UniFirst Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of Fiscal 2026

WILMINGTON, Mass., Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) (the “Company,” “UniFirst” or “we”) today reported results for its fourth quarter and full year ended August 29, 2026, as compared to the corresponding periods in the prior fiscal year.

Fourth Quarter 2026 Consolidated Financial Results * Consolidated revenues for the fourth quarter increased 5.0% to $645.0 million, driven primarily by organic growth in the core Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment. * Operating income and Adjusted EBITDA were $41.7 million and $94.9 million, respectively, compared to $49.6 million and $88.1 million, respectively, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. * Operating margin was 6.5% of revenues compared to 8.1% of revenues in the prior year period. * Adjusted EBITDA margin was 14.7% of revenues compared to 14.3% of revenues in the prior year period. * Net income was $34.7 million compared to $41.0 million in the prior year period and diluted earnings per share was $1.90 compared to $2.23 in the prior year period. * The quarterly tax rate was 19.8% compared to 20.2% in the prior year period. The Company’s financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 included approximately $14.4 million of costs associated with the proposed merger with Cintas Corporation (“Cintas”), consisting primarily of legal, advisory and other professional service fees (“Transaction-related Costs”). In addition, the Company’s results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 and 2025 included approximately $2.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of costs related to its enterprise resource planning project (“Key Initiative”). In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 and 2025, these costs decreased: * Operating income by $17.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. * Adjusted EBITDA by $2.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively. * Net income by $12.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively. * Diluted earnings per share by $0.71 and $0.05, respectively. Fiscal 2026 Consolidated Financial Results * Consolidated revenues increased 3.7% to $2.523 billion. * Operating income and Adjusted EBITDA were $136.0 million and $327.1 million, respectively, compared to $184.5 million and $336.8 million, respectively, in fiscal 2025. * Operating margin was 5.4% of revenues compared to 7.6% of revenues in fiscal 2025. * Adjusted EBITDA margin was 13.0% of revenues compared to 13.8% of revenues in fiscal 2025. * Net income was $109.5 million compared to $148.3 million in fiscal 2025 and diluted earnings per share was $6.02 compared to $7.98 in the prior year period. The Company’s financial results for the full year of fiscal 2026 included approximately $37.2 million of Transaction-related Costs. The Company’s results for the full years of fiscal 2026 and 2025 included approximately $13.3 million and $6.8 million, respectively, of costs directly attributable to its Key Initiative. The effect of these items on the full years of fiscal 2026 and 2025 combined to decrease: * Operating income by $50.5 million and $6.8 million, respectively. * Adjusted EBITDA by $13.3 million and $6.8 million, respectively. * Net income by $37.9 million and $5.1 million, respectively. * Diluted earnings per share by $2.08 and $0.28, respectively. Steven Sintros, UniFirst President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased with how we closed the fiscal year with a solid fourth quarter delivering improved growth and profitability. We remain focused on caring for our customers and communities, supporting our Team Partners, and demonstrating UniFirst's compelling value to both new and existing customers.”