Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) Stock

Cintas

Cintas has roots tracing back to 1929, during which the Farmer family cleaned and re-sold dirty rags to manufacturing plants in Ohio. The firm has grown its business organically and through acquisitions, and today Cintas acts as a one-stop outsourcing partner for businesses. Cintas will design, manufacture, collect, and clean every employee uniform for a small weekly sum, taking on the upfront capital expense itself. In the same stop, Cintas can also replace soiled or depleted mats, mops, trash liners, towels, first aid, fire, and cleaning products. Businesses value an outsourcing partner like Cintas as it simplifies operations and leaves noncore tasks with high regulatory standards in the hands of professionals.

CTAS

Cintas Inc. (NASDAQ:CTAS) is a leading provider of workplace uniforms in the business services sector. As the dominant player in the uniform and facility services industry, Cintas has been trying to grow its market share

Cintas: Trade Uncertainty Creates a Buy-the-Dip Opportunity

Cintas Corp

Cintas's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NYSE">CTAS</a>) short percent of float has fallen 12.18% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.24 million shares sold short, which is 1.73% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.77 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Cintas Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738008917_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Cintas has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Cintas's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Cintas's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.27%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Looking Into Cintas's Recent Short Interest

Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 13.94% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 25.89%. Currently, Cintas has a market capitalization of $80.45 billion. 
Buying $1000 In CTAS: If an investor had bought $1000 of CTAS stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $31,580.20 today based on a price of $199.35 for CTAS at the time of writing.
<h3>Cintas's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737128709_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

News

$1000 Invested In Cintas 15 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNF#NYSE">UNF</a>) shares are trading higher after the company reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/g42871614/unifirst-announces-financial-results-for-the-first-quarter-of-fiscal-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter results</a>.
Quarterly sales of&nbsp;$604.91 million&nbsp;missed the analyst&nbsp;consensus of&nbsp;$606.62 million.
UniFirst registered&nbsp;an operating income of&nbsp;$55.5&nbsp;million,&nbsp;an increase of&nbsp;4.5%&nbsp;year over year.
Adjusted&nbsp;EBITDA increased to&nbsp;$94.0&nbsp;million&nbsp;from&nbsp;$88.7&nbsp;million&nbsp;in the prior year. Adjusted EPS&nbsp;of $2.40&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the consensus of $2.22</a>.
UniFirst reported expenses of approximately $2.5 million in the quarter related to its key initiatives, including customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning projects. These items had a $0.09 effect in the&nbsp;first quarter.
UniFirst said its cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled&nbsp;$181.0&nbsp;million&nbsp;as of November 30, with no long-term debt outstanding.
Outlook:&nbsp;UniFirst revised its FY25 revenue outlook to $2.425 billion &#8211; $2.440 billion from $2.425 billion &#8211; $2.445 billion, in line with the $2.434 billion estimate.
The company maintained its FY25 EPS guidance of $6.79 &#8211; $7.19, against the consensus of $7.67. This&nbsp;outlook&nbsp;continues to include an estimated&nbsp;$16.0 million&nbsp;of costs directly attributable to key initiatives that it anticipates will be expensed in fiscal 2025.
Yesterday, Cintas Corporation submitted a proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42849347/unifirst-shares-skyrocket-as-cintas-reveals-275-per-share-acquisition-offer" rel="noreferrer noopener">UniFirst for $275 per share in cash</a>.
This offer, which represents a 46% premium to UniFirst&#8217;s ninety-day average closing price as of January 6, 2025, values UniFirst at approximately $5.3 billion.
Meanwhile, UniFirst&nbsp;rejected the proposal, claiming it was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42852132" rel="noreferrer noopener">not in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.</a>
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Brandes International ETF Brandes U.S. Small-Mid Cap Value ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSMC#BATS">BSMC</a>).
Price Action: UNF shares are trading higher by 4.09% at $213.07 at the last check Wednesday.
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Earnings

Equities

Mid Cap

Guidance

Movers

BSMC

Cintas-Targeted Uniform Supplier UniFirst Reports Mixed Q1 Results; Adjusts Annual Revenue Outlook

