Analysts Set Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS) PT at $199.79

Shares of Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS) have received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the sixteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $199.79.

A number of research firms recently commented on CTAS. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of Cintas from $236.00 to $211.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Cintas from $191.00 to $184.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Cintas in a research report on Monday, February 24th. They issued a “sell” rating and a $161.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Cintas from $185.00 to $202.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $215.00 target price on shares of Cintas in a report on Friday, December 20th.

Cintas Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:CTAS opened at $191.17 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $77.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.98 and a beta of 1.41. The company’s 50-day moving average is $200.46 and its 200 day moving average is $208.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 1.58. Cintas has a fifty-two week low of $158.10 and a fifty-two week high of $228.12.

Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, December 19th. The business services provider reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.08. Cintas had a net margin of 17.23% and a return on equity of 40.62%. The firm had revenue of $2.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.56 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.61 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Cintas will post 4.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Cintas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. Cintas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.59%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CTAS. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in shares of Cintas by 331.2% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 20,970 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $4,317,000 after acquiring an additional 16,107 shares during the last quarter. MAI Capital Management raised its position in Cintas by 173.5% during the third quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 8,789 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,810,000 after purchasing an additional 5,575 shares in the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC lifted its stake in Cintas by 70.4% during the third quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 5,172 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,065,000 after purchasing an additional 2,137 shares during the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Cintas by 428.7% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 60,332 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $12,421,000 after purchasing an additional 48,921 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise increased its position in shares of Cintas by 352.2% during the 3rd quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 2,808 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $578,000 after purchasing an additional 2,187 shares during the last quarter. 63.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Cintas Company Profile

Cintas Corporation engages in the provision of corporate identity uniforms and related business services primarily in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Uniform Rental and Facility Services, First Aid and Safety Services, and All Other segments. The company rents and services uniforms and other garments, including flame resistant clothing, mats, mops and shop towels, and other ancillary items; and provides restroom cleaning services and supplies, as well as sells uniforms.