UniFirst (UNF) Q2 2026 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Miss, and Cintas Merger Impact

Font: Financial Modeling Prep  • Apr 01, 2026

UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF) Earnings Report: Key Financial Insights and Stock Impact

• Modest EPS Miss with Revenue Beat: UniFirst reported diluted EPS of $1.13, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21. This compares to $1.31 in the year-ago quarter.
• Solid Revenue Growth: The company posted quarterly revenue of $622.51 million, beating estimates by approximately 1.26% and up 3.4% year-over-year from $602.2 million. Growth was driven by organic expansion in the core Uniform & Facility Services segment.
• Margin and Profitability Pressure: Operating margin declined to 4.2% from 5.2% last year. Adjusted EBITDA fell to $66.8 million from $68.9 million, and net income decreased to $20.5 million from $24.5 million. These declines partly reflect planned investments in growth, digital transformation (including ERP initiatives), plus costs related to shareholder engagement, proxy matters, and an employee legal issue tied to the pending Cintas merger.

UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a leading provider of workplace uniforms, protective workwear, and facility services across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company competes primarily with Cintas Corporation. On March 11, 2026, Cintas announced a definitive agreement to acquire UniFirst in a $5.5 billion transaction (approximately $310 per share in cash and stock: $155 cash + 0.7720 Cintas shares). The deal is expected to close in the second half of calendar 2026, subject to approvals.

On April 1, 2026, UniFirst reported results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter (ended February 28, 2026). Diluted EPS came in at $1.13, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.21. In the prior-year quarter, the company reported $1.31 EPS.

Revenue reached $622.51 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate (around $614.9–$615.3 million) by about 1.26%. This growth was primarily driven by organic expansion in the Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment.

Despite the revenue increase, profitability declined year-over-year due to ongoing investments and one-time costs. Net income was $20.5 million (down from $24.5 million), with diluted EPS falling to $1.13 from $1.31. Operating income decreased to $26.0 million from $31.2 million, resulting in the operating margin dropping to 4.2% from 5.2%. Adjusted EBITDA eased to $66.8 million from $68.9 million.

The company highlighted that results included approximately $3.0 million in ERP “Key Initiative” costs, along with expenses for proxy/shareholder matters and a legal issue. Management views these investments as positioning UniFirst for stronger long-term growth and efficiency.