U.S. stocks turned lower midway through trading, with the Nasdaq Composite falling around 1.5% on Tuesday.
The Dow traded down 0.11% to 42,658.41 while the NASDAQ dipped 1.51% to 19,565.71. The S&amp;P 500 also fell, dropping, 0.74% to 5,931.02.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42839544/wells-fargo-gears-up-for-q4-print-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts">Wells Fargo Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts</a>
Leading and Lagging Sectors Energy shares jumped by 1.3% on Tuesday.
In trading on Tuesday, information technology shares fell by 1.5%.
Top Headline
RPM International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPM#NYSE">RPM</a>) reported better-than-expected second-quarter results.
Sales increased 3% year over year to $1.845 billion, beating the consensus of $1.789 billion. Adjusted EPS was $1.39, beating the consensus of $1.34.
For the third quarter, RPM expects consolidated sales to remain flat compared to prior-year records, with CPG sales increasing slightly, PCG sales flat to slightly higher, and SPG and Consumer Group sales declining modestly.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Getty Images Holdings, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GETY#NYSE">GETY</a>) shares shot up 26% to $3.2250. Getty Images and Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSTK#NYSE">SSTK</a>) entered a deal to create a visual content company in a merger of equals. The combined company will have an enterprise value of approximately $3.7 billion.</li>
<li>Shares of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOTH#NASDAQ">HOTH</a>)got a boost, surging 223% to $2.6500 after the company announced safety results from its Phase 2a trial, showing that 100% of patients in Cohort 1 achieved the primary efficacy endpoint.</li>
<li>UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNF#NYSE">UNF</a>) shares were also up, gaining 28% to $216.09 after Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) submitted a proposal to acquire the company for $275 per share.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Acelyrin, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLRN#NASDAQ">SLRN</a>) shares dropped 36% to $2.2400 after the company announced additional Phase 2 data and the Phase 3 program design for lonigutamab in Thyroid Eye Disease. HC Wainwright &amp; Co. cut its price target on the stock from $8 to $6.</li>
<li>Shares of Amesite Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMST#NASDAQ">AMST</a>) were down 31% to $2.7800 after the company announced a $3.6 million public offering of 1.2 million shares.</li>
<li>Lifeward Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LFWD#NASDAQ">LFWD</a>) was down, falling 28% to $2.1840 after the company announced a $5 million registered direct offering.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 0.9% to $74.20 while gold traded up 0.4% at $2,658.20.
Silver traded up 0.2% to $30.630 on Tuesday, while copper rose 0.4% to $4.1800.
Euro zone
European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 gained 0.41%, Germany's DAX 40 gained 0.57% and France's CAC 40 climbed 0.65%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index rose 0.17%, while London's FTSE 100 slipped 0.09%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mostly higher on Tuesday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 1.97%, China's Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.71%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declining 1.22% and India's BSE Sensex rising 0.30%.
Economics
The U.S. trade deficit increased to $78.2 billion in November versus a revised $73.6 billion gap in the previous month and mostly in-line with market estimates. Imports increased 3.4% to $351.6 billion, while exports rose 2.7% to $273.4 billion.
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Eurozone

Commodities

Intraday Update

Markets

AMST

GETY

HOTH

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SLRN

SSTK

Nasdaq Down 1.5%; RPM Posts Upbeat Results

UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNF#NYSE">UNF</a>) ("UniFirst" or the "Company") today confirmed that in November and December 2024, its Board of Directors received and unanimously rejected an unsolicited, non-binding and highly conditional proposal from Cintas Corporation to acquire all outstanding common and Class B shares of UniFirst for $275.00 per share.
Consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its independent advisors, the Board conducted a careful review of the unsolicited proposal and determined that it is not in the best interests of UniFirst, its shareholders and other stakeholders. In making its determination, the Board considered the offer price, execution and business risks, feedback from some of the Company's largest shareholders by voting power, and the Company's future growth and value creation opportunities.
The UniFirst Board and management team remain confident in the strategy the Company is executing and the opportunities ahead to create significant shareholder value. The Board and management team are committed to creating value for all shareholders and will continue to take actions to achieve that objective.

Management

UniFirst Confirms Rejection Of Unsolicited, Non-Binding And Highly Conditional Acquisition Proposal From Cintas To Acquire All Outstanding Common And Class B Shares For $275 Per Share

WIIM

Cintas shares are trading higher after the company announced a proposal to acquire UniFirst.

