9 u
United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended February 28, 2026
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 001-08504
UNIFIRST CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts
04-2103460
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
68 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, MA
01887
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(978) 658-8888
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share
UNF
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller Reporting Company
Emerging Growth Company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
The number of outstanding shares of UniFirst Corporation Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as of April 2, 2026 were 14,531,693 and 3,551,265, respectively.
UniFirst Corporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For the Thirteen and Twenty-Six Weeks Ended February 28, 2026
Table of Contents
Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
3
Item 1 – Financial Statements (unaudited)
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Thirteen and Twenty-Six Weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Thirteen and Twenty-Six Weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025
4
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025
5
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Thirteen and Twenty-Six Weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Twenty-Six Weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025
7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8
Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
20
Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
29
Item 4 – Controls and Procedures
30
Part II – OTHER INFORMATION
32
Item 1 – Legal Proceedings
Item 1A – Risk Factors
Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
36
Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5 – Other Information
37
Item 6 – Exhibits
Signatures
38
Certifications
Ex-31.1 Section 302 Certification of CEO
Ex-31.2 Section 302 Certification of CFO
Ex-32.1 Section 906 Certification of CEO
Ex-32.2 Section 906 Certification of CFO
2
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Statements of Income
UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
(Unaudited)
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
(In thousands, except per share data)
February 28, 2026
March 1, 2025
Revenues
$
622,505
602,219
1,243,823
1,207,127
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (1)
403,686
394,145
796,715
775,199
Selling and administrative expenses (1)
157,413
141,914
305,219
275,429
Depreciation and amortization
35,392
34,946
70,567
69,754
Total operating expenses
596,491
571,005
1,172,501
1,120,382
Operating income
26,014
31,214
71,322
86,745
Other (income) expense:
Interest income, net
(1,576
)
(2,213
(3,505
(4,908
Other expense, net
250
794
509
1,084
Total other income, net
(1,326
(1,419
(2,996
(3,824
Income before income taxes
27,340
32,633
74,318
90,569
Provision for income taxes
6,856
8,174
19,471
23,005
Net income
20,484
24,459
54,847
67,564
Income per share – Basic:
Common Stock
1.18
1.37
3.15
3.78
Class B Common Stock
0.94
1.10
2.52
3.02
Income per share – Diluted:
1.13
1.31
3.62
Income allocated to – Basic:
17,133
20,559
45,887
56,778
3,351
3,900
8,960
10,786
Income allocated to – Diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic:
14,523
15,009
14,557
15,011
3,551
3,558
3,566
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted:
18,143
18,649
18,159
18,653
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments
3,881
(4,438
1,776
(9,374
Change in fair value of derivatives, net of income taxes
(29
25
(31
66
Other comprehensive income (loss)
3,852
(4,413
1,745
(9,308
Comprehensive income
24,336
20,046
56,592
58,256
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and par value data)
August 30, 2025
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
151,794
203,501
Short-term investments
5,664
5,672
Receivables, less reserves of $7,280 and $6,802
291,580
285,297
Inventories
147,477
145,197
Rental merchandise in service
236,251
227,720
Prepaid taxes
7,185
7,708
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
63,135
49,508
Total current assets
903,086
924,603
Property, plant and equipment, net
848,054
829,622
Goodwill
669,996
657,748
Customer contracts, net
69,991
74,784
Other intangible assets, net
25,799
31,045
Deferred income taxes
991
977
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
77,804
70,110
Other assets
204,677
189,266
Total assets
2,800,398
2,778,155
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
92,089
94,980
Accrued liabilities
178,065
176,903
Accrued taxes
674
Operating lease liabilities, current
20,225
17,846
Total current liabilities
290,409
290,403
129,862
128,554
Accrued and deferred income taxes
137,166
135,648
Operating lease liabilities
59,669
54,593
Total liabilities
617,106
609,198
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
—
Common Stock, $0.10 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 14,528,409 and 14,679,646 shares issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025, respectively
1,453
1,468
Class B Common Stock, $0.10 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 3,551,265 and 3,551,265 shares issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025, respectively
355
Capital surplus
109,755
109,107
Retained earnings
2,091,769
2,079,812
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(20,040
(21,785
Total shareholders’ equity
2,183,292
2,168,957
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
CommonShares
Class BCommonShares
CommonStock
Class BCommonStock
CapitalSurplus
RetainedEarnings
AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLoss
TotalEquity
Balance, as of August 31, 2024
15,000
3,590
1,500
359
104,791
2,025,505
(23,644
2,108,511
43,105
Change in fair value of derivatives (1)
41
Foreign currency translation
(4,936
Dividends declared Common Stock ($0.350 per share)
(5,260
Dividends declared Class B Common Stock ($0.280 per share)
(996
Repurchase of Common Stock
(34
(3
(235
(6,135
(6,373
Share-based compensation, net (2)
(448
Share-based awards exercised, net (1)
33
Shares converted
(32
Balance, as of November 30, 2024
15,031
1,503
356
104,108
2,056,219
(28,539
2,133,647
Dividends declared Common Stock ($0.35 per share)
(5,251
Dividends declared Class B Common Stock ($0.28 per share)
(33
(231
(5,921
(6,155
2,264
1
Balance, as of March 1, 2025
15,006
1,501
106,141
2,068,510
(32,952
2,143,556
Balance, as of August 30, 2025
14,679
34,363
(2
(2,105
Dividends declared Common Stock ($0.365 per share)
(5,300
Dividends declared Class B Common Stock ($0.292 per share)
(1,038
(194
(19
(1,443
(30,212
(31,674
(606
34
Balance, as of November 29, 2025
14,519
1,452
107,058
2,077,625
(23,892
2,162,598
(5,303
(1,037
2,697
9
Balance, as of February 28, 2026
14,528
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended (in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (1)
Share-based compensation
6,261
6,034
Accretion on environmental contingencies
702
640
Accretion on asset retirement obligations
536
314
433
2,159
Loss on sale of property and equipment
163
55
Other
83
224
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables, less reserves
(5,915
(4,878
(1,551
(2,242
(8,360
10,233
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Other assets
(16,347
(13,429
(1,074
(3,729
(12,756
(8,867
Prepaid and accrued income taxes
886
4,472
Net cash provided by operating activities
88,475
128,304
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
(14,627
(5,374
Capital expenditures, including capitalization of software costs
(77,284
(66,086
Purchases of investments
(5,664
(14,734
Maturities of investments
18,747
Proceeds from sale of assets
362
222
Net cash used in investing activities
(91,549
(67,225
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards
Taxes withheld and paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
(4,170
(4,218
(32,736
(12,528
Payment of cash dividends
(12,470
(12,153
Net cash used in financing activities
(49,372
(28,895
Effect of exchange rate changes
739
(1,581
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(51,707
30,603
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
161,571
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
192,174
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Non-cash capital expenditures
12,456
12,341
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
These Consolidated Financial Statements of UniFirst Corporation (the “Company”) included herein have been prepared, without audit, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the information furnished reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim period.
It is suggested that these Consolidated Financial Statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2025. There have been no material changes in the accounting policies followed by the Company during the current fiscal year. Results for an interim period are not indicative of results for any future interim periods or for an entire fiscal year.
Merger Agreement
On March 10, 2026, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Cintas Corporation (“Parent” or “Cintas”), Bruin Merger Sub I, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cintas (“Merger Sub Inc.”), and Bruin Merger Sub II, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cintas (“Merger Sub LLC”).
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub Inc. will be merged with and into the Company (the “First Merger”), whereupon the separate existence of Merger Sub Inc. will cease, and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation of the First Merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent and immediately after the First Merger, the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub LLC (the “Second Merger,” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), whereupon the separate existence of the Company will cease, and Merger Sub LLC will continue as the surviving entity of the Second Merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
At the effective time of the First Merger, each share of (i) common stock, par value $0.10 per share, and (ii) Class B common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (clauses (i) and (ii), “Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger (other than shares of the Company’s Common Stock held in the Company’s treasury or held directly by a subsidiary of the Company, Cintas, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC) will convert into the right to receive: $155.00 in cash and 0.7720 shares of fully paid and nonassessable Cintas common stock. No fractional shares of Cintas common stock will be issued in the Mergers, and holders of the Company’s Common Stock will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Cintas common stock.
