MCF Advisors LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS)

MCF Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS) by 300.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 720 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 540 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLC’s holdings in Cintas were worth $148,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. LGT Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Cintas by 311.1% in the second quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC now owns 37 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Cintas during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Cintas during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Grove Bank & Trust increased its holdings in Cintas by 1,340.0% in the 3rd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 144 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Cintas by 226.7% in the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 49 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 63.46% of the company’s stock.

Cintas Price Performance

NASDAQ:CTAS traded down $1.72 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $207.41. The company had a trading volume of 1,241,806 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,463,524. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $216.53 and its 200-day moving average price is $190.28. Cintas Co. has a 52-week low of $123.65 and a 52-week high of $215.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The company has a market capitalization of $21.04 billion, a PE ratio of 14.32, a P/E/G ratio of 4.12 and a beta of 1.32.

Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 25th. The business services provider reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.49 billion. Cintas had a return on equity of 39.56% and a net margin of 16.80%. The company’s revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.70 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Cintas Co. will post 4.23 earnings per share for the current year.

Cintas announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, July 23rd that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the business services provider to reacquire up to 1.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CTAS has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Cintas from $184.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Cintas from $212.00 to $236.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Cintas from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 26th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Cintas from $219.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 26th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Cintas from $730.00 to $200.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $199.63.

About Cintas

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