Uniform retailer Cintas reverses course after flagging fuel cost pressures

Cintas

25/03/2026 17:56

Updates

** Shares of uniform retailer Cintas CTAS.O down as much as 2.6% at $173.59 in afternoon trading, reversing earlier gains

** Executives flag an increase in gas prices, which co expects to overcome

** Share price reversal could be linked to Iran’s announcement that it will not accept a ceasefire, raising risks of higher fuel costs, says Devyn DeLange, senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, adding that prolonged conflict could trigger recessionary pressures alongside inflation spikes

** CTAS, however, lifts annual forecasts and beats Q3 sales estimates

** Says transaction costs related to the acquisition of smaller rival UniFirst UNF.N had a 3-cent to 4-cent impact on earnings per share for fiscal 2026

** Co will face some headwinds in the coming months related to the acquisitions, Greg Zakowicz, e-commerce and retail adviser to Omnisend says, adding "the cost and complexities of integrating the two companies are real"

** Stock down 5.3% as of last close, YTD

(Reporting by Sanskriti Shekhar in Bengaluru)

((Sanskriti.Shekhar@thomsonreuters.com))