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants. The completion of the Mergers is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions and includes specified termination rights if the consummation of the Mergers does not occur on or before January 10, 2027, subject to an automatic extension for up to two periods of four months under certain circumstances. The Merger Agreement provides for the payment by the Company to Cintas of a termination fee of $213.3 million if the Merger Agreement is terminated in specified circumstances, and for payment by Cintas to the Company of a termination fee of $350.0 million if the Merger Agreement is terminated in specified circumstances.
For more information, refer to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2026.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which enhances effective tax rate reconciliation disclosure requirements and provides clarity to the disclosures of income taxes paid, income before taxes and provision for income taxes. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in this update should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of this ASU on its disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures. The ASU requires a public business entity to provide disaggregated disclosures of certain categories of expenses on an annual and interim basis including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization for each income statement line item that contains those expenses. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software. This ASU amends the guidance in ASC 350-40 to modernize the recognition and disclosure framework for internal-use software costs by eliminating the previous “development stage” model and introducing a more principles- and judgment-based approach. ASU 2025-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2025-06 on its consolidated financial statements.
Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, including its Emerging Issues Task Force, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the SEC have not had, or are not believed by management to have, a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.
2. Revenue Recognition
The following table presents the Company’s revenues for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025, respectively, disaggregated by segment:
(In thousands, except percentages)
% ofRevenues
Uniform & Facility Service Solutions
568,808
91.4
%
551,407
91.5
1,134,700
91.2
1,104,159
First Aid & Safety Solutions
30,793
4.9
27,454
4.6
61,037
53,676
4.4
22,904
3.7
23,358
3.9
48,086
49,292
4.1
Total revenues
100.0
See Note 13, “Segment Reporting” for additional details of segment definitions.
The following table presents the change in the allowance for credit losses, which is included in Receivables, net of reserves on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 (in thousands):
Balance as of August 30, 2025
6,802
Current period provision
3,851
Write-offs and other
(3,373
Balance as of February 28, 2026
7,280
Costs to Obtain a Contract
The following table presents deferred commissions on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025:
(in thousands)
20,722
19,795
88,180
84,884
The following table presents the Company’s amortization expense related to deferred commissions on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025, respectively:
Selling and administrative expenses
5,301
4,855
10,480
9,628
3. Acquisitions
During the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, the Company completed five First Aid & Safety Solutions segment acquisitions and one Other segment acquisition with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $15.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
Cash paid for the Other segment acquisition was $0.9 million. The acquisition included cash and cash equivalents of approximately $0.2 million.
The Company has prepared purchase price allocations for the business combinations on a preliminary basis. The purchase price was primarily allocated to goodwill and intangible assets, with tangible assets consisting mainly of inventory and property, plant and equipment. A portion of the total purchase price is subject to holdback arrangements, which are typically payable within a one-year period following the acquisition date and contingent upon the achievement of specified revenue targets. The operating results of these businesses have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from their respective acquisition dates. As these acquisitions were not material to the Company’s consolidated results, pro forma financial information has not been presented.
The following table presents aggregate information relating to the acquisition of businesses during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 (in thousands):
282
Tangible assets acquired
1,474
12,160
Customer contracts
2,143
Other intangibles assets
236
Liabilities assumed
(303
Total consideration paid for acquisition of businesses
15,992
Contingent holdbacks
(1,671
Acquisition of businesses, net of contingent holdbacks
14,321
4. Employee Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Plan
The Company has a defined contribution retirement savings plan with a 401(k) feature for all eligible U.S. and Canadian employees not under collective bargaining agreements. The Company matches a portion of the employee’s contribution and may make an additional contribution at its discretion. Contributions charged to expense under the plan for the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 were $4.0 million and $3.7 million, respectively. Contributions charged to expense under the plan for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 were $8.3 million and $7.8 million, respectively.
Pension Plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
The Company accounts for its pension plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan on an accrual basis over certain employees’ estimated service periods.
The Company maintains an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for certain eligible employees of the Company and one frozen non-contributory defined benefit pension plan. The amounts charged to expense related to these plans for the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 were $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The amounts charged to expense related to these plans for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 were $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
The Company adopted the UniFirst Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the “NQDC Plan”) effective on February 1, 2022. The NQDC Plan is an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan that allows eligible participants to voluntarily defer receipt of their salary and annual cash bonuses up to approved limits. In its discretion, the Company may credit one or more additional contributions to participant accounts. NQDC Plan participants who are not accruing benefits under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan are eligible to have discretionary annual employer contributions credited to their NQDC Plan accounts. All
10
participants are also eligible to have employer supplemental contributions and employer discretionary contributions credited to their NQDC Plan accounts. The amounts of such contributions, if any, may differ from year to year and from participant to participant.
The amounts for employee or employer contributions charged to expense related to the NQDC Plan for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 were $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The amounts for employee or employer contributions charged to expense related to the NQDC plan for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended March 1, 2025 were $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
The Company, at its discretion, may also elect to transfer funds to a trust account with the intention to fund the future liability. Total NQDC Plan assets were $5.6 million and $4.7 million as of February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025, respectively, and are included within other long-term assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Total NQDC Plan liabilities were $3.3 million and $2.8 million as of February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025, respectively, and are included within current accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Earnings and losses on contributions, based on investment elections, are recorded as a component of compensation expense in the period earned and are included within other (income) expense, net. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, other (income) expense, net was $(0.1) million and $(0.3) million, respectively. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended March 1, 2025, other (income) expense, net was nominal and $(0.1) million, respectively.
5. Income Per Share
The Company calculates income per share by allocating income to its unvested participating securities as part of its income per share calculations. The following table sets forth the computation of basic income per share using the two-class method for amounts attributable to the Company’s shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (in thousands, except per share data):
Net income available to shareholders
Allocation of net income for Basic:
Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
18,074
18,567
18,108
18,577
Income per share for Basic:
The Company is required to calculate diluted income per share for Common Stock using the more dilutive of the following two methods:
11
For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025, the Company’s diluted income per share assumes the conversion of all vested Class B Common Stock into Common Stock and uses the two-class method for its unvested participating shares. The following tables set forth the computation of diluted income per share of Common Stock for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 (in thousands, except per share data):
Thirteen Weeks Ended February 28, 2026
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended February 28, 2026
Earningsto CommonShareholders
IncomePerShare
As reported - Basic
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-Based Awards
69
51
As reported – Diluted
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 1, 2025
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended March 1, 2025
82
76
Anti-dilutive stock-based awards excluded from the calculations of diluted income per share were immaterial during the periods presented.
6. Inventories
The components of inventory as of February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
Raw materials
19,618
22,107
Work in process
3,134
3,030
Finished goods
124,725
120,060
Total inventories
7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 were as follows (in thousands):
Goodwill recorded during the period
88
12
Intangible assets, net in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (in thousands):
Gross CarryingAmount
AccumulatedAmortization
Net CarryingAmount
320,285
250,294
Software
79,962
54,951
25,011
Other intangible assets
40,310
39,522
788
440,557
344,767
95,790
318,148
243,364
81,659
52,355
29,304
40,003
38,262
1,741
439,810
333,981
105,829
8. Asset Retirement Obligations
A reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement liability for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 is as follows (in thousands):
18,524
Accretion expense
52
19,112
The Company’s asset retirement obligations are included in long-term accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
9. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company and its operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges, and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes and other substances. In particular, industrial laundries currently use and must properly dispose of detergent wastewater and other residues, and, in the past, used perchloroethylene and other dry-cleaning solvents. The Company is attentive to the environmental concerns surrounding the disposal of these materials and has, through the years, taken measures to avoid their improper disposal. The Company has settled, or contributed to the settlement of, past actions or claims brought against the Company relating to the disposal of hazardous materials at several sites and there can be no assurance that the Company will not have to expend material amounts to remediate the consequences of any such disposal in the future.
U.S. GAAP requires that a liability for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine the existence of a liability, as well as the amount to be recorded. The Company regularly consults with attorneys and outside consultants in its consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances before recording a contingent liability. Changes in enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, management’s estimates of costs, risk-free interest rates, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments, the input of the Company’s attorneys and outside consultants or other factual circumstances could have a material impact on the amounts recorded for environmental and other contingent liabilities.
