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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#458
Positioning
Market Dominance
Services
Personal Services
$3.1B
Steven S. Sintros
UniFirst Corporation provides workplace uniforms and protective work wear clothing in the United States, Europe, and Canada. The company also rents and sells industrial wiping products, floor mats, facility service products, and dry and wet mops. UniFirst provides first aid cabinet services, decontaminates and cleans work clothes, and other items that is exposed to radioactive materials.
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Dates updated upon official exchange announcement.
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X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = UNF ANALYSIS TARGET
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$YALA Yalla Group Ltd | 75 | 89 | 99 | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$GRVY GRAVITY Co., Ltd. | 75 | 82 | 96 | 71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ISSC INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC | 73 | 81 | 88 | 94 | 25.0x | 14.1x | 17.1% | 10.3% | 35.5% | 14.6% | 10.1% | 105.2% | 0.0% | 41.0x | $244M | VS | |
$AER AerCap Holdings N.V. | 72 | 60 | 87 | 84 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$HCSG HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP INC | 72 | 74 | 88 | 88 | 7.1x | 6.1x | 28.9% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 9.9% | 9.3% | 8.5% | 0.0% | 1.0x | $1.2B | VS | |
$LQDT LIQUIDITY SERVICES INC | 72 | 90 | 88 | 68 | 24.9x | 14.3x | 14.1% | 8.3% | 45.7% | 8.5% | 6.2% | 28.1% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $736M | VS | |
$TRTNpA Triton International Ltd | 71 | 70 | 89 | 70 | - | 1.7x | 0.0% | - | 97.4% | 58.0% | 37.4% | - | 8.8% | 264.0x | $2.5B | VS | |
$EDU New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. | 71 | 83 | 52 | 77 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$NTES NetEase, Inc. | 71 | 88 | 93 | 68 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$UTI UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC | 70 | 86 | 86 | 72 | 43.2x | 16.0x | 15.3% | 5.8% | 100.0% | 6.9% | 5.2% | 15.1% | 0.0% | 24.0x | $1.8B | VS | |
$UNF UNIFIRST CORP | 63 | 49 | 65 | 76 | 30.4x | 20.0x | 6.6% | 5.1% | 36.3% | 7.4% | 5.8% | 3.0% | 0.8% | 27.0x | $3.1B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 23.7x | 11.7x | 5.7% | 2.4% | 64.6% | 4.5% | 2.8% | 8.6% | 0.0% | 0.3x | - | REF |
UNIFIRST CORP (UNF) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 62.6/100. It ranks #458 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 3-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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Outperforming peers — winners tend to keep winning over 3-12 months
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
Average quality profile
Low volatility — smoother ride and historically better risk-adjusted returns
Moderate investment profile
Mid-range overall rating
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Relative valuation derived from Services sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for UNF.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 49 | 56 | -7DRAG |
| MOMENTUM | 76 | 85 | -9DRAG |
| VALUATION | 65 | 74 | -9DRAG |
| INVESTMENT | 53 | 89 | -36DRAG |
| STABILITY | 73 | 79 | -6DRAG |
| SHORT INT | 69 | 83 | -14DRAG |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROE proxy 6.6% (sector 5.7%)
GM 36% vs sector 65%, OM 7% vs sector 5%
Capital turnover N/A
Rev growth 3%, 11yr history
Interest coverage N/A
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate UNIFIRST CORP (UNF) as a Hold with a composite score of 62.6/100 at a current price of $233.18. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling.
UNIFIRST CORP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 62.6/100 places it at rank #458 in our full universe.
The near-term outlook is constructive, with revenue growing at 3% and momentum in the 76th percentile confirming positive market sentiment. The combination of strong top-line growth and favorable price dynamics suggests the company is executing well on its growth strategy.
No Moat
Low
Standard
Undervalued
Value factor score of 65 suggests attractive pricing.
Positive momentum indicates institutional accumulation.
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
UNIFIRST CORP represents a hold based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our model assigns UNIFIRST CORP a Hold rating, with a composite score of 62.6/100 and 3 out of 5 stars. Ranked #458 of 7,333 stocks, UNF presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to initiate new positions nor weak enough to warrant selling. Investors already holding may consider maintaining their position while monitoring for changes in the factor profile.
