Cintas Corporation Announces Fiscal 2021 Third Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) reported fiscal Q3 2021 results with revenue of $1.78 billion, down from $1.81 billion a year prior. However, diluted EPS rose by 9.7% to $2.37. While organic revenue growth was flat, the First Aid and Safety Services segment saw a 17.7% increase. Gross margin fell to $809.5 million, but gross margin percentage improved to 45.6%. Operating income increased by 3.8% to $326.5 million. Looking ahead, Cintas expects Q4 revenue between $1.80 billion to $1.83 billion and EPS of $2.20 to $2.40, excluding potential share buybacks.

Positive

• Diluted EPS increased by 9.7% to $2.37.
• First Aid and Safety Services organic revenue grew by 17.7%.
• Operating income rose 3.8% to $326.5 million.

Negative

• Revenue decreased from $1.81 billion to $1.78 billion.
• Organic revenue growth rate remained flat.

Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported results for its fiscal 2021 third quarter ended February 28, 2021. Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $1.78 billion compared to $1.81 billion in last year’s third quarter. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $2.37 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, an increase of 9.7% from last year's third quarter diluted EPS.

The organic revenue growth rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2021, which is adjusted for the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and differences in the number of workdays, was flat. The organic revenue growth rate for the Uniform Rental and Facility Services operating segment was also flat. Organic revenue for the First Aid and Safety Services operating segment increased 17.7%.

Gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $809.5 million compared to $824.4 million in last year’s third quarter. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue increased 10 basis points to 45.6% for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 45.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 of $326.5 million increased 3.8% from last year’s third quarter operating income of $314.7 million. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased 100 basis points to 18.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 17.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Net income from continuing operations was $258.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2021, an increase of 10.2% from last year's third quarter net income from continuing operations of $234.5 million. Third quarter of fiscal 2021 diluted EPS were $2.37, an increase of 9.7% from last year's third quarter diluted EPS of $2.16.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2021, Cintas purchased $82.0 million of Cintas common stock under its buyback program. On March 15, 2021, Cintas paid shareholders $79.5 million in quarterly dividends.

Scott D. Farmer, Cintas' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues, and it remains a significant disruption to the economy. COVID-19 case counts surged early in our third quarter, and the economy slowed considerably. We were further challenged in the quarter by severe winter weather which caused extensive energy blackouts in the U.S. Fortunately, after peaking in January, COVID-19 case counts decreased even more quickly than they had increased. Widespread business restrictions were not imposed and demand for personal protective equipment remained strong, positioning us to exceed our financial expectations."

Mr. Farmer continued, "Regardless of the conditions, our employee-partners work with urgency to get businesses Ready for the Workday^®. Significant opportunities for new revenue exist because businesses must instill confidence in their employees and customers that they will remain safe and healthy. Cintas employee-partners remain Ready^™ to listen, offer solutions and deliver for every business. Every business has a need Cintas can fulfill.”

Mr. Farmer concluded, “For our fiscal fourth quarter, we expect revenue to be in the range of $1.80 billion to $1.83 billion and diluted EPS to be in the range of $2.20 to $2.40. This financial guidance does not include any future share buybacks or additional restrictions on businesses due to increasing COVID-19 case counts.”

About Cintas

Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready^™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety training, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday^®. The company is also the creator of the Total Clean Program^™ — a first-of-its-kind service that includes scheduled delivery of essential cleaning supplies, hygienically clean laundering, and sanitizing and disinfecting products and services. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

