Loading...
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
The earnings call summary indicates positive sentiment overall, with strong financial metrics, optimistic guidance, and strategic investments in growth areas like AI and technology. Despite some concerns about tariffs and management's reluctance to provide specific metrics, the consistent performance across verticals and focus on long-term growth through investments and M&A provide a positive outlook. The wider EPS guidance range accommodates these investments while maintaining margin improvement, suggesting confidence in future performance. The Q&A section reinforces this sentiment with no significant negative trends or risks highlighted.
Total Revenue $2.72 billion, an 8.7% increase year-over-year. Organic growth rate was 7.8%, attributed to strong performance across all three route-based businesses.
Gross Margin as a Percent of Revenue 50.3%, a 20 basis point increase year-over-year, driven by strategic sourcing and process improvement initiatives.
Operating Income $617.9 million, a 10.1% increase year-over-year, supported by revenue growth and margin expansion.
Diluted EPS $1.20, a 9.1% increase year-over-year, reflecting strong operational performance.
Organic Growth by Business Uniform Rental and Facility Services: 7.3%; First Aid and Safety Services: 14.1%; Fire Protection Services: 10.3%; Uniform Direct Sale: declined 9.2%. Reasons include strong revenue growth in the first three segments and a decline in Uniform Direct Sale.
Gross Margin by Business Uniform Rental and Facility Services: 49.7% (up 40 basis points); First Aid and Safety Services: 56.8%; Fire Protection Services: 48.9%; Uniform Direct Sale: 41.7%. Improvements due to strategic sourcing and investments in growth.
Selling and Administrative Expenses as a Percent of Revenue 27.5%, a 10 basis point decrease year-over-year, attributed to operational efficiencies.
Net Income $491.1 million, compared to $452 million last year, reflecting strong revenue and margin performance.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities $414.5 million, showcasing strong cash generation.
Capital Expenditures $102.0 million, reflecting ongoing investments in the business.
Carhartt high-visibility safety apparel: Expanded product line to include high-visibility safety apparel, which has been well-received by customers like a Northwest department of transportation. Benefits include improved safety compliance, reduced administrative effort, and predictable budgeting.
Revenue growth: Total revenue grew 8.7% to $2.72 billion in Q1 FY2026. Organic growth rate was 7.8%, with strong performance across all three route-based businesses.
Segment performance: Uniform Rental and Facility Services grew 7.3%, First Aid and Safety Services grew 14.1%, Fire Protection Services grew 10.3%, while Uniform Direct Sale declined 9.2%.
Gross margin improvement: Gross margin as a percentage of revenue increased to 50.3%, up 20 basis points from the prior year. Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment saw a 40 basis point improvement due to strategic sourcing and process improvements.
Operational investments: Investments in technology and process improvements have driven revenue growth and expanded margins. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased by 10 basis points.
Dividend increase: Quarterly cash dividend increased by 15.4%, marking the 42nd consecutive year of dividend growth.
Share buybacks: Repurchased $347.4 million worth of shares in Q1 FY2026 as part of the buyback program.
Regulatory and Economic Uncertainty: The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including potential regulatory changes and economic disruptions, which could materially impact the company's financial performance.
Decline in Uniform Direct Sale: The Uniform Direct Sale segment experienced a 9.2% decline in organic growth, which could indicate challenges in this business line.
Increased Tax Rate: The effective tax rate increased from 15.8% to 17.6%, which could impact net income and overall profitability.
Dependence on Strategic Investments: The company's growth and margin expansion rely heavily on ongoing investments in technology and process improvements, which may not yield the expected results.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Assumptions: The financial guidance assumes a constant foreign currency exchange rate, which could pose a risk if exchange rates fluctuate.
No Assumption of Significant Economic Disruptions: The guidance does not account for potential significant economic disruptions or downturns, which could adversely affect performance.
Revenue Guidance: The company expects fiscal 2026 revenue to be in the range of $11.06 billion to $11.18 billion, representing a total growth rate of 7% to 8.1%.
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Guidance: Diluted EPS for fiscal 2026 is projected to be in the range of $4.74 to $4.86, reflecting a growth rate of 7.7% to 10.5%.
Capital Allocation: The company plans to continue a balanced approach to capital allocation, including investments in business operations, quarterly dividends, and share buybacks. Fiscal 2026 guidance does not include future acquisitions or share buybacks.
Tax Rate Assumptions: The fiscal 2026 effective tax rate is expected to be 20.0%, consistent with fiscal 2025.
Market and Economic Assumptions: Guidance assumes no significant economic disruptions or downturns and a constant foreign currency exchange rate.
Quarterly Dividend Increase: Announced an increase of 15.4% in the quarterly cash dividend.
Dividend History: This marks the 42nd consecutive year of increasing the dividend since going public in 1983.
Share Buyback Program: Repurchased $347.4 million of Cintas shares during the first quarter.
Future Buybacks: Guidance does not include any future share buybacks.
The earnings call summary indicates strong financial performance with optimistic guidance, including a revenue growth forecast of 7% to 8.1% and EPS growth of 7.7% to 10.5%. The company's focus on investments in technology and capacity, along with a balanced capital allocation strategy, supports future growth. The Q&A section reveals a stable competitive environment and effective management of tariffs. Although management was vague on some specifics, the overall sentiment remains positive due to strong growth in key verticals and a focus on long-term shareholder value.
The earnings call summary indicates positive sentiment overall, with strong financial metrics, optimistic guidance, and strategic investments in growth areas like AI and technology. Despite some concerns about tariffs and management's reluctance to provide specific metrics, the consistent performance across verticals and focus on long-term growth through investments and M&A provide a positive outlook. The wider EPS guidance range accommodates these investments while maintaining margin improvement, suggesting confidence in future performance. The Q&A section reinforces this sentiment with no significant negative trends or risks highlighted.
The earnings call summary and Q&A indicate a balanced outlook. Strong organic growth and strategic verticals provide optimism, but sustainability concerns and unclear management responses temper enthusiasm. The revenue and EPS guidance are positive, but Q4 growth is not expected to continue. The lack of significant changes in market strategy and competitive landscape, along with consistent pricing, suggest stability. However, the absence of new partnerships or shareholder return announcements limits immediate positive catalysts. Overall, the sentiment is neutral, reflecting steady but unspectacular prospects.
The earnings call summary indicates strong financial performance with revenue growth and increased gross margins. The Q&A reveals no significant concerns, with stable customer behavior and strong margins. The company is actively investing in technology and M&A, with positive guidance for organic growth and EPS. Despite a challenging pricing environment, the company maintains a strategic advantage in supply chain management. Overall, the positive financial metrics and strategic initiatives suggest a positive stock price movement.
All transcripts are sourced directly from the official live webcast or the company’s official investor relations website. We use the exact words spoken during the call with no paraphrasing of the core discussion.
Full verbatim transcripts are typically published within 4–12 hours after the call ends. Same-day availability is guaranteed for all S&P 500 and most mid-cap companies.
No material content is ever changed or summarized in the “Full Transcript” section. We only correct obvious spoken typos (e.g., “um”, “ah”, repeated 10 times”, or clear misspoken ticker symbols) and add speaker names/titles for readability. Every substantive sentence remains 100% as spoken.
When audio quality is poor or multiple speakers talk over each other, we mark the section instead of guessing. This ensures complete accuracy rather than introducing potential errors.
They are generated by a specialized financial-language model trained exclusively on 15+ years of earnings transcripts. The model extracts financial figures, guidance, and tone with 97%+ accuracy and is regularly validated against human analysts. The full raw transcript always remains available for verification.