Cintas

CTAS · Nasdaq · Industrials · Financials, fiscal 2017 to 2026

CTAS · Last close · October 26, 2026

$225.93

Cintas' revenue rose 8.9% to $11.3 billion in fiscal 2026. Its operating margin was 23.1%, up from 22.8% a year earlier. Free cash flow was $1.9 billion, up 7.1%. It paid out $1.7 billion in dividends and buybacks, 88% of free cash flow. The diluted share count fell 1.0%.

Cintas Corporation Latest fiscal year ended May 31, 2026 10-K filed July 29, 2026 · 0000723254-26-000028 Updated October 10, 2026

Revenue

$11.3B

8.9%

Operating margin

23.1%

0.3 pts

Net income

$2.0B

10.4%

Free cash flow

$1.9B

7.1%

Return on capital

31.7%

2.3 pts

Market cap

$91.3B

Oct 26 close

P/E

44.6x

On $5.07 EPS, 4 qtrs

Operating margin is operating income as a share of revenue. Free cash flow is cash from operations minus capital spending. Return on capital is after-tax operating income as a share of the money invested in the business: debt plus equity, minus cash. Market cap is the last closing share price times the latest diluted share count, so it is approximate. P/E is the last close divided by diluted earnings per share over the last four quarters, or the latest fiscal year where the quarters aren't available; there is none when the company made a loss.

About these figures. Share counts and per-share figures for earlier years are restated for a stock split (4-for-1), so every year is on today's share basis.

Charts show fiscal years, from the 10-K filings.

Revenue and margins

Revenue

US$ billions, fiscal years

Margins

Percent of revenue

GrossOperatingNetFree cash flow

Net income and earnings per share

From fiscal 2017 to 2026, earnings per share grew 18.2% a year and net income 17.2% a year, as buybacks cut the share count by 6%.

Net income

US$ billions, fiscal years; loss years in red.

Diluted earnings per share

US$ per share, fiscal years, restated for any stock splits; loss years in red.

Returns on capital

Return on capital and on equity

Percent. Return on capital is after-tax operating income over the money invested in the business (debt plus equity, minus cash); return on equity is net income over shareholders' equity. Both use the average of opening and closing balances.

Return on capitalReturn on equity

Cash flow

Free cash flow

US$ billions. Cash from operations minus capital expenditure; negative years in red.

Payouts and share count

Dividends and buybacks

US$ billions, cash paid in each fiscal year

DividendsShare buybacks

Diluted share count

Weighted-average diluted shares, millions

Valuation

Two ways to value Cintas yourself, both starting from its filings: a discounted cash flow model and the price-to-earnings method.

What Cintas says to expect

Fiscal 2027: revenue and adjusted EPSAs 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.
Fiscal 2027: effective tax rateFiscal year 2027 effective tax rate is expected to be 20.4% compared to 20.2% in fiscal year 2026.

The company's own words, from its earnings release (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99), filed September 23, 2026. They are its expectations, not ours, and not a forecast or price target from The Filing Desk. Replaced when the next release is out.

Discounted cash flow (DCF)

A discounted cash flow (DCF) model values a business as the cash it may generate in future, discounted back to today. The starting figures come from Cintas' 10-K (or, for net cash and shares, its latest 10-Q) and the assumptions are yours: start from one of three example scenarios, then change any figure to see what it implies for a share, and how that compares with the last share price.

Value per share on three example scenarios, from Cintas' fiscal 2026 free cash flow of $1.9B, net cash of −$1.1B at May 31, 2026 and 406 million diluted shares, from its filings. The scenarios are fitted to Cintas: the base scenario's growth in years 1 to 5 is its revenue growth over the last 3 years, 8.5% a year; the cautious and optimistic ones are lower and higher, and growth in years 6 to 10 is halfway to the long-run rate. The base scenario's discount rate is 9% for a business of moderate risk (Diversified Support Services); the cautious and optimistic ones use a point more and a point less. Select one to load it into the calculator. These are the model's arithmetic on those assumptions, not a forecast or a price target.