U.S. stocks were lower, with the Nasdaq Composite falling around 150 points on Tuesday.
Shares of UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNF#NYSE">UNF</a>) rose sharply during Tuesday's session after Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) submitted a proposal to acquire the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNF">company for $275 per share</a>.
UniFirst shares jumped 31.8% to $223.18 on Tuesday.
Here are some other big stocks recording gains in today's session.
<ul>
<li>Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GETY#NYSE">GETY</a>) surged 33.7% to $3.44. Getty Images and Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSTK#NYSE">SSTK</a>) entered a deal to create a visual content company in a merger of equals. The combined company will have an enterprise value of approximately $3.7 billion.</li>
<li>Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AUR#NASDAQ">AUR</a>) rose 29.5% to $8.42 after the company announced a partnership with NVIDIA, with NVIDIA&#8217;s DRIVE Thor and DriveOS to be integrated into the Aurora Driver.</li>
<li>Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSTK#NYSE">SSTK</a>) shares gained 22% to $36.69. Getty Images and Shutterstock entered a deal to create a visual content company in a merger of equals.</li>
<li>Inari Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NARI#NASDAQ">NARI</a>) rose 22% to $79.28 after Stryker agreed to acquire the company for $80 per share or equity value of approximately $4.9 billion.</li>
<li>Enovix Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENVX#NASDAQ">ENVX</a>) gained 19.6% to $14.90 after the company secured a major pre-paid order for advanced silicon batteries from leading AI and MR tech company.</li>
<li>Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NMG#NYSE">NMG</a>) shares jumped 17.1% to $2.46.</li>
<li>Nuvation Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUVB#NASDAQ">NUVB</a>) gained 14.2% to $3.2450.</li>
<li>Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) shares rose 10.4% to $47.00.</li>
<li>Frontline plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRO#NYSE">FRO</a>) shares gained 10% to $15.69.</li>
<li>Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEN#NYSE">PEN</a>) rose 7.2% to $254.43.</li>
<li>GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDS#NASDAQ">GDS</a>) shares rose 7% to $27.14.</li>
<li>Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) gained 6.3% to $200.83. RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson upgraded Carvana from Sector Perform to Outperform and raised the price target from $270 to $280.</li>
<li>XPeng Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>) shares rose 6.2% to $12.48. XPeng announced a joint initiative with Volkswagen to build super-fast EV charging networks in China. Also, the company selected RTI Connext Drive to streamline communication for its next-generation vehicle architecture.</li>
</ul>
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CVNA

ENVX

MRNA

NARI

NUVB

XPEV

UniFirst, Getty Images, Shutterstock And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Tuesday