13
There is usually a range of reasonable estimates of the costs associated with each site. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company’s accruals reflect the amount within the range that it believes is the best estimate or the low end of a range of estimates if no point within the range is a better estimate. Where it believes that both the amount of a particular liability and the timing of the payments are reliably determinable, the Company adjusts the cost in current dollars using a rate of 3% for inflation until the time of expected payment and discounts the cost to present value using current risk-free interest rates. As of February 28, 2026, the risk-free interest rates utilized by the Company ranged from 4.57% to 4.64%.
For environmental liabilities that have been discounted, the Company includes interest accretion, based on the effective interest method, in selling and administrative expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
The changes to the Company’s environmental liabilities for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 were as follows (in thousands):
30,652
Costs incurred for which reserves have been provided
(746
Insurance proceeds
(195
Interest accretion
Changes in discount rates
530
Revisions in estimates
30,952
Anticipated payments and insurance proceeds of currently identified environmental remediation liabilities as of February 28, 2026, for the next five fiscal years and thereafter, as measured in current dollars, are reflected below (in thousands):
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Thereafter
Total
Estimated costs – current dollars
15,493
2,067
1,344
1,150
915
14,654
35,623
Estimated insurance proceeds
(181
(150
(781
Net anticipated costs
15,312
1,917
1,194
1,000
765
34,842
Effect of inflation
10,041
Effect of discounting
(13,931
Estimated insurance proceeds are primarily obtained from an annuity received as part of a legal settlement with an insurance company. Annual proceeds of approximately $0.3 million are deposited into an escrow account which funds remediation and monitoring costs for two sites related to former operations. Annual proceeds received but not expended in the current year accumulate in this account and may be used in future years for costs related to this site through the year 2027. As of February 28, 2026, the balance in this escrow account, which is held in a trust and is not recorded in the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, was approximately $5.8 million. Also included in estimated insurance proceeds are amounts the Company is entitled to receive pursuant to legal settlements as reimbursements from three insurance companies for estimated costs at one of its sites.
The Company’s nuclear garment decontamination facilities are licensed by respective state agencies, as delegated authority by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the “NRC”) pursuant to the NRC’s Agreement State program and are subject to applicable federal and state radioactive material regulations. In addition, the Company’s international locations (Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union) are regulated by equivalent respective jurisdictional authorities. There can be no assurance that such regulation will not lead to material disruptions in the Company’s garment decontamination business.
From time to time, the Company is also subject to legal and regulatory proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of its business operations, including but not limited to, personal injury claims, customer contract matters, employment claims and environmental matters as described above.
In addition, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, the Mexican federal tax authority issued a tax assessment on the Company’s subsidiary in Mexico for fiscal 2016 import taxes, value added taxes and custom processing fees of over $17.0 million, plus surcharges, fines and penalties of over $67.7 million for a total assessment of over $84.7 million. The Company challenged the validity of the tax assessment through an appeal process. In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Federal Tax Court in Mexico made a determination partially in the Company's favor. Following the Federal Tax Court’s determination, the Company filed a constitutional action before the Federal Administrative Court. In addition, the federal tax authority appealed the determination of the Federal Tax Court. While the Company is unable to ascertain the ultimate outcome of this matter, based on the information currently available, the
14
Company believes that a loss with respect to this matter is neither probable nor remote. Given the uncertainty associated with the ultimate resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to reasonably assess an estimate or range of estimates of any potential losses.
While it is impossible for the Company to ascertain the ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to contingent liabilities, including lawsuits and environmental contingencies, the Company believes that the aggregate amount of such liabilities, if any, in excess of amounts covered by insurance have been properly accrued in accordance with U.S. GAAP. It is possible, however, that the future financial position and/or results of operations for any particular future period could be materially affected by changes in the Company’s assumptions or strategies related to these contingencies or changes out of the Company’s control.
10. Income Taxes
In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), each interim period is considered integral to the annual period and tax expense is measured using an estimated annual effective tax rate. An entity is required to record income tax expense each quarter based on its annual effective tax rate estimated for the full fiscal year and use that rate to provide for income taxes on a current year-to-date basis, adjusted for discrete taxable events that occur during the interim period.
Effective tax rate
The Company’s effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 was 25.1% as compared to 25.0% for the corresponding period in the prior year. The increase in the effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 was due primarily to the timing and amount of excess tax benefits and deficiencies associated with employee share-based payments. The Company’s effective tax rate for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 was 26.2% as compared to 25.4% for the corresponding period in the prior year. The increase in the effective tax rate for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 was due primarily to the timing and amount of excess tax benefits and deficiencies associated with employee share-based payments.
Uncertain tax positions
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense, consistent with prior periods. During the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, unrecognized tax positions increased by $1.0 million due to changes in existing reserves.
The Company files federal income tax returns in the United States and Canada, as well as state and provincial income tax returns in most U.S. jurisdictions and several Canadian provinces. The Company is periodically subject to income tax audits in these jurisdictions, which can be complex and may take several years to resolve. The final resolution of such audits may result in adjustments to the Company’s tax accruals or income tax provision, which could materially affect results of operations in the period of resolution.
U.S. and Canadian federal income tax statutes are closed for filings through fiscal years 2021 and 2017, respectively. With limited exceptions, state and local income tax examinations are closed for periods prior to fiscal 2022. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to materially change during the next 12 months.
11. Long-Term Debt
On August 12, 2025, the Company entered into an amended and restated $300.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreement, (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks, which matures on August 12, 2030. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is able to borrow funds at variable interest rates based on, at the Company’s election, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or a base rate, plus in each case a spread based on the Company’s consolidated funded debt ratio. Provided there is no default or event of default under the Credit Agreement and the Company is in compliance with its financial covenants on a pro forma basis, the Company may request an increase in the aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement (in the form of revolving or term tranches) of up to an additional $100.0 million, for a total aggregate commitment of up to $400.0 million.
Availability of credit requires compliance with certain financial and other covenants, including a maximum consolidated funded debt ratio and minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Company evaluates its compliance with these financial covenants on a fiscal quarterly basis. As of February 28, 2026, the interest rates applicable to the Company’s borrowings under the Credit Agreement would be calculated as SOFR plus 1.00% at the time of the respective borrowing.
As of February 28, 2026, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and had outstanding letters of credit amounting to $102.0 million, leaving $198.0 million available for borrowing under the Credit Agreement.
15
As of February 28, 2026, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement.
12. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
ForeignCurrencyTranslation
Pension-related (1)
DerivativeFinancialInstruments (1)
TotalAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLoss
Balance as of November 29, 2025
(28,061
4,111
58
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification
(8
3,873
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
(21
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
(24,180
(25,956
60
Other comprehensive income before reclassification
19
1,795
(50
Balance as of November 30, 2024
(30,902
2,234
129
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassification
(4,372
(41
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income
Balance as of March 1, 2025
(35,340
154
Balance as of August 31, 2024
(25,966
138
(9,236
(72
16
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
Derivative financial instruments, net:
Forward contracts (a)
Total, net of tax
Total amounts reclassified, net of tax
13. Segment Reporting
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise for which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance.
Prior to May 31, 2025, the Company organized its business into six operating segments: U.S. Rental and Cleaning, Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing (“MFG”), Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning (“Specialty Garments”), First Aid and Corporate. The U.S. Rental and Cleaning and Canadian Rental and Cleaning operating segments were previously combined to form the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment, and as a result, the Company had five reporting segments. The Company previously referred to its U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG, and Corporate segments combined as its “Core Laundry Operations.”
Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company reorganized its business into three reportable operating segments:
Uniform & Facility Service Solutions: This reporting segment consolidates the former U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG and Corporate segments and includes our cleanroom solutions, which was previously part of the Specialty Garments reporting segment. The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions reporting segment designs, manufactures, purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, uniforms and protective clothing and non-garment items in the U.S. and Canada. The segment, through our cleanroom solutions, also purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells specialty garments and non-garment items primarily for cleanroom applications and provides cleanroom cleaning at limited customer locations. Additionally, Uniform & Facility Service Solutions consists of our distribution center, sales and marketing, information systems, engineering, materials management, manufacturing planning, finance, budgeting, human resources, other general and administrative costs and interest expense.
First Aid & Safety Solutions: We renamed our First Aid reporting segment as the First Aid & Safety Solutions reporting segment to better reflect the scope of services and products offered. The First Aid & Safety Solutions reporting segment sells first aid cabinet services, non-prescription medicines and safety supplies, and provides certain safety training.