From the filings

Starting free cash flow, US$ millions

Cash from operations minus capital spending in fiscal 2026.

Net cash, US$ millions

Cash and short-term investments minus debt and finance leases at May 31, 2026. Negative means net debt.

Diluted shares, millions

Weighted-average diluted shares in fiscal 2026.

Your assumptions

Start from

Fitted to Cintas's own revenue growth, as above. Cautious: growth of 4.5% then 3% a year, 2% after year 10, a 10% discount rate. Base: growth of 8.5% then 5.5% a year, 2.5% after year 10, a 9% discount rate. Optimistic: growth of 13% then 8% a year, 3% after year 10, a 8% discount rate.

Free cash flow growth, years 1 to 5 (% a year)

Free cash flow growth, years 6 to 10 (% a year)

Growth after year 10 (% a year)Long-run growth forever after year 10. Usually close to inflation, and always below the discount rate.

Discount rate (% a year)The yearly return an investor wants for the risk. A higher rate gives a lower value.

Value per share on these assumptions

—

Last close, October 26, 2026: $225.93
Value on these assumptions, against the last close: —

Cash flows in years 1 to 10, valued today: —
Everything after year 10, valued today: —
Plus net cash: —
Share of value from after year 10: —

Projected free cash flow

US$ billions. Each column is one year's projected free cash flow, split into what it is worth today and the part removed by discounting.

Value todayRemoved by discounting

How the value changes with two assumptions

Value per share in US$, with the growth rates above. The highlighted cell matches the current assumptions.

How the model works. Free cash flow grows at the first rate for five years and the second rate for five more, and each year is discounted at the discount rate. Everything after year 10 is valued as year-10 cash flow × (1 + growth after year 10) ÷ (discount rate − growth after year 10), discounted back ten years. Net cash is added and the total is divided by diluted shares. The result depends entirely on the assumptions. It is not a forecast, a price target or a recommendation. The last close is the consolidated US closing price, from Databento.

Price-to-earnings (P/E) method

Another common way to value a company is to multiply its earnings per share by a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple: the number of years of today's earnings an investor pays for a share. A higher multiple usually means investors expect earnings to grow. Choose a multiple, for example from similar companies, to see the value it gives.

Value per share on three example scenarios, from Cintas' earnings per share of $5.07 (over the last four quarters). Each grows earnings for a year at the cash flow scenarios' rates and applies a multiple to next year's earnings: 26.7×, the middle of Cintas' own P/E today, its peers' median and its sector's median (the Industrials median) for the base scenario, 20% less and more for the cautious and optimistic ones. The price is brought back a year at 10%, 9% and 8%. Select one to load it into the calculator. These are the model's arithmetic on those assumptions, not a forecast or a price target.

Earnings per share, US$

Diluted earnings per share over the four quarters to August 31, 2026, from the 10-Qs and 10-K.

P/E multiple

P/E today is the last close divided by the latest earnings per share, the four quarters' where available. Peers: CACI International, KBR, Leidos, Science Applications Intl.

Earnings growth in the years ahead (% a year) Starts at Cintas' revenue growth over the last 3 years, 8.5% a year, as the base scenario does.

Earnings per share in the years ahead, US$

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5

Type your own estimate for any year; the years after it carry on at the growth rate.

Apply the multiple to earnings

A multiple on a future year's earnings gives the price then, brought back to today at the discount rate below.

Discount rate (% a year) The yearly return an investor wants for the risk, as in the cash flow model.

Value per share today at this multiple

—

Last close, October 26, 2026: $225.93
Value at this multiple, against the last close: —
Cintas' P/E at the last close: 44.6×

Company	Last close	Earnings per share	P/E today
CintasCTAS	$225.93	$5.07	44.6×
CACI InternationalCACI	$665.00	$24.36	27.3×
Science Applications IntlSAIC	$148.51	$8.56	17.3×
LeidosLDOS	$139.86	$10.71	13.1×
KBRKBR	$40.02	$3.33	12.0×

How the P/E method works. Value per share is earnings per share times the multiple. On a future year's earnings, that gives the price in that year, which is brought back to today at the discount rate: price ÷ (1 + discount rate) for each year ahead. It is quick and easy to compare across companies, but it ignores debt and cash, and earnings can swing with one-off gains and charges, so a multiple says most about steady, profitable businesses. Like the cash flow model, the result depends entirely on the assumptions you choose. It is not a forecast, a price target or a recommendation.