Cintas will host a live webcast to review the fiscal 2021 third quarter results today at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The webcast will be available to the public on Cintas' website at www.Cintas.com. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call and will remain available for two weeks.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “target,” “forecast,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may” and “will” or the negative versions thereof and similar words, terms and expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of Cintas and speak only as of the date made. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in or implied by this Press Release. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the possibility of greater than anticipated operating costs including energy and fuel costs; lower sales volumes; loss of customers due to outsourcing trends; the performance and costs of integration of acquisitions; fluctuations in costs of materials and labor including increased medical costs; costs and possible effects of union organizing activities; failure to comply with government regulations concerning employment discrimination, employee pay and benefits and employee health and safety; the effect on operations of exchange rate fluctuations, tariffs and other political, economic and regulatory risks; uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation; the cost, results and ongoing assessment of internal controls for financial reporting required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the effect of new accounting pronouncements; disruptions caused by the inaccessibility of computer systems data, including cybersecurity risks; the initiation or outcome of litigation, investigations or other proceedings; higher assumed sourcing or distribution costs of products; the disruption of operations from catastrophic or extraordinary events including viral pandemics such as the COVID-19 coronavirus; the amount and timing of repurchases of our common stock, if any; changes in federal and state tax and labor laws; and the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service. Cintas undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements or to otherwise update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or to reflect events, circumstances or any other unanticipated developments arising after the date on which such statements are made. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2020 and in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The risks and uncertainties described herein are not the only ones we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties presently not known to us, or that we currently believe to be immaterial, may also harm our business.

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020				% Change
Revenue:
Uniform rental and facility services		$	1,417,865			$	1,448,021			(2.1)%
Other		359,191				362,627				(0.9)%
Total revenue		1,777,056				1,810,648				(1.9)%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of uniform rental and facility services		761,850				784,930				(2.9)%
Cost of other		205,690				201,323				2.2%
Selling and administrative expenses		483,048				509,743				(5.2)%
Operating income		326,468				314,652				3.8%
Interest income		(87)				(347)				(74.9)%
Interest expense		24,552				25,943				(5.4)%
Income before income taxes		302,003				289,056				4.5%
Income taxes		43,619				54,536				(20.0)%
Net income		$	258,384			$	234,520			10.2%
Basic earnings per share		$	2.44			$	2.23			9.4%
Diluted earnings per share		$	2.37			$	2.16			9.7%
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		105,264				104,245
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		107,996				107,588

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share data)
		Nine Months Ended
		February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020				% Change
Revenue:
Uniform rental and facility services		$	4,222,764			$	4,372,524			(3.4)%
Other		1,057,914				1,093,012				(3.2)%
Total revenue		5,280,678				5,465,536				(3.4)%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of uniform rental and facility services		2,217,073				2,338,543				(5.2)%
Cost of other		608,004				601,065				1.2%
Selling and administrative expenses		1,426,555				1,570,666				(9.2)%
Operating income		1,029,046				955,262				7.7%
Interest income		(369)				(792)				(53.4)%
Interest expense		73,659				79,441				(7.3)%
Income before income taxes		955,756				876,613				9.0%
Income taxes		112,510				144,838				(22.3)%
Income from continuing operations		843,246				731,775				15.2%
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		—				(323)				(100.0)%
Net income		$	843,246			$	731,452			15.3%
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations		$	7.99			$	6.98			14.5%
Discontinued operations		0.00				0.00				—%
Basic earnings per share		$	7.99			$	6.98			14.5%
Diluted earnings per share:
Continuing operations		$	7.78			$	6.76			15.1%
Discontinued operations		0.00				0.00				—%
Diluted earnings per share		$	7.78			$	6.76			15.1%
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		104,782				103,840
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		107,696				107,280

CINTAS CORPORATION SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

Gross Margin and Net Income Margin Results
		Three Months Ended
		February 28, 2021		February 29, 2020
Uniform rental and facility services gross margin		46.3%		45.8%
Other gross margin		42.7%		44.5%
Total gross margin		45.6%		45.5%
Net income margin		14.5%		13.0%
		Nine Months Ended
		February 28, 2021		February 29, 2020
Uniform rental and facility services gross margin		47.5%		46.5%
Other gross margin		42.5%		45.0%
Total gross margin		46.5%		46.2%
Net income margin, continuing operations		16.0%		13.4%

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Regulation G Disclosure

The press release contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. To supplement its consolidated condensed financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company provides the additional non-GAAP financial measures of cash flow and workday adjusted revenue growth. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate to enhance understanding of its past performance as well as prospects for future performance. A reconciliation of the differences between these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are shown in the tables within the narrative of the press release or below.

