; market cap math uses 400.17 million shares outstanding. |
| Near support | $196 to $198 | Barchart placed the 20-day moving average near $196.76 as of July 31, 2026, a natural first pullback support zone. |
| Next support | $183 to $187 | The 50-day moving average was near $182.94 and the 200-day near $184.93 on July 31, 2026, forming a support cluster. |
| Near resistance | $210 to $212 | The 5-day moving average near $210.77 and the recent pullback zone cap the immediate upside. |
| Upper resistance | $226 to $227 | The 52-week high of $226.75 is the key overhead level; a reclaim would open a new uptrend leg. |
| 50-day moving average | $182.94 | Barchart and StockAnalysis both reported the 50-day moving average near $182.94 on July 31, 2026. |
| 200-day moving average | $184.93 | Barchart and StockAnalysis both reported the 200-day trend line near $184.93, below the current price. |
| Momentum | RSI near 61, ADX near 38 | 14-day RSI was near 60.50, strong but not overbought, and 14-day ADX near 38.20 on Barchart confirmed a trending move rather than a range. |
| Volume | About 2.6 million average shares | Barchart listed 20-day average volume near 2.64 million shares on July 31, 2026, useful for checking breakout quality. |
| Volatility | Elevated near events | Barchart reported 14-day historical volatility near 41% and 20-day near 38%, so position sizing should allow for swings around earnings, UniFirst news, and guidance. |
| Invalidation | Close below $197 | A decisive close below the 20-day moving average near $196.76 would weaken the short-term uptrend; a close below the 50-day near $182.94 would turn it bearish. |
CTAS AI trading strategy
The CTAS AI trading strategy is a rules-based research framework for trading and watching the high-quality compounder. It is not personal advice and should be paired with fresh chart data, filings, UniFirst deal updates, position sizing, and a defined invalidation level.
Watch for CTAS to hold above the 20-day moving average near $197 and to build volume on a push toward the $226.75 high, with the 200-day trend line near $185 still below price.
A daily close below the 20-day moving average or a failed attempt at the 52-week high should trigger a stop and review.
If CTAS pulls back toward the $183 to $197 support cluster without a UniFirst or guidance setback, compare the price reaction with quarterly results, margin commentary, and integration news before acting.
Do not average down without a maximum loss rule because a premium multiple can compress quickly when growth disappoints.
Track organic revenue growth, Uniform Rental and Facility Services and First Aid and Safety margins, Fire Protection growth, free cash flow, UniFirst regulatory progress and integration, dividends, buybacks, energy costs, and small-business demand.
Reduce confidence if EPS growth depends mainly on buybacks or one-time items rather than organic demand and operating cash flow.
Investment research summary
Customers pay Cintas because uniforms, mats, restroom hygiene, first aid, safety supplies, and fire protection are recurring operational needs. The route model turns frequent service visits and broad customer coverage into sticky revenue across more than one million businesses.
The moat combines route density, scale purchasing, reliable service execution, brand trust, local relationships, switching friction, and technology such as Smart Truck and garment sharing. It is wide because customers value reliability more than small price differences.
The thesis fails if a premium valuation meets slower organic growth, higher energy or labor costs, weaker small-business demand, a delayed or restricted UniFirst closing, integration distraction, or a broad compression of high-multiple industrial services stocks.
Todd Schneider and the leadership team delivered a record fiscal 2026 with 8.3% organic growth, a record 23.3% adjusted operating margin, and a fiscal 2027 guide above consensus, while returning $1.7 billion to shareholders and keeping the UniFirst integration on track for the second half of calendar 2026.
Workplace safety, hygiene, compliance, and outsourcing remain durable long-term trends. Cintas serves a market of 16 to 20 million North American businesses with only about one million customers today, and it benefits when businesses hand non-core operations to a scaled specialist.
At $204.63, the stock prices in years of continued execution. At about 41.7x trailing GAAP EPS, 37.3x forward adjusted EPS, and 43.5x trailing free cash flow, margin of safety depends on sustained mid-to-high single-digit growth, margin durability, and a stable premium multiple.