Unifirst Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNF#NYSE">UNF</a>) shares are trading higher on Tuesday. Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) has made a solid move by submitting a proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b42844424/cintas-proposes-to-acquire-unifirst-for-275-00-per-share-in-cash" rel="noreferrer noopener">UniFirst for $275 per share in cash.</a>
This offer, which represents a 46% premium to UniFirst&#8217;s ninety-day average closing price as of January 6, 2025, values UniFirst at approximately $5.3 billion.
The $275 per share offer is also a 54% premium to UniFirst&#8217;s closing price on February 7, 2022, when Cintas initially made a proposal of $255 per share. Cintas&nbsp;noted that UniFirst has repeatedly rejected Cintas&#8217; attempts to engage in discussions.
Per the press release today, Cintas made multiple efforts to initiate collaborative talks, even expressing willingness to increase the offer price and explore alternative forms of consideration for the benefit of UniFirst shareholders. However, UniFirst&#8217;s board has declined to meet and engage with Cintas at every turn.
Read Next: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42835923/jensen-huang-unveils-monster-gpus-nvidias-rtx-5000-series-starting-at-549" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jensen Huang Unveils Monster GPUs: Nvidia&#8217;s RTX 5000 Series Starting At $549</a>
Todd Schneider, President and CEO of Cintas, emphasized the strategic fit between the two companies, stating that the acquisition would drive growth through enhanced technology investments, processing capacity, and greater route density.
&#8220;While we would have preferred to have discussions with UniFirst in private, this is the second time in nearly three years that UniFirst has refused our constructive attempts to engage on an extremely compelling offer. Our decision to publicize our Proposal reflects our conviction in the merits of the combination, the value we place on UniFirst and its team and belief that UniFirst shareholders should know the value they stand to realize,&#8221; Schneider said.
Cintas&nbsp;said the proposed merger would also help the two companies tackle increasing competition from larger, better-capitalized firms in the garment and facility solutions sector.
Cintas said it is confident that the acquisition will create significant operational synergies and benefit both companies&#8217; shareholders. It is also committed to a smooth regulatory review process, with no financing contingencies, as the offer will be financed through Cintas&#8217; cash on hand, committed lines of credit, or other available funding sources.
While Cintas has publicly disclosed the details of its proposal, it continues to call on UniFirst&#8217;s board, management, and controlling shareholders to engage in meaningful discussions to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
While releasing its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42844424" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter results in December 2024</a>, Cintas said its fiscal year 2025 interest net is expected to be approximately $101.0 million compared to $95.0 million in the fiscal year 2024, predominately as a result of higher variable rate debt. This may change as a result of future share buybacks or acquisition activity.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Price Action: UNF shares are trading higher by 31.8% to $223.18 at last check Tuesday, while CTAS shares are trading higher by 3.44% to $191.48.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/futures/25/01/42841776/us-stocks-could-open-on-a-tentative-note-nvidia-amd-and-toyota-on-investors-radar-experts-flag-over-reliance-on-ai-tech-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Could Open On A Tentative Note; Nvidia, AMD And Toyota On Investors&#8217; Radar: Experts Flag Over Reliance On AI, Tech Stocks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

General

UniFirst Shares Skyrocket As Cintas Reveals $275 Per Share Acquisition Offer

Proposal represents 46% premium to UniFirst's 90-day average price as of January 6, 2025
Combination would accelerate benefits to customers, employee-partners and shareholders from ongoing technology investments
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) today announced that it submitted a proposal to the Board of Directors of UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNF#NYSE">UNF</a>) to acquire all outstanding common and class B shares of UniFirst for $275.00 per share (the "Proposal") in cash. The Proposal implies a total value for UniFirst of approximately $5.3 billion and offers UniFirst shareholders a 46% premium to UniFirst's ninety-day average closing price as of January 6, 2025.
The Proposal was initially delivered to the UniFirst Board on November 8, 2024. Despite Cintas' multiple attempts to engage in a collaborative discussion, including a willingness to identify potential sources of additional value that would enable Cintas to increase its offer price and the Company's openness to exploring alternative forms of consideration for the benefit of UniFirst shareholders, UniFirst's Board has refused to meet.

Cintas Proposes To Acquire UniFirst For $275 Per Share In Cash

Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 6.78% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 15.1%. Currently, Cintas has a market capitalization of $73.55 billion. 
Buying $100 In CTAS: If an investor had bought $100 of CTAS stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $1,701.56 today based on a price of $182.28 for CTAS at the time of writing.
<h3>Cintas's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735678814_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $100 In This Stock 20 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

Cintas's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NYSE">CTAS</a>) short percent of float has risen 8.24% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.94 million shares sold short, which is 1.97% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.43 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Cintas Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735144220_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Cintas has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Cintas's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Cintas's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.39%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Cintas?