Computation of Free Cash Flow
		Nine Months Ended
		February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020
Net cash provided by operations		$	904,815			$	934,549
Capital expenditures		(100,410)				(189,379)
Free cash flow		$	804,405			$	745,170

Management uses free cash flow to assess the financial performance of the Company. Management believes that free cash flow is useful to investors because it relates the operating cash flow of the Company to the capital that is spent to continue, improve and grow business operations.

Computation of Growth on a Constant Workday Basis
		Three Months Ended										Nine Months Ended
		February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020				Growth %		February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020				Growth %
		A				B				G		I				J				O
Revenue		$	1,777,056			$	1,810,648			(1.9)%		$	5,280,678			$	5,465,536			(3.4)%
										G=(A-B)/B										O=(I-J)/J
		C				D						K				L
Workdays in the period		64				65						195				195
		E				F				H		M				N				P
Workday adjusted revenue growth		$	1,804,823			$	1,810,648			(0.3)%		$	5,280,678			$	5,465,536			(3.4)%
		E=(A/C)*D				F=(B/D)*D				H=(E-F)/F		M=(I/K)*L				N=(J/L)*L				P=(M-N)/N
Acquisition, divestitures and foreign currency exchange impact, net										0.2%										0.2%
Organic growth										(0.1)%										(3.2)%

Management believes that organic revenue growth is valuable to investors because it reflects the revenue performance compared to a prior period with the same number of revenue generating days and excludes the impact from acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT DATA

		Uniform Rental and Facility Services				First Aid and Safety Services				All Other				Corporate				Total
For the three months ended February 28, 2021
Revenue		$	1,417,865			$	198,474			$	160,717			$	—			$	1,777,056
Gross margin		$	656,015			$	86,341			$	67,160			$	—			$	809,516
Selling and administrative expenses		$	372,612			$	60,521			$	49,915			$	—			$	483,048
Interest income		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	(87)			$	(87)
Interest expense		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	24,552			$	24,552
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	283,403			$	25,820			$	17,245			$	(24,465)			$	302,003
For the three months ended February 29, 2020
Revenue		$	1,448,021			$	170,541			$	192,086			$	—			$	1,810,648
Gross margin		$	663,091			$	81,910			$	79,394			$	—			$	824,395
Selling and administrative expenses		$	391,462			$	57,218			$	61,063			$	—			$	509,743
Interest income		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	(347)			$	(347)
Interest expense		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	25,943			$	25,943
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	271,629			$	24,692			$	18,331			$	(25,596)			$	289,056
For the nine months ended February 28, 2021
Revenue		$	4,222,764			$	597,373			$	460,541			$	—			$	5,280,678
Gross margin		$	2,005,691			$	252,042			$	197,868			$	—			$	2,455,601
Selling and administrative expenses		$	1,091,651			$	186,189			$	148,715			$	—			$	1,426,555
Interest income		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	(369)			$	(369)
Interest expense		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	73,659			$	73,659
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	914,040			$	65,853			$	49,153			$	(73,290)			$	955,756
For the nine months ended February 29, 2020
Revenue		$	4,372,524			$	512,299			$	580,713			$	—			$	5,465,536
Gross margin		$	2,033,981			$	248,272			$	243,675			$	—			$	2,525,928
Selling and administrative expenses		$	1,206,982			$	174,170			$	189,514			$	—			$	1,570,666
Interest income		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	(792)			$	(792)
Interest expense		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	79,441			$	79,441
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	826,999			$	74,102			$	54,161			$	(78,649)			$	876,613

