Wells Fargo upgrades Cintas stock rating to Equal Weight on share gain potential

Published 01/07/2025, 11:56
Wells Fargo upgrades Cintas stock rating to Equal Weight on share gain potential

Investing.com - Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) upgraded Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) from Underweight to Equal Weight on Tuesday, while raising its price target to $221.00 from $196.00. The $90 billion market cap company is currently trading near its 52-week high, with InvestingPro data indicating the stock is overvalued at current levels.

The upgrade reflects Wells Fargo’s expectation that Cintas will achieve greater market share gains from competitors, particularly its largest rival Vestis (VSTS).

Wells Fargo cited Cintas’ superior infrastructure, less unionized workforce, stronger balance sheet, and more tenured management team as key advantages in the competitive landscape.

The firm specifically noted that Vestis, which spun out from Aramark in 2023, has a new leadership team whose turnaround efforts may take time, creating an opportunity for Cintas to capture additional market share.

Wells Fargo estimates that Vestis represents a 9% share gain opportunity for Cintas, which could potentially lift the company’s earnings per share by 19%.

In other recent news, Cintas Corporation has made several notable announcements and updates. The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per share, continuing its 41-year streak of annual dividend increases. Additionally, Cintas announced a transition in its executive team, with Scott Garula set to take over as Chief Financial Officer from Mike Hansen, who will retire from the CFO role on May 31, 2025. In terms of analyst activity, RBC Capital Markets raised its price target for Cintas to $240, maintaining a Sector Perform rating, citing the company’s potential for revenue growth and margin improvement. Conversely, Redburn-Atlantic downgraded Cintas to a Sell rating with a price target of $171, expressing concerns over the company’s current valuation amid potential economic headwinds. Meanwhile, BofA Securities reinstated coverage on Cintas with a Buy rating and a $250 price target, highlighting the company’s network effects, corporate culture, and sustained earnings growth. These developments indicate a mix of analyst perspectives on Cintas, reflecting both confidence in its growth strategies and caution regarding its market valuation.

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