Other: This reporting segment currently consists of our nuclear business, which was previously part of the Specialty Garments reporting segment with our cleanroom business. The segment purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, specialty garments and non-garment items primarily for nuclear applications.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. The modifications to the Company’s reporting segments reflect how the CODM assesses performance and allocates resources. The CODM uses segment revenues and segment U.S. GAAP operating income to assess performance and allocate resources. The CODM uses this information, which includes a comparison of segment results to historical periods and budget, to guide decisions on how to allocate resources, to evaluate operating performance, generate future operating plans and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital.
The Company has recast prior certain period segment results to conform with the current presentation. For this recast, refer to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2025. Asset information is not utilized by the CODM for purposes of assessing performance or allocating resources, and therefore such information has not been presented.
17
The following table includes the Company’s financial results by reportable segment, including segment revenues, significant segment expenses (which includes cost of revenues, selling and administrative expenses, and depreciation and amortization), and segment operating income for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 (in thousands):
Forthe thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026
$568,808
$30,793
$22,904
$622,505
Cost of revenues
368,418
19,701
15,567
142,328
10,811
4,274
33,187
1,387
818
Operating Income
$24,875
$(1,106)
$2,245
$26,014
Forthe thirteen weeks ended March 1, 2025
$551,407
$27,454
$23,358
$602,219
358,434
18,422
17,289
129,567
8,571
3,776
33,234
947
$30,172
$(486)
$1,528
$31,214
Forthe twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026
725,877
39,014
31,824
275,714
20,973
8,532
66,397
2,558
1,612
66,712
(1,508
6,118
Forthe twenty-six weeks ended March 1, 2025
707,741
35,286
32,172
251,382
16,703
7,344
66,344
1,832
1,578
78,692
(145
8,198
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of total segment operating income to consolidated net income for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025 (in thousands):
Total segment operating income
Interest expense, net
18
14. Shares Repurchased and Dividends
The Company has two classes of common stock: Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, is freely transferable, and is entitled to a cash dividend equal to 125% of any cash dividend paid on each share of Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes and can be converted to Common Stock on a share-for-share basis. However, until converted to Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock are not freely transferable. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, 31,860 shares of Class B Common Stock were converted to Common Stock No such conversions occurred during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026.
On October 28, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared increased quarterly cash dividends of $0.365 per share of Common Stock and $0.292 per share of Class B Common Stock, up from $0.350 and $0.280 per share, respectively. The amount and timing of any future dividend payment is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors each quarter.
On October 24, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program to repurchase up to $100.0 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, inclusive of the amount which remained available under the existing share repurchase program approved on October 18, 2021. On April 8, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program to repurchase up to $100.0 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, inclusive of the amount which remained available under the existing share repurchase program approved in 2023. Repurchases from time to time under the new program, if any, will be made in either the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including economic and market conditions, the Company stock price, corporate liquidity requirements and priorities, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The share repurchase program has been funded to date with the Company’s available cash and will be funded in the future using the Company’s available cash or capacity under its Credit Agreement and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
No shares were repurchased during the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026. During the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 the Company repurchased 194,100 shares at an average price of $163.18 under the share repurchase program. During the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended March 1, 2025, the Company repurchased 33,000 and 66,605 shares, respectively, for an average price of $186.51 and $188.09, respectively, under the share repurchase program.
15. Related Party
During the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.8 million of revenue with a company for which a member of the Company’s Board of Directors served as senior officer throughout such periods.
During the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended March 1, 2025, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.8 million of revenue, respectively, with a company for which a member of the Company’s Board of Directors served as a senior officer throughout such periods.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any documents incorporated by reference may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance, including statements regarding the transaction between UniFirst Corporation (“we”, “our”, the “Company”, or “UniFirst”) and Cintas Corporation (“Parent” or “Cintas”) (the “Transaction”). Forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any documents incorporated by reference are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “strategy,” “objective,” “assume,” “strive,” “design,” “assumption,” “vision” “drive,” or the negative versions thereof, and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date made. Such statements are highly dependent upon a variety of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements.
The following Transaction-related factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements: the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between Cintas and UniFirst; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Cintas or UniFirst; the possibility that the Transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder, or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all (and the risk that seeking or obtaining such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Transaction); the risk that the benefits from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, trade policy (including tariff levels), laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Cintas and UniFirst operate; any failure to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Cintas and UniFirst; the possibility that the Transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of Cintas’ or UniFirst’s customers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the Transaction; the dilution caused by Cintas’ issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the Transaction; changes in the trading price of Cintas’ or UniFirst’s capital stock; and the diversion of management’s attention and time to the Transaction from ongoing business operations and opportunities.
Additional factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainties caused by an economic recession or other adverse economic conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of elevated inflation or interest rates or extraordinary events or circumstances such as geopolitical conflicts like the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and the United States and Iran and other disruption in the Middle East, and their impact on our customers’ businesses and workforce levels, disruptions of our business and operations, including limitations on, or closures of, our facilities, or the business and operations of our customers or suppliers in connection with extraordinary events or circumstances, uncertainties regarding our ability to consummate acquisitions and successfully integrate acquired businesses, and the performance of such businesses, uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation, any adverse outcome of pending or future contingencies or claims, our ability to compete successfully without any significant degradation in our margin rates, seasonal and quarterly fluctuations in business levels, our ability to preserve positive labor relationships and avoid becoming the target of corporate labor unionization campaigns that could disrupt our business, the effect of currency fluctuations on our results of operations and financial condition, our dependence on third parties to supply us with raw materials, which such supply could be severely disrupted as a result of extraordinary events or circumstances such as the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and the United States and Iran, any loss of key management or other personnel, increased costs as a result of any changes in federal, state, international or other laws, rules and regulations or governmental interpretation of such laws, rules and regulations, uncertainties regarding, or adverse impacts from continued high price levels of natural gas, electricity, fuel and labor or increases in such costs, the negative effect on our business from sharply depressed oil and natural gas prices, the continuing increase in domestic healthcare costs, increased workers’ compensation claim costs, increased healthcare claim costs, our ability to retain and grow our customer base, demand and prices for our products and services, fluctuations in our nuclear business, political or other instability, supply chain disruption or infection among our employees in Mexico and Nicaragua where our principal garment manufacturing plants are located, our ability to properly and efficiently design, construct, implement and operate a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) computer system, interruptions or failures of our information technology systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, additional professional and internal costs necessary for compliance with any changes in or additional Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), New York Stock Exchange and accounting or other rules, strikes and unemployment levels, our efforts to evaluate and potentially reduce internal costs, the impact of U.S. and foreign trade policies and tariffs or other impositions on imported goods on our business, results of operations and financial condition, our ability to
successfully implement our business strategies and processes, including our capital allocation strategies, our ability to successfully remediate the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025 and the other factors described under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025 and in our other filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made.
Business Overview
UniFirst, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1950, together with its subsidiaries, is one of the leading providers of workplace uniforms and protective work wear clothing in North America. We design, manufacture, personalize, rent, clean, deliver, and sell a wide range of uniforms and protective clothing, including shirts, pants, jackets, coveralls, lab coats, smocks, aprons and specialized protective wear, such as flame resistant and high visibility garments. We also rent and sell industrial wiping products, floor mats, facility service products and other non-garment items, and provide restroom and cleaning supplies and first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies as well as provide certain safety training, to a variety of manufacturers, retailers and service companies. We serve businesses of all sizes across multiple industries and sectors. We provide our products and services to over 300,000 customer locations in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
As mentioned and described in Note 13, “Segment Reporting,” beginning with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, we reorganized our business into three reportable operating segments based on the information reviewed by our Chief Executive Officer: Uniform & Facility Service Solutions, First Aid & Safety Solutions and Other. Refer to Note 13, “Segment Reporting” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for our disclosure of segment information. We have recast certain prior period segment results to conform with the current presentation.
The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment consolidates the former Corporate, Manufacturing (“MFG”) and U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning operating segments and includes our cleanroom operations, which was previously part of the Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning (“Specialty Garments”) reporting segment. The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions reporting segment designs, manufactures, purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, uniforms and protective clothing and non-garment items in the U.S. and Canada. Certain operations of the Uniform & Facility Service Solutions reporting segment are referred to by the Company as “industrial laundry operations” and we refer to the locations related to this reporting segment as our “industrial laundries”. Additionally, the Uniform & Facility Service Solutions consists of our distribution center, sales and marketing, information systems, engineering, materials management, manufacturing planning, finance, budgeting, human resources, other general and administrative costs and interest expense. The segment, through the Company’s cleanroom operations, also purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells specialty garments and non-garment items primarily for cleanroom applications and provides cleanroom cleaning at limited customer locations.