With a quality score of 49/100, UNF shows adequate but unremarkable business quality. The company reports a return on equity of 6.6% (sector avg: 5.7%), gross margins of 36.3% (sector avg: 64.6%), net margins of 5.8% (sector avg: 2.8%). This suggests the company generates acceptable returns but may lack the competitive positioning or operational efficiency to stand out from peers.
UNF's value score of 65/100 indicates the stock is fairly valued based on its current fundamentals. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 30.36x, an EV/EBITDA of 19.96x, a P/B ratio of 1.99x. At this level, neither a clear bargain nor overpriced, the stock's attractiveness depends more on forward growth expectations and qualitative factors.
With an investment score of 53/100, UNF exhibits moderate growth-oriented spending. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 3.0% vs. a sector average of 8.6% and a return on assets of 5.1% (sector: 2.4%). The company appears to be balancing growth investments with capital returns, though the pace of investment may not be enough to accelerate top-line growth meaningfully.
UNF shows strong momentum characteristics with a score of 76/100. The stock has been trending above key moving averages, indicating solid demand from institutional buyers. Revenue growth stands at 3.0% year-over-year, while a beta of 0.63 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. This level of momentum typically signals sustained investor confidence and favorable near-term price action.
UNF shows good financial stability with a score of 73/100. Key stability metrics include a beta of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.00x (sector avg: 0.3x). This suggests manageable leverage and moderate price volatility, making it appropriate for investors seeking a balance between growth potential and capital preservation.
UNF carries a short interest score of 69/100, indicating moderate short selling activity. This is a neutral reading — not enough to signal systemic bearishness, but worth monitoring. Specific risk factors include elevated leverage (D/E: 27.00x). At $3.1B market cap (mid-cap), UNIFIRST CORP offers reasonable institutional liquidity.
UNF offers a modest dividend yield of 0.8%. While the income contribution is relatively small, even a small dividend signals management's commitment to shareholder returns and can serve as a signal of financial discipline.
UNIFIRST CORP is a mid-cap company in the Services sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #458 of 7,333 overall (94th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 6.6% exceeding the 5.7% sector median and operating margins of 7.4% above the 4.5% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Services peers.
While UNF currently exhibits a HOLD profile, superior opportunities exist within the SERVICES sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
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Quality (49) is the limiting factor — improvement here would lift the composite score most.
EV/EBITDA 70% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
ROE 14% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Gross Margin 44% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Cintas Corporation has proposed acquiring UniFirst Corporation for $275 per share in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $5.2 billion, representing a 64% premium. The acquisition aims to consolidate the #1 and #3 players in North American uniform rental, enabling significant route optimization and projected $375 million in annual cost savings. While the deal faces hurdles including UniFirst's controlling Croatti family (71% voting power) and FTC antitrust review, Cintas's $350 million reverse termination fee signals confidence in closing.
UniFirst Corporation announced it received an unsolicited, non-binding acquisition proposal from Cintas Corporation on December 12, 2025, offering $275.00 per share in cash for all outstanding UniFirst common and Class B shares. The UniFirst Board of Directors has engaged financial and legal advisors to carefully review the proposal and determine the best course of action for shareholders and stakeholders.
Cintas Corporation has made a $275 per share all-cash acquisition proposal for UniFirst Corporation, valuing the company at approximately $5.2 billion and representing a 64% premium to its 90-day average closing price. The deal would combine the two companies to serve over 1 million business customers across the U.S. and Canada. UniFirst shares surged 33.40% in premarket trading, while Cintas shares declined slightly. The transaction has a 10-month deadline with possible extensions, and Cintas has committed to a $350 million reverse termination fee if the deal is blocked on antitrust grounds.
UniFirst’s 32.9% return over the past six months has outpaced the S&P 500 by 25.6%, and its stock price has climbed to $234.25 per share. This performance may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
UniFirst's stock fell 3% following its Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings report. While the company beat revenue expectations at $621 million (nearly 3% YoY growth), it missed on earnings with $1.89 per share versus analyst estimates of $2.10. Net income declined 20% due to investment activities. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance but forecasted a notable decline in annual earnings compared to 2025, which failed to inspire investor confidence.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081