Cintas Corporation reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2026, with total revenue increasing by 8.9% to $2.91 billion for the quarter and $11.26 billion for the year. The company achieved a gross margin of 51% in Q4, matching an all-time high, and an operating income increase of 12.7% over the prior year. Cintas provided a positive outlook for fiscal 2027, expecting revenue between $12.1 billion and $12.25 billion, and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 8.5% to 11.3%.

Financial Performance

In the fourth quarter, total revenue increased 8.9% to $2.91 billion. Organic revenue growth, which adjusts for acquisitions and foreign currency, was 8.4%. Gross margin for the fourth quarter was 51%, up approximately 130 basis points from the prior year. Operating income as a percent of revenue was 23.2% and grew to $673 million, an increase of 12.7% over the prior year. Adjusted operating income as a percent of revenue was 23.6%, representing a year-over-year increase of roughly 120 basis points.

For the full year 2026, revenue was approximately $11.26 billion, an 8.9% increase over fiscal 2025. Organic revenue growth was 8.3% for the year. Gross margin for the year was 50.7%, up 70 basis points from the prior year. Fiscal 2026 operating margin reached 23.1%. Adjusted operating margin was 23.3%, expanding by 50 basis points compared to fiscal 2025. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year were $4.94, up 12.3% versus $4.40 last year.

Segment Performance

Cintas highlighted growth across its business segments in the fourth quarter. Organic growth by business was 7.9% for uniform rental facility services, 13.2% for first aid and safety services, 10.7% for fire protection services, and uniform direct sale decreased by 4%. Gross margin percentage by business in the fourth quarter was 50.2% for uniform rental and facility services, 57.9% for first aid and safety services, 50.8% for fire protection services, and 42% for uniform direct sale.

Fiscal 2027 Outlook

Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, Cintas expects revenue in the range of $12.1 billion to $12.25 billion, implying total growth of 7.4% to 8.7%. The company expects fiscal 2027 adjusted diluted EPS between $5.36 and $5.50, which represents 8.5% to 11.3% growth. Fiscal 2027 will have one more workday than 2026, positively impacting total growth by about 40 basis points. The guidance assumes a constant foreign currency exchange rate and anticipates interest expense net to be around $105 million. The effective tax rate for fiscal 2027 is expected to be similar to the fiscal 2026 rate of 20.2%.

Capital Allocation

Cintas returned significant capital to shareholders during fiscal 2026. The company returned $1.7 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases. In the fourth quarter, the company generated $709.1 million in operating cash flow, made capital expenditures of $96 million, and completed acquisitions totaling $61.9 million. For the full year, capital expenditures were $395.1 million, representing 3.5% of revenue, and acquisitions totaled $164.5 million.

Cintas Corporation has been named to TIME’s America’s Best Companies 2026 list, a recognition that underscores the strength of its business model and operational consistency. The company was selected based on a comprehensive evaluation conducted by Statista, which analyzed approximately 217,000 U.S. employee surveys, five years of financial performance metrics, and a sustainability index assessing environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices. The 1,000 highest-scoring companies received this distinction.

Todd Schneider, President and CEO of Cintas, attributed the recognition to the company's performance and culture. "We’re honored to be included on TIME’s America’s Best Companies list. This recognition speaks to the strength of our business model and the consistency of our performance, driven by our employee-partners," Schneider said. He emphasized the company's commitment to sustainable growth and maintaining a culture that serves as a competitive advantage.

This accolade adds to a series of recognitions Cintas has received over the past six months. The company has been highlighted for its performance, employee engagement, and operational excellence by several major publications.

Recent Recognitions

Cintas Corporation provides workwear and business essentials to over one million businesses. Its offerings include uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and alarm service. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded on 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.