Gotham Asset Management LLC Boosts Holdings in Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS)

Gotham Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Cintas Co. (NASDAQ:CTAS - Free Report) by 26.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 37,749 shares of the business services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 8,009 shares during the period. Gotham Asset Management LLC's holdings in Cintas were worth $6,897,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new position in Cintas during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Cyrus J. Lawrence LLC bought a new position in Cintas in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. bought a new position in shares of Cintas during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cintas by 136.8% during the 4th 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 period. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Cintas during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors own 63.46% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on CTAS shares. Bank of America assumed coverage on Cintas in a report on Thursday, April 10th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Cintas from $200.00 to $227.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and issued a $215.00 price objective on shares of Cintas in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Redburn Atlantic downgraded shares of Cintas from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating and set a $171.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Cintas from $195.00 to $213.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $213.88.

Cintas Stock Up 1.1%

NASDAQ CTAS traded up $2.36 on Friday, hitting $220.85. The stock had a trading volume of 1,430,885 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,705,578. The stock has a market cap of $89.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.98 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.38. Cintas Co. has a 52-week low of $164.93 and a 52-week high of $228.12. The business's fifty day moving average price is $204.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $204.73.

Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 26th. The business services provider reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.08. Cintas had a net margin of 17.23% and a return on equity of 40.62%. The firm had revenue of $2.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.60 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.84 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Cintas Co. will post 4.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Cintas Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be issued a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. Cintas's payout ratio is 36.11%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, COO Jim Rozakis sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.37, for a total transaction of $380,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 256,528 shares in the company, valued at $48,835,235.36. This represents a 0.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Ronald W. Tysoe sold 8,521 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $208.96, for a total transaction of $1,780,548.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 27,029 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,647,979.84. This trade represents a 23.97% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 15.00% of the company's stock.

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.