Companies /Industrials

Cintas Corporation

NASDAQ: CTAS Specialty Business Services
$204.15
▼ $1.63 (−0.79%) today
Markets closed · 4:12am ET

Q2 2026 Earnings

Reported Dec 18, 2025, 8:31am ET · SEC source
$1.21
Beat +1.30%
EPS · est. $1.19
$2.8B
Beat +1.20%
Revenue · est. $2.8B
−0.2%
Trailing market
CTAS vs S&P since report
6 quarters
Consecutive EPS beats

Market Reaction

% change · around the report
−2%0+2%Dec 18Dec 19report 8:31am ETearnings+0.7%−2.4%
−2%0+2%Dec 18Dec 19earnings+0.7%−2.4%
CTAS −2.4%S&P 500 +0.7%
−2%0+2%Dec 18Dec 19report 8:31am ETearnings+1.6%−2.4%
−2%0+2%Dec 18Dec 19earnings+1.6%−2.4%
CTAS −2.4%NASDAQ +1.6%
−4%−2%0+2%Dec 17Dec 26report 8:31am ETearnings+2.1%−0.7%
−4%−2%0+2%Dec 17Dec 26earnings+2.1%−0.7%
CTAS −0.7%S&P 500 +2.1%
−4%−2%0+2%Dec 17Dec 26report 8:31am ETearnings+2.6%−0.7%
−4%−2%0+2%Dec 17Dec 26earnings+2.6%−0.7%
CTAS −0.7%NASDAQ +2.6%
+1.34%
Day of report
−1.22%
Next session
+0.66%
One week
+1.67%
30 days

S&P 500 over the same 30 days: +1.85%.

Did CTAS Beat Earnings? Q2 2026 Results

Cintas delivered a record-setting fiscal second quarter of 2026, posting revenue of $2.80 billion, up 9.3% year-over-year, and diluted EPS of $1.21, beating the $1.19 consensus estimate by 1.30%, as the company's three business segments each contributed meaningfully to the quarter's momentum. The headline driver was a new company record for operating margin, which expanded to 23.4% as gross margin widened 60 basis points to 50.4%, reflecting disciplined execution across its route-based businesses. First Aid and Safety Services stood out among the segments, growing revenue 14.3% to $342.24 million, while the core Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment generated $2.16 billion, up 8.3%. The strong quarter comes as Cintas remains active on the acquisition front, with its $5.2 billion all-cash bid for UniFirst drawing significant industry attention. Management raised full-year fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $11.15 billion to $11.22 billion and lifted diluted EPS guidance to $4.81 to $4.88, signaling continued confidence in the company's growth trajectory heading into the second half.

Key Takeaways
  • Record revenue driven by attractive growth across all business segments
  • All-time high operating margin of 23.4%
  • Organic revenue growth rate of 8.6%
  • Acquisitions contributed 0.7% to revenue growth
  • Gross margin expansion of 60 basis points to 50.4%
  • Disciplined execution of strategy and on-going technology investments

“We delivered another strong quarter, with record revenue driven by attractive growth across all our business segments, an all-time high operating margin and robust cash generation. These results reflect the disciplined execution of our strategy, the benefits of our on-going technology investments and the exceptional commitment of our employee-partners to serving our customers.”

Cintas CEO, on the earnings call

Forward Guidance & Outlook

Cintas raised its full fiscal year 2026 guidance. Annual revenue expectations were increased to a range of $11.15 billion to $11.22 billion (up from $11.06 billion to $11.18 billion). Diluted EPS guidance was raised to $4.81 to $4.88 (up from $4.74 to $4.86). Fiscal 2026 interest expense, net, is expected to be approximately $104.0 million compared to $95.5 million in fiscal 2025 due to refinancing senior notes at higher rates and higher commercial paper usage. The fiscal 2026 effective tax rate is expected to be 20.0%. Guidance does not assume future acquisitions, assumes constant foreign currency exchange rates, and does not include the impact of future share buybacks or significant economic disruptions. A $15 million gain on land sale recognized in Q3 fiscal 2025 will not repeat and will create a headwind in Q3 fiscal 2026 comparisons.

CTAS YoY Financials

Q2 2026 vs Q2 2025 · SEC filings Q2 2025 Q2 2026
$0$800.0M$1.6B$2.4B$2.6B$2.8BRevenue$1.3B$1.4BGross Profit$591.4M$655.7MOperating Income$448.5M$495.3MNet Income
$0$800.0M$1.6B$2.4BRevenueGross ProfitOperating IncomeNet Income

CTAS Revenue by Segment

Uniform Rental and Facility Services$2.2B+8.3%
First Aid and Safety Services$342.2M+14.3%
All Other$302.4M+11.1%

Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.