We renamed our First Aid reporting segment as the First Aid & Safety Solutions reporting segment to better reflect the scope of services and products offered. The First Aid & Safety Solutions reporting segment sells first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies, provides certain safety training and maintains wholesale distribution and pill packaging operations for non-prescription medicines.
The Other reporting segment currently consists of our nuclear business, which was previously part of the Specialty Garments reporting segment with our cleanroom operations. The segment purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, specialty garments and non-garment items primarily for nuclear applications.
On March 10, 2026, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Cintas, Bruin Merger Sub I, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cintas (“Merger Sub Inc.”), and Bruin Merger Sub II, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cintas (“Merger Sub LLC”).
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the merger of the Company with and into Merger Sub Inc., each share of (i) our common stock, par value $0.10 per share, and (ii) our Class B common stock, par value $0.10 per share, (clauses (i) and (ii) “Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of this merger (other than shares of our Common Stock held in our treasury or held directly by a subsidiary of the Company, Cintas, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC) will convert into the right to receive: $155.00 in cash and 0.7720 shares of fully paid and nonassessable Cintas common stock. No fractional shares of Cintas common stock will be issued in this merger, and holders of our Common Stock will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Cintas common stock.
21
For more information, refer to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2026 and Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
Factors Affecting Our Business
In general, we believe that our results of operations are not dependent on moderate changes in the inflation rate. Historically, we have been able to manage the impacts of more significant changes in inflation rates through our customer relationships, customer agreements that generally provide for price increases and continued focus on improvements in operational productivity. However, the inflationary environment in recent years had a negative impact on our margins, including increased energy costs for our vehicles and our plants, and increased wages in the labor markets in which we compete. While inflation has moderated recently, a period of sustained inflation could pressure our margins in future periods. Adverse economic conditions resulting from inflationary pressures, U.S. Federal Reserve actions, including elevated interest rates and/or increases in interest rates, geopolitical issues, U.S. and foreign tariffs or other impositions on imported goods or other causes are difficult to predict and may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are also monitoring and evaluating the potential impact of new or increased tariffs on imported goods. If any such tariffs were to increase our cost or difficulty of obtaining raw materials or products from suppliers and we were unable to mitigate the impacts of any such increased costs or difficulties, it could have a material adverse impact on our business and our results of operations. In addition, any such tariffs or other impositions on imported goods could have a negative adverse impact on economic conditions generally and on the businesses of our customers, including decreases in wearer levels at our customers, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and our results of operations.
Please see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025 and Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for an additional discussion of risks and potential risks of adverse economic conditions on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including, without limitation, as a result of inflation, elevated interest rates and/or increases in interest rates, geopolitical issues, U.S. and foreign tariffs or other impositions on imported goods.
Results of Operations
The following table presents certain selected financial data, including the percentage of revenues represented by each item, for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025.
%Change
3.4
3.0
64.8
65.4
2.4
64.1
64.2
2.8
25.3
23.6
10.9
24.5
22.8
10.8
5.7
5.8
1.3
1.2
95.8
94.8
4.5
94.3
92.8
4.7
4.2
5.2
(16.7
7.2
(17.8
Other income, net
(0.2
(6.6
(0.3
(21.7
5.4
(16.2
6.0
7.5
(17.9
1.1
1.4
(16.1
1.6
1.9
(15.4
3.3
(16.3
)%
5.6
(18.8
22
General
We derive our revenues from the services described under “Business Overview” above.
Cost of revenues include the amortization of rental merchandise in service and merchandise costs related to direct sales as well as labor and other production, service and delivery costs, and distribution costs associated with operating our Uniform & Facility Service Solutions operations, Other segment facilities, and First Aid & Safety Solutions locations. Selling and administrative costs include costs related to our sales and marketing functions as well as general and administrative costs associated with our corporate offices, non-operating environmental sites and operating locations including information systems, engineering, materials management, manufacturing planning, finance, budgeting, and human resources.
In fiscal 2022, we initiated a multiyear ERP project that we plan to continue through 2027, with early phases focused on master data management and finance capabilities followed by subsequent phases with a strong focus on supply chain and procurement automation and technology. We believe that this initiative will become the foundation of our systems technology footprint and will integrate and complement the capabilities of our other core systems. We expect the ERP system, and the new supply chain and procurement capabilities that it will provide to enable lower operating costs and contribute to the reduction of customer churn. Such benefits are expected to be delivered through enhanced inventory utilization and vendor management, improved response times to customer orders and more efficient back-end processes. As of February 28, 2026, we capitalized $57.8 million related to our ERP project. We refer to our ERP project as our “Key Initiative”.
Thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared with thirteen weeks ended March 1, 2025
DollarChange
PercentChange
17,401
3.2
3,339
12.2
(454
(1.9
Total consolidated revenues
20,286
The increase in consolidated revenues of 3.4% during the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period was due primarily to growth in our Uniform & Facility Service Solutions of 3.2%. The increase in our Uniform & Facility Service Solutions was due to organic growth of 2.8%. The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions organic growth rate was primarily the result of solid new account sales and benefited from improved customer retention. The effect of the Canadian dollar exchange rate resulted in changes in our revenues of 0.3%.
First Aid & Safety Service Solutions revenues in the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 increased 12.2% compared to the prior year comparable period due primarily to double-digit growth in our van business.
In the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026, Other segment revenues were impacted by the continued wind-down of a large refurbishment project, as well as a lower number of reactor outages due to the cyclical nature of the nuclear business. Other segment results are often affected by seasonality and the timing and length of its customers’ power reactor outages as well as its project-based activities.
9,541
% of Revenues
The increase in consolidated cost of revenues during the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period was primarily attributable to investments in service staffing to drive continued improvement in our customer retention. These increases were partially offset by lower merchandise costs as a percentage of revenues compared to the prior year comparable period.
23
15,499
The increase in selling and administrative costs during the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period was due primarily to planned investments to accelerate growth and support our digital transformation. Our selling and administrative expenses in the current period were further impacted by (1) approximately $2.0 million in costs related to shareholder engagement and proxy-related matters in connection with our 2026 annual meeting of shareholders and the proposed merger with Cintas, and (2) legal expenses related to an employee matter of $2.5 million (referred to collectively as the “Strategic and Employee Matters”). In addition, our costs incurred related to our Key Initiative totaled $3.0 million during the period compared to $1.9 million during the prior year comparable period.
446
Depreciation and amortization expense remained relatively consistent during the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period.
For the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025, changes in our revenues and costs as discussed above resulted in the following changes in our operating income and margin:
24,875
30,172
(5,297
(17.6
(1,106
(486
(620
127.6
2,245
1,528
717
46.9
(5,200
Operating income margin
637
(28.8
(544
(68.5
93
Other income, net, for the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 decreased compared to the prior year comparable period, primarily reflecting lower cash reserves and lower interest rates, which reduced interest income, along with higher bank fees.
(1,318
Effective income tax rate
25.1
25.0
24
The increase in the effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year was due primarily to the timing and amount of excess tax benefits and deficiencies associated with employee share-based payments.
Twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared with twenty-six weeks ended March 1, 2025
30,541
7,361
13.7
(1,206
(2.4
36,696
The increase in consolidated revenues of 3.0% during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period was due primarily to the growth in our Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment of 2.8%. The increase in our Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment was due to organic growth of 2.6%. The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions organic growth rate was primarily the result of solid new account sales and benefited from improved customer retention. The effect of the Canadian dollar exchange rate resulted in changes in our revenues of 0.1%.
First Aid & Safety Solutions revenues in the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 increased 13.7% compared to the prior year comparable due primarily to double-digit growth in our van business.
In the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, Other segment revenues were impacted by the wind-down of a large refurbishment project, as well as a lower number of reactor outages due to the cyclical nature of the nuclear business. Other segment results are often affected by seasonality and the timing and length of its customers’ power outages as well as its project-based activities.
21,516
The increase in consolidated cost of revenues of 2.8% during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period was primarily attributable to investments in service staffing to drive continued improvement in our customer retention and higher healthcare claims expenses. These increases were partially offset by lower merchandise costs as a percentage of revenues compared to the prior year comparable period.