These eleven large-cap stocks were the worst performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
<ol>
<li>Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) shares dipped 20.52% after the company released headline results from the REDEFINE 1 Phase 3 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42613036" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trial in the global REDEFINE program</a>.</li>
<li>Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) stock declined 14.33% after the company announced results from its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42599745" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phase 2 study of Suzetrigine</a>.</li>
<li>XPO, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPO#NYSE">XPO</a>) shares were down 13.47%.</li>
<li>Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) shares fell 13.33% last week as the company is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42520765" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">set to be removed</a> from the Nasdaq 100 Index.</li>
<li>Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>) stock plummeted 13.07%. A new government fiscal spending package and last week&#8217;s central bank rate hike could erode global investor confidence and raise concerns over the nation&#8217;s deficit.</li>
<li>Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) stock was down 13.01%, likely due to continued weakness stemming from its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42538739" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ongoing legal dispute</a> with Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>).</li>
<li>Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) shares decreased 12.08% after the company reported mixed earnings results and issued weak guidance for the current quarter. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42594359" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Multiple analysts also lowered price forecasts</a>.</li>
<li>Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYC#NYSE">PAYC</a>) stock lost 11.63% last week, a result of the Fed rate decision that caused a selloff in software stocks.</li>
<li>Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) stock declined 11.50% after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42588404" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter financial results</a>. Several analysts lowered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ctas/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the price forecast on the stock</a>.</li>
<li>Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42603589" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">declined 11.43%</a>.</li>
<li>monday.com Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNDY#NASDAQ">MNDY</a>) stock dived 11.20% after Citigroup cut its price forecast <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/mndy/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on the stock from $338 to $302</a>.</li>
</ol>
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/12/42638256/teva-pharmaceutical-li-auto-and-darden-restaurants-are-among-top-large-cap-gainers-last-week-december-16-20-are-the-others-in-your-portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Teva Pharmaceutical, Li Auto, And Darden Restaurants Are Among Top Large Cap Gainers Last Week (December 16-20): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Large Cap

MNDY

MSTR

PAYC

QCOM

SMCI

VRTX

Novo Nordisk, Super Micro Computer And Arm Are Among Top Large Cap Losers Last Week (December 16-20): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

In the current market session, Cintas Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) share price is at $186.43, after a 1.99% spike. Moreover, over the past month, the stock fell by 15.93%, but in the past year, went up by 23.79%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734726613_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Cintas P/E Ratio Analysis in Relation to Industry Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Cintas has a lower P/E than the aggregate P/E of 44.59 of the Commercial Services &amp; Supplies industry. Ideally, one might believe that the stock might perform worse than its peers, but it's also probable that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734726613_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

A Look Into Cintas Inc's Price Over Earnings

Goldman Sachs analyst George Tong maintains Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $236 to $211.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Goldman Sachs Maintains Buy on Cintas, Lowers Price Target to $211

Truist Securities analyst Jasper Bibb maintains Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $225 to $215.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Cintas, Lowers Price Target to $215

UBS analyst Joshua Chan maintains Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $240 to $218.

UBS Maintains Buy on Cintas, Lowers Price Target to $218

RBC Capital analyst Ashish Sabadra reiterates Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) with a Sector Perform and maintains $215 price target.

Reiteration

RBC Capital Reiterates Sector Perform on Cintas, Maintains $215 Price Target

During the last three months, 11 analysts shared their evaluations of Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>), revealing diverse outlooks from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $209.73, along with a high estimate of $245.00 and a low estimate of $184.00. This current average represents a 14.08% decrease from the previous average price target of $244.09. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734703219_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis</h2>
A clear picture of Cintas's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jason Haas</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$184.00</td>
<td>$191.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Wittmann</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$209.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Toni Kaplan</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$202.00</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Manav Patnaik</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$245.00</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephanie Moore</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Adjusts</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$730.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>George Tong</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$236.00</td>
<td>$212.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Toni Kaplan</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Haas</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$191.00</td>
<td>$184.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Chan</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$219.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ashish Sabadra</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
<td>$181.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Wittmann</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$209.00</td>
<td>$194.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Cintas. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Cintas compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Cintas's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Cintas's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CTAS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Cintas analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Cintas Better</h2>
Cintas has roots tracing back to 1929, during which the Farmer family cleaned and re-sold dirty rags to manufacturing plants in Ohio. The firm has grown its business organically and through acquisitions, and today Cintas acts as a one-stop outsourcing partner for businesses. Cintas will design, manufacture, collect, and clean every employee uniform for a small weekly sum, taking on the upfront capital expense itself. In the same stop, Cintas can also replace soiled or depleted mats, mops, trash liners, towels, first aid, fire, and cleaning products. Businesses value an outsourcing partner like Cintas as it simplifies operations and leaves noncore tasks with high regulatory standards in the hands of professionals.
<h3>Cintas: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Cintas showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 6.8% as of 31 August, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 18.0%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Cintas's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 10.8%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Cintas's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 4.94% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: Cintas's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 0.71, the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Cintas Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (11 Ratings)

Wells Fargo analyst Jason Haas maintains Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $191 to $184.

Wells Fargo Maintains Underweight on Cintas, Lowers Price Target to $184

Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann maintains Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $209 to $200.

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