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands except per share data)
		February 28, 2021				May 31, 2020
		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	553,611			$	145,402
Accounts receivable, net		929,492				870,369
Inventories, net		533,211				408,898
Uniforms and other rental items in service		777,364				770,411
Income taxes, current		57,929				—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		126,949				114,619
Total current assets		2,978,556				2,309,699
Property and equipment, net		1,329,930				1,403,065
Investments		264,581				214,847
Goodwill		2,895,251				2,870,020
Service contracts, net		418,318				451,529
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		156,850				159,967
Other assets, net		304,011				260,758
		$	8,347,497			$	7,669,885
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	237,857			$	230,995
Accrued compensation and related liabilities		224,641				127,417
Accrued liabilities		514,159				456,653
Income taxes, current		—				27,099
Operating lease liabilities, current		43,767				43,031
Debt due within one year		249,936				—
Total current liabilities		1,270,360				885,195
Long-term liabilities:
Debt due after one year		2,291,418				2,539,705
Deferred income taxes		389,553				388,579
Operating lease liabilities		119,071				122,695
Accrued liabilities		460,585				498,509
Total long-term liabilities		3,260,627				3,549,488
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, no par value:		—				—
100,000 shares authorized, none outstanding
Common stock, no par value:		1,403,229				1,102,689
425,000,000 shares authorized
FY 2021: 188,913,700 issued and 105,039,174 outstanding
FY 2020: 186,793,207 issued and 103,415,368 outstanding
Paid-in capital		74,451				171,521
Retained earnings		7,688,425				7,296,509
Treasury stock:		(5,336,627)				(5,182,137)
FY 2021: 83,874,526 shares
FY 2020: 83,377,839 shares
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(12,968)				(153,380)
Total shareholders’ equity		3,816,510				3,235,202
		$	8,347,497			$	7,669,885

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
		Nine Months Ended
		February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	843,246			$	731,452
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		182,132				175,261
Amortization of intangible assets and capitalized contract costs		107,689				107,232
Stock-based compensation		83,421				96,428
Gain on sale of operating assets		(21,861)				—
Deferred income taxes		(36,259)				5,013
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net		(63,178)				(31,135)
Inventories, net		(123,678)				(17,780)
Uniforms and other rental items in service		(6,269)				(33,732)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and capitalized contract costs		(76,971)				(95,169)
Accounts payable		5,113				14,271
Accrued compensation and related liabilities		97,474				(4,792)
Accrued liabilities and other		(1,357)				3,426
Income taxes, current		(84,687)				(15,926)
Net cash provided by operating activities		904,815				934,549
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(100,410)				(189,379)
Purchases of investments		(7,873)				(10,461)
Proceeds from sale of operating assets, net of cash disposed		32,490				13,300
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		(7,570)				(47,850)
Other, net		(5,301)				(2,090)
Net cash used in investing activities		(88,664)				(236,480)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of commercial paper, net		—				(112,500)
Proceeds from exercise of stock-based compensation awards		120,049				81,547
Dividends paid		(371,818)				(268,042)
Repurchase of common stock		(154,490)				(261,327)
Other, net		(3,836)				30
Net cash used in financing activities		(410,095)				(560,292)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		2,153				19
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		408,209				137,796
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		145,402				96,645
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	553,611			$	234,441

 

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FAQ

What were Cintas' fiscal Q3 2021 earnings?

Cintas reported diluted EPS of $2.37, up 9.7% from the previous year.

How did Cintas' revenue perform in Q3 2021?

Cintas' revenue was $1.78 billion, down from $1.81 billion in Q3 2020.

What is the outlook for Cintas in Q4 2021?

Cintas expects Q4 revenue between $1.80 billion to $1.83 billion and EPS of $2.20 to $2.40.

What segments saw growth in Cintas' Q3 results?

The First Aid and Safety Services segment experienced a 17.7% organic revenue increase.