29,790
The increase in selling and administrative costs of 10.8% during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period was due primarily to investments we continue to make in building our capabilities and to execute through the initiatives that are advancing. Our selling and administrative expenses in the current period were further impacted by $4.5 million related to the Strategic and Employee Matters.
813
Depreciation and amortization expense remained relatively consistent during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 compared to the prior year comparable period.
(11,980
(15.2
(1,363
940.0
(2,080
(25.4
(15,423
1,403
(28.6
(575
(53.0
828
Other income, net during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 decreased as compared to the prior year comparable period, primarily reflecting lower cash reserves and lower interest rates, which reduced interest income, along with higher bank fees.
(3,534
26.2
25.4
The increase in the effective tax rate for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year was due primarily to the timing and amount of excess tax benefits and deficiencies associated with employee share-based payments.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $157.5 million as of February 28, 2026, a decrease of $51.7 million from $209.2 million as of August 30, 2025. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments was largely driven by our continued investment in our business with capital expenditures totaling $77.3 million, $32.7 million of share repurchases, $14.6 million of acquisitions and $12.5 million of dividend payments. These decreases were partially offset by $88.5 million of cash provided from operating activities during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026.
On April 8, 2025, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program to repurchase up to $100.0 million of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, inclusive of the amount which remained available under the existing share repurchase program approved in 2023.
Pursuant to the share repurchase program, we repurchased 194,100 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate of approximately $31.7 million during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026. As of February 28, 2026, we had $8.9 million remaining to repurchase shares under the share repurchase program.
We believe, although there can be no assurance, that our current cash and cash equivalents, our cash generated from future operations and amounts available under our Credit Agreement (as defined below) will be sufficient to meet our current anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months and will enable us to manage the impacts of inflation and address related liquidity needs.
26
Cash flows provided by operating activities have historically been the primary source of our liquidity. We generally use these cash flows to fund most, if not all, of our operations, capital expenditure and acquisition activities as well as dividends on our Common Stock and stock repurchases. We may also use cash flows provided by operating activities, as well as proceeds from long-term debt, to fund growth and acquisition opportunities, as well as other cash requirements.
Sources and uses of cash flows for the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 and March 1, 2025, respectively, are summarized as follows:
(39,829
(31.0
(24,324
36.2
(20,477
70.9
2,320
(146.7
(82,310
(269.0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
The net cash provided by operating activities during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 decreased compared to the prior year comparable period due primarily to unfavorable changes in rental merchandise in service of $18.6 million, accrued liabilities of $3.9 million, prepaid and accrued income taxes of $3.6 million and lower profitability.
The unfavorable impact from rental merchandise in service was driven primarily by the installation of garments for several large customers during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026. The accrued liabilities were largely attributable to the timing of disbursements. The decrease in prepaid and accrued income taxes reflects federal and state tax payments made during the first half of fiscal 2026.
In addition, operating cash flow was negatively impacted by a $2.9 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets and a $1.0 million increase in accounts receivable comparable to the prior year period. The increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets was driven primarily by higher prepayments for annual renewals of information technology contracts and insurance policies, while the increase in accounts receivable was due primarily to higher revenue volumes.
These impacts were partially offset by a $2.7 million increase in accounts payable, primarily due to the timing of cash payments and a $0.7 million decrease in inventories, driven by the timing of shipments.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
The net cash used in investing activities during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 increased as compared to the prior year comparable period due primarily to an increase in capital expenditures of $11.2 million, an increase in cash paid for acquisitions, of $9.3 million, which includes the settlement of $0.5 million in acquisition-related holdbacks from prior period transactions and increased net investment in certificates of deposit of $4.0 million.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
The net cash used in financing activities during the twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026 increased as compared to the prior year comparable period due primarily to a $20.2 million increase in the repurchase of Common Stock during the period.
Long-term Debt and Borrowing Capacity
See Note 11, “Long-Term Debt” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information on long-term debt and borrowing capacity.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
See Item 3. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our derivative instruments and hedging activities.
27
Environmental and Legal Contingencies
We are involved with environmental investigation, monitoring and remediation activities at certain sites. In addition, from time to time, we are also subject to legal and regulatory proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of our business operations, including but not limited to, personal injury, customer contract, employment claims and environmental and tax matters as described. We maintain insurance coverage providing indemnification against many of such claims, and we do not expect, although there can be no assurance, that we will sustain any material loss as a result thereof. Refer to Note 9, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025, for further discussion.
In addition, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, the Mexican federal tax authority issued a tax assessment on our subsidiary in Mexico for fiscal 2016 import taxes, value added taxes and custom processing fees of over $17.0 million, plus surcharges, fines and penalties of over $67.7 million for a total assessment of over $84.7 million. We challenged the validity of the tax assessment through an appeal process. In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Federal Tax Court in Mexico made a determination partially in our favor. Following the Federal Tax Court’s determination, we filed a constitutional action before the Federal Administrative Court. In addition, the federal tax authority appealed the determination of the Federal Tax Court. While we are unable to ascertain the ultimate outcome of this matter, based on the information currently available, we believe that a loss with respect to this matter is neither probable nor remote. Given the uncertainty associated with the ultimate resolution of this matter, we are unable to reasonably assess an estimate or range of estimates of any potential losses.
While it is impossible for us to ascertain the ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to contingent liabilities, including lawsuits and environmental contingencies, we believe that the aggregate amount of such liabilities, if any, in excess of amounts covered by insurance have been properly accrued in accordance with accounting principles under U.S. GAAP. It is possible, however, that the future financial position and/or results of operations for any particular future period could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions or strategies related to these contingencies or changes out of our control.
Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments
As of February 28, 2026, there were no material changes to our contractual obligations that were disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025. As of February 28, 2026, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. As such, management is required to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that are believed to be reasonable based on the information available. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Critical accounting estimates are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, the most important and pervasive accounting estimates used and areas most sensitive to material changes from external factors. The critical accounting estimates that we believe affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report are described in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements that are each included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025. There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting estimates since the year ended August 30, 2025.
See Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information on recently implemented and issued accounting standards.
28
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We have determined that all of our foreign subsidiaries operate primarily in local currencies that represent the functional currencies of such subsidiaries. All assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. The effects of exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of assets and liabilities are recorded as a component of shareholders’ equity. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during each month of the fiscal year. As such, our financial condition and operating results are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to currencies in foreign countries. Revenues denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar represented approximately 7.4% and 7.3%, respectively, of total consolidated revenues for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026. Total assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar represented approximately 7.1% and 7.0% of our total consolidated assets for February 28, 2026 and August 30, 2025. If exchange rates had increased or decreased by 10% from the actual rates in effect during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, our revenues would have increased or decreased by $4.6 million and $9.1 million, respectively, and total assets as of February 28, 2026 would have increased or decreased by approximately $20.0 million.
In August 2021, we entered into twenty forward contracts to exchange CAD for U.S. dollars at fixed exchange rates in order to manage our exposure related to certain forecasted CAD denominated sales of one of our subsidiaries. The hedged transactions are specified as the first amount of CAD denominated revenues invoiced by one of our domestic subsidiaries each fiscal quarter, beginning in the first fiscal quarter of 2022 and continuing through the fourth fiscal quarter of 2026. In total, we will sell approximately 14.1 million CAD at an average Canadian-dollar exchange rate of 0.7861 over these quarterly periods. We concluded that the forward contracts met the criteria to qualify as a cash flow hedge under U.S. GAAP.
As of February 28, 2026, we had forward contracts with a notional value of approximately 0.9 million CAD outstanding which were recorded at the fair value of the contracts in prepaid expenses and other current assets with a corresponding gain of a nominal amount in accumulated other comprehensive loss, which was recorded net of tax. The amount recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets as of February 28, 2026, as well as the amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to revenue for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, were all nominal. The gain on these forward contracts that resulted in a decrease to accumulated other comprehensive loss as of February 28, 2026 is expected to be reclassified to revenues prior to their maturity on August 29, 2026.
