Citi raises Cintas stock price target to $172 on growth outlook

Published 18/07/2025, 19:06
Citi raises Cintas stock price target to $172 on growth outlook

Investing.com - Citi has raised its price target on Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) to $172.00 from $163.00 while maintaining a Sell rating on the stock. The company, currently valued at $89.31 billion, trades at a P/E ratio of 49.58x, aligning with InvestingPro data showing consistently high valuation multiples.

The research firm cited Cintas’s continued good growth, particularly highlighting the progression of the First Aid & Safety division and strong performance in the Uniforms segment.

Citi estimates Cintas is maintaining strong net new contract growth with only a 50 basis point organic growth slowdown compared to fiscal year 2024, despite input cost inflation and deceleration in U.S. employment growth in uniform-wearing segments.

The analysts noted that while Cintas’s fiscal year 2026 margins may surprise to the upside from benefits of technology and process investments, they view the 30 basis point margin expansion this year as inconsistent with the company’s current valuation.

Citi characterized Cintas as a "fundamentally cyclical business" and considers the current valuation of 46x and 41x price-to-earnings ratios for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, respectively, as "too demanding," leading to the maintained Sell rating despite the higher price target.

In other recent news, Cintas Corporation reported its fourth-quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings, surpassing Wall Street expectations. The company achieved an earnings per share of $1.09, exceeding the forecasted $1.07, while revenue reached $2.67 billion, beating the anticipated $2.63 billion. This marks an 8% year-over-year increase in revenue, with full-year revenue totaling $10.34 billion, a 7.7% rise. Operating margins also hit a record high of 22.8%, reflecting a 14.1% year-over-year improvement. Despite these positive results, Stifel maintained its Hold rating on Cintas, raising the price target to $222 from $204, citing strong performance but limited upside potential at current valuation levels. The firm noted the company’s high customer retention rates and strategic investments in technology and efficiency. Looking ahead, Cintas projects fiscal year 2026 revenue between $11.0 billion and $11.15 billion, with diluted EPS expected to range from $4.71 to $4.85. The company plans to continue focusing on technology investments and operational efficiency to drive future growth.

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