Balance sheet

Fiscal year end	FY22	FY23	FY24	FY25	FY26
Cash and short-term investments	90	124	342	264	289
Debt incl. finance leases	2,484	2,486	2,026	2,425	1,429
Net debt (negative means net cash)	2,393	2,362	1,684	2,161	1,140
Net debt to EBITDA	1.2x	1.1x	0.7x	0.8x	0.4x
Debt to equity	0.8x	0.6x	0.5x	0.5x	0.3x
Interest coverage	17.9x	16.2x	20.5x	23.3x	24.5x
Current ratio	1.8x	2.4x	1.7x	2.1x	1.4x
Quick ratio	1.5x	2.0x	1.5x	1.8x	1.3x

US$ millions unless stated, at each fiscal year end. Net debt to EBITDA is debt minus cash, divided by operating income before depreciation and amortization: roughly how many years of those earnings the net debt equals. Debt to equity is debt as a multiple of shareholders' equity. Interest coverage is operating income divided by interest expense. The current ratio is current assets over current liabilities; the quick ratio leaves out inventory.

Insider trades

Over the 12 months between October 27, 2025 and October 26, 2026, no insider bought Cintas shares on the open market, and 2 insiders sold $3.6 million.

Date	Insider	Trade	Shares	Price	Value	Filing
Jul 22, 2026	Ronald W TysoeDirector	Sold	4,363	$199.90	$872,164	Form 4
Jul 16, 2026	Melanie W. BarstadDirector	Sold	9,142	$202.94	$1.9 million	Form 4
Apr 20, 2026	Ronald W TysoeDirector	Sold	4,666	$178.87	$834,607	Form 4

Open-market purchases and sales by officers, directors and 10% owners, from their Form 4 filings with the SEC: one row per person, day and filing, at the day's average price. Grants, option exercises and shares withheld for tax aren't counted. Insiders buy and sell for many reasons, such as taxes, spreading their savings or a plan set up months earlier, so a trade on its own says little about where a company is heading. For information only, not investment advice. Insider trades at all companies

Piotroski F-score

The F-score counts how many of nine simple tests of profitability, funding and efficiency a company passed in a year (Piotroski, 2000). The more tests passed, the stronger the year: 8 or 9 is strong, 0 to 2 weak. Companies that report no gross profit are scored on the other eight.

Test	FY24	FY25	FY26
Net income is positive	Pass	Pass	Pass
Cash from operations is positive	Pass	Pass	Pass
Return on assets rose	Pass	Pass	Pass
Cash from operations exceeds net income	Pass	Pass	Pass
Debt fell relative to assets	Pass	Fail	Pass
Current ratio rose	Fail	Pass	Fail
Share count didn't rise	Pass	Pass	Pass
Gross margin rose	Pass	Pass	Pass
Revenue rose relative to assets	Pass	Pass	Pass
F-score	8 of 9	8 of 9	8 of 9
Accruals ratio	−5.6%	−3.7%	−2.7%

The accruals ratio is net income minus cash from operations, over average total assets.

Compare

Put Cintas side by side with any other company we cover: revenue, growth, margins, cash flow and returns, with ten years of charts.

