Cintas Corporation Announces Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results
CINCINNATI, March 25 2026 -- Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported results for its fiscal 2026 third quarter ended February 28, 2026. Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 was $2.84 billion compared to $2.61 billion in last year’s third quarter, an increase of 8.9%. The organic revenue growth rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, which adjusts for the impacts of acquisitions and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, was 8.2%.
Gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 was $1.45 billion compared to $1.32 billion in last year’s third quarter, an increase of 9.8%. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was 51.0% for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, an all-time high, compared to 50.6% in last year's third quarter, an increase of 40 basis points.
Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 8.2% to $659.9 million compared to $609.9 million in last year's third quarter. Operating income as a percent of revenue was 23.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to 23.4% in last year's third quarter. Operating income for last year's third quarter benefited from a $15.0 million gain on the sale of property and equipment, which was recorded in selling and administrative expenses.
Net income was $502.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to $463.5 million in last year's third quarter, an increase of 8.4%. The third quarter of fiscal 2026 effective tax rate was 20.6% compared to 21.0% in last year's third quarter. The tax rates in both quarters were impacted by certain discrete items, primarily the tax accounting impact for stock-based compensation. Third quarter of fiscal 2026 diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.24 compared to $1.13 in last year's third quarter, an increase of 9.7%.
On March 13, 2026, Cintas paid an aggregate quarterly dividend of $180.0 million to shareholders. During the first nine months of fiscal 2026, Cintas has returned $1.45 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 successful quarter with record revenues and strong operating margins. Our 8.2% organic growth and all-time high gross margins in each of our three route-based businesses reflect the outstanding performance of our employee-partners and the clear impact of our investments in technology, capacity and talent. These results continue to showcase the strength and resilience of Cintas' value proposition."
Mr. Schneider concluded, "On March 10, 2026, Cintas entered into an agreement to acquire UniFirst Corporation. We are excited about the substantial value we expect to create for shareholders and customers through the UniFirst transaction and we look forward to welcoming UniFirst Team Partners to Cintas once we complete the transaction. As we enter into the final quarter of fiscal 2026, we are raising our full fiscal year financial guidance. We are raising our annual revenue expectations to a range of $11.21 billion to $11.24 billion and raising our adjusted diluted EPS to a range of $4.86 to $4.90. The adjusted EPS guide does not include the impact of non-recurring transaction expenses related to the UniFirst acquisition. Our diversified customer base, proven track record of execution and world-class employee-partners position us exceptionally well for continued growth. We remain committed to our balanced capital allocation strategy and delivering value for our shareholders and our customers."
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 excludes expected impacts from the pending 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 2026 interest, net is expected to be approximately $101.0 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 adjusted diluted EPS guidance does not include the impact of future share buybacks or significant economic disruptions or downturn.
- Adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes estimated non-recurring transaction costs related to the UniFirst acquisition. Transaction costs related to the UniFirst acquisition incurred during fiscal year 2026 are estimated to have an impact on diluted EPS in a range of $0.03 to $0.04.
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 third 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 2026 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,” “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. 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, shareholder, 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, 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