Other than the forward contracts, discussed above, we do not operate a hedging program to mitigate the effect of a significant change in the value of the functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries, which include the Canadian dollar, euro, British pound, Mexican peso and Nicaraguan cordoba, as compared to the U.S. dollar. Any losses or gains resulting from unhedged foreign currency transactions, including exchange rate fluctuations on intercompany accounts are reported as transaction losses (gains) in our other income, net. The intercompany payables and receivables are denominated in Canadian dollars, euros, British pounds, Mexican pesos and Nicaraguan cordobas. During the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, transaction gains included in other income, net were approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively. If exchange rates had increased or decreased by 10% during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 28, 2026, we would have recognized exchange gains or losses of approximately $0.1 million and a nominal amount, respectively.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, which may adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In seeking to minimize the risks from interest rate fluctuations, we manage exposures through our operating and financing activities. We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily through borrowings under our Credit Agreement. During the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Under the Credit Agreement, we borrow funds at variable interest rates based on, at our election, the SOFR rate or a base rate, plus in each case a spread based on our consolidated funded debt ratio. To the extent we have borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement, changes in interest rates result in changes in our interest expense.
Please see Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025 for an additional discussion of risks and potential risks on our business, financial performance and the market price of our Common Stock.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, solely as a result of the material weakness previously identified by management and described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company required to be disclosed by the Company in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurances of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply our judgment in designing and evaluating the controls and procedures. We continue to review our disclosure controls and procedures, and our internal control over financial reporting, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that our systems evolve with our business.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than the remediation measures with respect to the material weakness described below, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the second quarter of fiscal 2026 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Previously Identified Material Weakness
As described in Part II, Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025, we previously identified a material weakness related to our CRM system which affected revenue and receivables as well as a group of legacy applications which affected revenue and receivables, supply inventory and merchandise in service. Consequently, our automated and manual business process controls that rely upon information from our IT systems were also deemed ineffective because they could have been adversely impacted.
Remediation
Our management is committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment. In response to the material weakness described in Part II, Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025, we implemented a number of remedial actions, including (i) redesigning our manage change and manage access processes and controls, (ii) investing additional resources to enhance oversight and involvement from our recently created Process, Risk and Controls group, (iii) strengthening our internal policies related to IT general controls (“ITGCs”), (iv) enhancing training and awareness programs addressing ITGCs and policies, including further education of control owners regarding the principles and requirements of each control, and (v) progressing our implementation of an Identity and Access Management (IAM) system, which will provide enhanced control over the provisioning of user access.
As a result of these efforts, we have made significant progress in remediating the design and operating effectiveness of our control environment and successfully addressed ITGCs for several key financial systems, including our legacy ERP platform and supporting tools and utilities.
We have advanced remediation efforts related to deficiencies in change management and access management for our CRM system and certain legacy applications.
Our focus remains on resolving the design and operational issues tied to change and access management in both the CRM and other legacy applications. At the same time, we are investing in broader IT system improvements, including the implementation of Oracle Cloud ERP. While unanticipated delays and complexities may extend the timeline, our plan at this time is to fully remediate the identified material weakness by the end of fiscal 2026.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have certified in certifications furnished with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that, to the best of their knowledge, the information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
31
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved with environmental investigation, monitoring and remediation activities at certain sites. In addition, from time to time, we are subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the current conduct of our business operations, including but not limited to, personal injury, customer contract, employment claims and environmental and tax matters as described in our Consolidated Financial Statements. We maintain insurance coverage providing indemnification against many of such claims, and we do not expect, although there can be no assurance, that we will sustain any material loss as a result thereof. Refer to Note 9, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025, for further discussion.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, and future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025 are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. Except to the extent previously updated or below or to the extent additional factual information disclosed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q relates to such risk factors (including, without limitation, the matters discussed in Part I, Item 2 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”), there have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 30, 2025.
Risks Related to the Proposed Acquisition of UniFirst by Cintas
The Mergers are subject to conditions, some or all of which may not be satisfied, and may not be completed on a timely basis, if at all. Failure to complete the Mergers on a timely basis or at all could have adverse effects on us.
The completion of the Mergers (as defined in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) is subject to a number of conditions, including, among others, (i) the approval by UniFirst shareholders of the UniFirst merger proposal and (ii) certain regulatory approvals, including the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), which make the completion and timing of the Mergers uncertain. Also, either Cintas or UniFirst may terminate the Merger Agreement (as defined in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) if the Mergers have not been consummated on or before 5:00 p.m. (New York, New York, Untied States time) on January 10, 2027 (or, in certain circumstances, as such date may be extended to May 10, 2027 or September 10, 2027 pursuant to the Merger Agreement), except that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement is not available to any party that has materially breached any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement if such breach has been the principal cause of or principally resulted in the failure of the closing to have occurred on or before such date.
If the Mergers are not completed, our ongoing business, financial condition, financial results and stock price could be materially adversely affected, and we would forego any benefit of completing the Mergers. Without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Mergers, we will be subject to a number of risks, including the following:
The materialization of any of these risks could adversely impact our ongoing business, financial condition, financial results and stock price. Similarly, delays in the completion of the Mergers could, among other things, result in additional transaction costs, loss of revenue or other negative effects associated with uncertainty about completion of the Mergers.
The Merger Agreement contains provisions that limit UniFirst’s ability to pursue alternatives to the Mergers, could discourage a potential competing acquiror of UniFirst from making a favorable alternative transaction proposal and, in specified circumstances, could require UniFirst to pay a termination fee to Cintas.
The Merger Agreement contains certain provisions that restrict UniFirst’s ability to solicit, seek, facilitate, discuss or enter into an agreement with respect to a UniFirst acquisition proposal. The UniFirst Board of Directors is subject to restrictions on withdrawing, qualifying or modifying its recommendation to UniFirst shareholders in favor of the Mergers and to certain other related restrictions. In addition, Cintas generally must be given an opportunity to offer to modify the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in response to any third-party alternative acquisition proposal before the UniFirst Board of Directors may withdraw or qualify its recommendation with respect to the Mergers or terminate the Merger Agreement in connection with a third-party acquisition proposal.
In some circumstances relating to our entry into an agreement for an alternative transaction or a change in the recommendation of the UniFirst Board of Directors with respect to the Mergers, upon termination of the Merger Agreement, we will be required to pay a termination fee of $213,300,000 to Cintas.
These provisions of the Merger Agreement could discourage a potential third-party acquiror or merger partner that might have an interest in acquiring all or a significant portion of UniFirst or pursuing an alternative transaction with UniFirst from considering or proposing such a transaction, even if it were prepared to pay consideration with a higher per share value than the per share value proposed to be received or realized in the Mergers. In particular, the termination fee, if applicable, could result in a potential third-party acquiror or merger partner proposing to pay a lower price to UniFirst shareholders than it might otherwise have proposed to pay absent such a fee.
The Mergers are subject to the expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods (including any extension thereof) and the receipt of certain authorizations or consents from regulatory authorities that may impose conditions that could have an adverse effect on Cintas after the completion of the Mergers or, if not obtained, could prevent completion of the Mergers.
Before the Mergers may be completed, any waiting period (or extension thereof) under the HSR Act must have expired or been terminated, and any authorizations or consents from certain foreign regulators under antitrust laws and governmental authorities in respect of certain of UniFirst’s permits are required in connection with the Mergers. In deciding whether to grant the required regulatory authorization or consent, the relevant governmental authorities may consider, among other factors, the effect of the Mergers on competition within their relevant jurisdiction. The terms and conditions of the authorizations or consents that are granted may impose requirements, limitations or costs or place restrictions on the conduct of the business of Cintas after the completion of the Mergers.
In addition, regulators may impose conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions in connection with their authorization or consent to the Mergers, and such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions could delay completion of the Mergers or impose additional material costs on or materially limit Cintas’ revenues after the completion of the Mergers or potentially lead to the abandonment of the Mergers.
The merger consideration, including the exchange ratio, is fixed and will not be adjusted in the event of any change in either Cintas’ or UniFirst’s stock price. As such, UniFirst shareholders cannot be sure of the value of the stock consideration they will receive in exchange for their shares of UniFirst stock in connection with the Mergers.
Upon completion of the Mergers, each share of UniFirst stock will be converted into the right to receive $155.00 in cash, and 0.7720 of a validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Cintas common stock, in each case, without interest and subject to any required tax withholding. The stock consideration may potentially be adjusted for any fractional shares. The foregoing exchange ratio is fixed and will not be adjusted to reflect changes in the stock price of either Cintas or UniFirst before the Mergers are complete. Due to the fixed exchange ratio, fluctuations in the price of Cintas common stock will drive corresponding changes in the value of the merger consideration payable to each UniFirst shareholder. As a result, changes in the price of Cintas common stock prior to the
completion of the Mergers will affect the market value that UniFirst shareholders will become entitled to receive on the date of the closing of the Mergers. Stock price changes may result from a variety of factors (many of which are beyond Cintas’ or UniFirst’s control), including changes in Cintas’ or UniFirst’s respective business, operations and prospects.