Similar companies

Company	Year	Revenue growth	Operating margin	Free cash flow margin	Return on capital	Net debt to EBITDA	F-score	Compare
Cintas	FY26	8.9%	23.1%	16.7%	31.7%	0.4x	8
CACI International	FY26	10.9%	9.6%	8.2%	8.8%	4.7x	5	Compare
KBR	FY25	1.0%	10.0%	6.6%	15.8%	2.2x	7	Compare
Leidos	FY25	3.1%	12.3%	9.5%	19.2%	1.5x	9	Compare
Science Applications Intl	FY26	−2.9%	7.2%	8.0%	12.8%	4.2x	7	Compare

Each company's latest fiscal year. Fiscal years end in different months, so the periods don't line up exactly. Free cash flow margin is free cash flow as a share of revenue. Net debt to EBITDA is explained under the balance sheet, and the F-score above.

10 years of figures

Fiscal year	FY17	FY18	FY19	FY20	FY21	FY22	FY23	FY24	FY25	FY26
Income statement
Revenue	5,323	6,477	6,892	7,085	7,116	7,854	8,816	9,597	10,340	11,265
Revenue growth	11.0%	21.7%	6.4%	2.8%	0.4%	10.4%	12.2%	8.9%	7.8%	8.9%
Gross profit	2,380	2,908	3,129	3,234	3,315	3,632	4,173	4,686	5,174	5,708
Research and development	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Operating income	774	950	1,134	1,163	1,386	1,587	1,803	2,069	2,360	2,606
Net income	481	843	885	876	1,111	1,236	1,348	1,572	1,812	2,000
Diluted EPS (US$)	1.09	1.89	2.00	2.03	2.56	2.91	3.25	3.79	4.40	4.91
Diluted shares (millions)	431	439	438	428	431	422	414	414	410	406
Cash flow
Cash from operations	764	964	1,068	1,292	1,361	1,538	1,586	2,068	2,166	2,276
Capital expenditure	273	272	277	230	144	241	331	410	409	395
Free cash flow	491	692	791	1,061	1,217	1,297	1,255	1,659	1,757	1,881
Dividends paid	142	176	221	268	451	375	450	531	612	702
Share buybacks	21	127	1,016	464	554	1,526	399	700	935	952
Acquisitions	2,102	19	10	54	10	164	46	187	233	164
Stock-based compensation	89	113	139	115	112	109	104	117	128	128
Balance sheet at fiscal year end
Cash and short-term investments	192	139	97	145	494	90	124	342	264	289
Debt incl. finance leases	2,821	2,535	2,850	2,540	1,643	2,484	2,486	2,026	2,425	1,429
Total assets	6,844	6,958	7,437	7,670	8,237	8,147	8,546	9,169	9,825	10,529
Total liabilities	4,541	3,942	4,434	4,435	4,549	4,839	4,682	4,852	5,141	5,389
Shareholders' equity	2,303	3,016	3,003	3,235	3,688	3,308	3,864	4,316	4,684	5,140
Margins and ratios
Gross margin	44.7%	44.9%	45.4%	45.6%	46.6%	46.2%	47.3%	48.8%	50.0%	50.7%
Operating margin	14.5%	14.7%	16.4%	16.4%	19.5%	20.2%	20.4%	21.6%	22.8%	23.1%
Net margin	9.0%	13.0%	12.8%	12.4%	15.6%	15.7%	15.3%	16.4%	17.5%	17.8%
Free cash flow margin	9.2%	10.7%	11.5%	15.0%	17.1%	16.5%	14.2%	17.3%	17.0%	16.7%
Return on capital	13.4%	17.1%	16.2%	16.9%	22.8%	24.8%	24.1%	26.9%	29.4%	31.7%
Return on equity	23.2%	31.7%	29.4%	28.1%	32.1%	35.3%	37.6%	38.4%	40.3%	40.7%
Return on assets	8.8%	12.2%	12.3%	11.6%	14.0%	15.1%	16.1%	17.7%	19.1%	19.6%
Net debt to EBITDA	2.7x	1.9x	1.8x	1.6x	0.7x	1.2x	1.1x	0.7x	0.8x	0.4x

US$ millions unless stated. Where a later 10-K restated a year, the latest filed figure is shown. Download all figures (CSV, US$ millions)

Source: Cintas' Form 10-K filings, from SEC EDGAR. For information only, not investment advice. The Filing Desk is not affiliated with Cintas.