Source-backed data
Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.
| Metric | Value | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTAS price | $204.63 at the July 31, 2026 close | StockAnalysis real-time quote | July 31, 2026 |
| Market capitalization | $81.89 billion, verified as $204.63 x 400.17 million shares with 0.00% deviation | financial_rigor.py market cap verification | August 2, 2026 |
| Q4 fiscal 2026 results | $2.91 billion revenue up 8.9%, organic growth 8.4%, gross margin 51%, operating income $673 million, adjusted diluted EPS $1.29 up 18.3% | Cintas Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings call, July 15, 2026 | July 15, 2026 |
| Fiscal 2026 full year results | $11.26 billion revenue up 8.9%, organic growth 8.3%, adjusted operating margin 23.3% all-time high, adjusted diluted EPS $4.94 up 12.3% | Cintas Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings call | July 15, 2026 |
| Fiscal 2027 guidance | Revenue $12.1 billion to $12.25 billion, adjusted diluted EPS $5.36 to $5.50, growth of 8.5% to 11.3% | Cintas Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings call guidance | July 15, 2026 |
| Q4 fiscal 2026 segment organic growth | Uniform Rental and Facility Services 7.9%, First Aid and Safety Services 13.2%, Fire Protection Services 10.7%, Uniform Direct Sales down 4% | Cintas Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings call | July 15, 2026 |
| Cash and total debt | $289.02 million cash and $2.706 billion total debt as of May 31, 2026 | StockAnalysis.com balance sheet | July 15, 2026 |
| Net debt | -$2.417 billion, calculated as cash of $289.02 million minus total debt of $2.706 billion | financial_rigor.py exact calculator | August 2, 2026 |
| Segment revenue mix, fiscal 2026 | Uniform Rental and Facility Services $8.622 billion, First Aid and Safety Services $1.392 billion, All Other $1.251 billion | StockAnalysis.com financials segment breakdown | July 15, 2026 |
| Fiscal 2026 cash flow | Operating cash flow of $2.276 billion, capital expenditures of $395.11 million, free cash flow of $1.881 billion | StockAnalysis.com cash flow statement | July 15, 2026 |
| Valuation check | 41.68x trailing GAAP EPS, 7.27x sales, 43.54x trailing free cash flow, 1.02% dividend yield | financial_rigor.py valuation verification | August 1, 2026 |
| Forward valuation | Forward PE 37.30, PEG 3.21, EV/EBITDA 27.03, EV/FCF 44.81, PB 15.94 | StockAnalysis.com statistics | August 1, 2026 |
| Dividend | Quarterly dividend raised to $0.52 from $0.45, payable September 15, 2026, annualized $2.08 with a 1.02% yield and 45 years of dividend growth | Business Wire dividend announcement and StockAnalysis | July 28, 2026 |
| Analyst consensus | Buy with an average target of $215.38 across 20 analysts, low $160 and high $250, median $219.50 | StockAnalysis.com forecast and analyst ratings | July 30, 2026 |
| Analyst rating mix, July 2026 | 8 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, 9 Hold, 1 Strong Sell out of 20 analysts | StockAnalysis.com forecast recommendation trends | July 30, 2026 |
| Recent analyst target updates | UBS $228 to $230 Buy, Baird $200 to $214 Buy, BofA upgraded to Buy with $230, Wells Fargo $250, Goldman Sachs $231, Stifel Hold at $190, RBC Hold at $206 | StockAnalysis.com forecast latest forecasts, TipRanks | July 16, 2026 |
| Short interest | 12.16 million shares short, 3.04% of shares outstanding, 5.36 days to cover | StockAnalysis.com statistics short selling | August 1, 2026 |
| Technical snapshot | 20-day moving average $196.76, 50-day $182.94, 200-day $184.93, 14-day RSI 60.50, 14-day ADX 38.20 | Barchart and StockAnalysis technical snapshots | July 31, 2026 |
| Fiscal 2027 consensus estimates | FY2027 revenue estimate $12.21 billion with adjusted EPS $5.49 | StockAnalysis.com forecast financial forecast | July 30, 2026 |
| UniFirst acquisition status | UniFirst shareholders approved the merger in June 2026, the FTC issued a second request, and management expects closing in the second half of calendar 2026 | Cintas Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings call | July 15, 2026 |
This CTAS AI stock analysis is an informational research tool, not investment advice, a recommendation, or a promise of future return. Forecast ranges are scenarios based on available filings, quote snapshots, and third-party data as of the stated cutoff date. They may be wrong, incomplete, or outdated after new earnings, UniFirst developments, market moves, or macro conditions.
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