Cintas Corporation Announces Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results
CINCINNATI, December 18, 2025 -- Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter ended November 30, 2025. Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $2.80 billion compared to $2.56 billion in last year’s second quarter, an increase of 9.3%. Revenue growth in the quarter was positively impacted by 0.7% due to acquisitions. The organic revenue growth rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, which adjusts for the impacts of acquisitions and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, was 8.6%.
Gross margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $1.41 billion compared to $1.28 billion in last year’s second quarter, an increase of 10.6%. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 50.4% for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to 49.8% in last year's second quarter, an increase of 60 basis points.
Operating income for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 10.9% to $655.7 million compared to $591.4 million in last year's second quarter. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 23.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to 23.1% in last year's second quarter.
Net income was $495.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to $448.5 million in last year's second quarter, an increase of 10.4%. The second quarter of fiscal 2026 effective tax rate was 21.2% compared to 20.7% in last year's second quarter. The tax rates in both quarters were impacted by certain discrete items, primarily the tax accounting impact for stock-based compensation. Second quarter of fiscal 2026 diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.21 compared to $1.09 in last year's second quarter, an increase of 11.0%.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and through December 17, 2025, Cintas purchased shares of Cintas common stock under our share buyback programs, for a total purchase price of $622.5 million. On December 15, 2025, Cintas paid an aggregate quarterly dividend of $180.7 million to shareholders. During the first six months of fiscal 2026, Cintas has returned $1.24 billion in capital to its shareholders in the form of share buybacks and dividends.
Todd M. Schneider, Cintas’ President and Chief Executive Officer, stated “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."
Mr. Schneider concluded, "As we look ahead to the rest of fiscal 2026, we are raising our full fiscal year financial guidance. We are raising our annual revenue expectations from a range of $11.06 billion to $11.18 billion to a range of $11.15 billion to $11.22 billion and raising our diluted EPS guidance from a range of $4.74 to $4.86 to a range of $4.81 to $4.88. We remain focused on operational excellence and executing our balanced capital allocation strategy. With our differentiated culture, industry-leading products and services, and world-class team, Cintas is well-positioned to deliver sustainable growth and long-term value creation for our shareholders, customers and all stakeholders."
Please note the following regarding the annual revenue guidance:
- Both fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2025 have the same number of workdays for the year and by quarter.
- Guidance does not assume any future acquisitions.
- Guidance assumes a constant foreign currency exchange rate.
Please note the following regarding the diluted EPS guidance:
- Fiscal year 2026 interest, net is expected to be approximately $104.0 million compared to $95.5 million in fiscal year 2025, primarily as a result of refinancing senior notes at a higher interest rate in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, as well as higher variable rate interest expense from commercial paper as a result of buyback activity during fiscal 2026. Expected interest, net may change as a result of debt activity or issuance of commercial paper related to future share buybacks or acquisition activity.
- Fiscal year 2026 effective tax rate is expected to be 20.0%, which is the same as fiscal year 2025.
- Our diluted EPS guidance does not include the impact of future share buybacks or significant economic disruptions or downturn.
Please note the following regarding the third quarter of fiscal 2026:
- Cintas recognized a $15 million gain on the sale of land in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. That will not repeat in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and will be a headwind when comparing the third quarter results year over year.
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 2026 second 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.
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our future business plans and expectations, and including the company's fiscal 2026 full-year guidance. 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,” “target,” “forecast,” “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. 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. Factors that might cause such a difference 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; our ability to meet our 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 our common stock, if any; changes in global tax and labor laws; and the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service. 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, 2025 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