The price of Cintas common stock has fluctuated during the period between the date the Merger Agreement was executed and the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and may continue to change through the date the Mergers are completed (which might be a significant period of time). Because the exchange ratio will not be adjusted to reflect any changes in the market values of Cintas common stock or UniFirst stock, the actual market value of the Cintas common stock received by UniFirst shareholders upon completion of the Mergers may differ from the market value on the last full trading day before the public announcement of the Mergers.
These variations could result from changes in the business, operations or prospects of Cintas or UniFirst prior to or after the completion of the Mergers, regulatory considerations, general market and economic conditions and other factors both within and beyond the control of Cintas or UniFirst. At the time of the special meeting, UniFirst shareholders will not know with certainty the value of the shares of Cintas common stock that they will receive upon completion of the Mergers. Neither Cintas nor UniFirst is permitted to terminate the Merger Agreement solely because of changes in the market price of either company’s common stock.
UniFirst is subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the proposed transaction is pending, which could adversely affect our business and operations.
In connection with the pendency of the Mergers, it is possible that some customers, suppliers and other persons with whom we have a business relationship may delay or defer certain business decisions or might decide to seek to terminate, change or renegotiate their relationships with us, as the case may be, as a result of the Mergers or otherwise. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, we are subject to certain restrictions on the conduct of our business prior to completing the Mergers, which may adversely affect our ability to execute certain of our business strategies, including the ability in certain cases to enter into or amend contracts, acquire or dispose of assets, incur indebtedness or incur capital expenditures. Such limitations could adversely affect our business and operations prior to the completion of the Mergers.
Each of the risks described above may be exacerbated by delays or other adverse developments with respect to the completion of the Mergers.
Uncertainties associated with the Mergers may cause a loss of management personnel and other key employees or cause UniFirst and Cintas to have difficulty attracting and motivating management personnel and other key employees, which could adversely affect the future business and operations of Cintas after the completion of the Mergers.
UniFirst and Cintas are dependent on the experience and industry knowledge of their respective management personnel and other key employees to execute their business plans. The success of Cintas after the completion of the Mergers will depend in part upon the ability of UniFirst and Cintas to attract, motivate and retain key management personnel and other key employees. Prior to completion of the Mergers, current and prospective employees of UniFirst and Cintas may experience uncertainty about their roles within Cintas after the completion of the Mergers, which may have an adverse effect on the ability of each of UniFirst and Cintas to attract, motivate or retain management personnel and other key employees. In addition, no assurance can be given that Cintas, after the completion of the Mergers, will be able to attract, motivate or retain management personnel and other key employees of UniFirst and Cintas to the same extent that UniFirst and Cintas have previously been able to attract or retain their own employees.
Potential litigation against UniFirst and Cintas could result in substantial costs, an injunction preventing the completion of the Mergers and/or a judgment resulting in the payment of damages.
Securities class action lawsuits and derivative lawsuits are often brought against public companies that have entered into merger agreements. Even if such a lawsuit is without merit, defending against these claims can result in substantial costs. An adverse judgment could result in monetary damages, which could have a negative impact on UniFirst’s and Cintas’ respective liquidity and financial condition.
Additionally, if a plaintiff is successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting completion of the Mergers, then that injunction may delay or prevent the Mergers from being completed, or from being completed within the expected time frame, which may adversely affect UniFirst’s and Cintas’ respective businesses, financial positions and results of operation.
Completion of the Mergers may trigger change in control or other provisions in certain agreements to which UniFirst or its subsidiaries is a party, which may have an adverse impact on Cintas’ business and results of operations after the Mergers.
The completion of the Mergers may trigger change in control or other provisions in certain agreements to which UniFirst or its subsidiaries is a party. If UniFirst or its subsidiaries are unable to negotiate waivers of those provisions, the counterparties may exercise their rights and remedies under the agreements, potentially terminating the agreements or seeking monetary damages. Even if UniFirst or its subsidiaries are able to negotiate waivers, the counterparties may require a fee for such waivers or seek to renegotiate the agreements on terms less favorable to Cintas after the completion of the Mergers. Any of the foregoing or similar developments may have an adverse impact on Cintas’ business and operations after the completion of the Mergers.
The shares of Cintas common stock to be received by UniFirst shareholders upon completion of the Mergers will have different rights from shares of UniFirst stock.
Upon completion of the Mergers, UniFirst shareholders will no longer be UniFirst shareholders but will instead become Cintas shareholders, and their rights as Cintas shareholders will be governed by the terms of Cintas articles of incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, Cintas bylaws, as may be amended from time to time, and the Washington Business Corporation Act (“WCBA”). The terms of Cintas articles of incorporation, Cintas bylaws and the WCBA are in some respects materially different from the terms of UniFirst articles of organization, as may be amended from time to time, UniFirst bylaws, as may be amended from time to time, and the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act, which currently govern the rights of UniFirst shareholders.
UniFirst shareholders will have a significantly reduced ownership and voting interest after the Mergers and will exercise less influence over the policies of Cintas after the completion of the Mergers than they now have on the policies of UniFirst.
Cintas shareholders currently have the right to vote in the election of the Cintas Board and on other matters affecting Cintas. UniFirst shareholders currently have the right to vote in the election of the UniFirst Board and on other matters affecting UniFirst. Currently, each share of Cintas common stock is entitled to 1 vote per share. Currently, each share of UniFirst Class B Common Stock is entitled to 10 votes per share and each share of UniFirst Common Stock is entitled to 1 vote per share. Generally, members of the Croatti family, as holders of shares of UniFirst Class B Common Stock, have a material influence on the management and policies of UniFirst currently and even if all other holders of UniFirst common stock voted together on all matters, they would not have a significant impact on the approval or rejection of proposals submitted to UniFirst shareholders.
Immediately after the Mergers are completed, it is expected that current UniFirst shareholders, including holders of Common Stock, will own a significantly reduced percentage of the outstanding shares Cintas common stock relative to their ownership of UniFirst Common Stock or UniFirst Class B Common Stock. As a result of their reduced ownership of Cintas, current UniFirst shareholders will have significantly less influence on the management and policies of Cintas than they now have on the management and policies of UniFirst.
The Mergers will involve substantial costs.
UniFirst and Cintas have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, a number of non-recurring costs associated with the Mergers, a substantial majority of which will be comprised of transaction costs related to the Mergers and include, among others, employee retention costs, fees paid to financial, legal and accounting advisors, severance and benefit costs, proxy solicitation costs and filing fees and regulatory costs.
35
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table provides information about repurchases of our equity securities during the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026:
Period
(a) TotalNumber ofSharesPurchased (1)
(b) AveragePrice Paid perShare (1)
(c) Total Numberof SharesPurchased asPart of PubliclyAnnounced Plansor Programs (1)
(d) MaximumNumber (orApproximateDollar Value) ofShares that MayYet be PurchasedUnder the Plansor Programs (1)
November 30, 2025 - December, 27 2025
8,896,493
December 28, 2025 - January 24, 2026
January 25, 2026 - February 28, 2026
The Company did not repurchase any shares during the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2026.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
On November 10, 2025, William M. Ross, Executive Vice President, Operations of the Company, adopted a trading arrangement for the sale of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Ross Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan”) that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1(c). The Ross Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan, which has a term expiring on December 31, 2026, provides for the sale of up to 1,128 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the plan.
On November 14, 2025, David Katz, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Company, adopted a trading arrangement for the sale of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Katz Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan”) that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1(c). The Katz Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan, which has a term expiring on December 31, 2026, provides for the sale of up to 1,464 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the plan.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
2.1*
Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among UniFirst Corporation, Cintas Corporation, Bruin Merger Sub I, Inc., and Bruin Merger Sub II, LLC, dated as of March 10, 2026. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 11, 2026).
31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Steven S. Sintros (filed herewith).
31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Shane O’Connor (filed herewith).
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
101
The following financial information from UniFirst Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2026 formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101) (filed herewith).
*
Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. UniFirst hereby agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon its request; provided however, that UniFirst may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any schedules or exhibits so furnished.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
April 6, 2026
By:
/s/ Steven S. Sintros
Steven S. Sintros
President and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Shane O’Connor
Shane O’Connor
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer