Axiom Investors LLC DE Boosts Stock Holdings in Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS)

Axiom Investors LLC DE increased its holdings in shares of Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS) by 14.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 910,992 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 111,772 shares during the period. Cintas accounts for 1.2% of Axiom Investors LLC DE’s holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Axiom Investors LLC DE owned about 0.23% of Cintas worth $166,438,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new stake in Cintas during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Cyrus J. Lawrence LLC purchased a new position in Cintas in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. bought a new position in Cintas in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Cintas by 136.8% during the fourth quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 180 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Cintas in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. 63.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Cintas Price Performance

NASDAQ:CTAS opened at $203.22 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $201.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $204.62. The firm has a market cap of $82.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.00, a PEG ratio of 3.98 and a beta of 1.41. Cintas Co. has a one year low of $162.16 and a one year high of $228.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 1.58.

Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 26th. The business services provider reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.08. Cintas had a return on equity of 40.62% and a net margin of 17.23%. The company had revenue of $2.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.60 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $3.84 earnings per share. Cintas’s quarterly revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Cintas Co. will post 4.31 EPS for the current year.

Cintas Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.77%. Cintas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.11%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on CTAS shares. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Cintas from $200.00 to $227.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Cintas from $195.00 to $213.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Cintas from $211.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup began coverage on Cintas in a research note on Monday, February 24th. They issued a “sell” rating and a $161.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Cintas from $184.00 to $196.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Cintas presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $210.58.

Cintas Company Profile

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.