UniFirst stock weighs fiscal profit decline as Cintas deal awaits FTC review
Published on 11/10/2026 at 13:48 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSUniFirst earnings and merger outlook
- Fiscal 2026 revenue rose 3.7 percent, while net income and diluted earnings per share declined.
- FTC and Canadian regulatory reviews remain central to the proposed Cintas transaction, with a December 11 closing restriction.
- UniFirst stopped providing financial guidance because of the pending merger.
UniFirst reported stronger sales but lower profitability for fiscal 2026 as costs linked to its proposed merger with Cintas and an enterprise resource planning project increased. The results were released on October 21 for the fiscal year ended August 29, 2026.
According to UniFirst, full-year revenue increased 3.7 percent to 2.523 billion US dollars. Operating income fell to 136.0 million US dollars from 184.5 million dollars, while net income declined to 109.5 million dollars from 148.3 million dollars. Diluted earnings per share decreased to 6.02 US dollars from 7.98 US dollars.
Costs reshape fiscal performance
UniFirst said fiscal 2026 results included approximately 37.2 million US dollars of transaction-related costs and 13.3 million dollars tied to its Key Initiative. Together, those items reduced full-year net income by 37.9 million dollars and diluted earnings per share by 2.08 dollars. Adjusted EBITDA fell to 327.1 million dollars from 336.8 million dollars, while adjusted EBITDA margin narrowed to 13.0 percent from 13.8 percent.
The fourth quarter offered a mixed picture. Revenue rose 5.0 percent to 645.0 million US dollars, but net income fell to 34.7 million dollars from 41.0 million dollars. The Uniform and Facility Service Solutions segment generated 585.4 million dollars of quarterly revenue, up 4.5 percent.
Regulatory review sets next milestone
UniFirst and Cintas certified substantial compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's Second Request on October 2. Under their timing agreement, the companies agreed not to complete the transaction before December 11, 2026 unless the FTC closes its investigation earlier. UniFirst said the transaction is expected to close before the end of calendar 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
UniFirst stock traded at 213.00 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 13:39 CET on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
UniFirst Corporation
- ISIN: US9047081040
- Ticker: UNF
- Home exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Lang & Schwarz quote: 213.00 euros on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 13:39 CET
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