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Company

UNIFIRST CORP

Ticker
UNF
Sector
Industry
Report date
July 8, 2026
Valye AI Score

100

Very high visibility
Recent developments
Recent developments summary

Recent news highlights include UniFirst's Q3 earnings and revenues surpassing estimates, ongoing dividend payments, and active share repurchase programs.

Recent developments:
  • UniFirst reported Q3 earnings and revenues surpassing estimates as of July 1, 2026 [N1].
  • The company issued an ex-dividend reminder for June 5, 2026, indicating ongoing dividend payments [N2].
  • UniFirst was included in a daily dividend report alongside other companies on April 15, 2026 [N3].
  • The company beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates as reported on April 1, 2026 [N4].
  • UniFirst's Board authorized a share repurchase program with repurchases totaling approximately $31.7 million during the 26 weeks ended February 28, 2026 [S1].
Overview

UniFirst Corporation, established in 1950 and headquartered in Massachusetts, is a leading provider of workplace uniforms and protective work wear in North America. The company designs, manufactures, rents, cleans, delivers, and sells a broad range of uniforms and protective clothing, including specialized garments such as flame resistant and high visibility apparel. UniFirst also offers industrial wiping products, floor mats, facility service products, restroom and cleaning supplies, first aid cabinet services, safety supplies, and safety training. Serving over 300,000 customer locations across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, UniFirst operates through three reportable segments: Uniform & Facility Service Solutions, First Aid & Safety Solutions, and Other, which includes nuclear-related specialty garments. The company reported consolidated revenues of approximately $1.24 billion for the 26 weeks ended February 28, 2026, reflecting a 3.0% increase from the prior year. The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment grew 2.8%, driven by organic growth and improved customer retention, while the First Aid & Safety Solutions segment increased 13.7%, primarily due to growth in the van business. The Other segment experienced a slight decline due to project wind-downs and fewer nuclear outages. Operating income declined 17.8% year-over-year, influenced by increased staffing and healthcare costs. UniFirst maintains strong liquidity with a current ratio of 3.11 and cash and equivalents of $163.2 million as of May 30, 2026. The company is investing in a multiyear ERP system to enhance operational efficiency. Risks include inflationary pressures, interest rate changes, geopolitical factors, tariffs, and economic conditions affecting customer demand and costs.

Executive summary

Financial figures (if any) are summarized from the latest available SEC filings and are provided for informational purposes only — not financial advice. UniFirst Corporation is a leading North American provider of workplace uniforms and protective clothing, operating through three main segments: Uniform & Facility Service Solutions, First Aid & Safety Solutions, and Other. The company reported consolidated revenues of $1.24 billion for the 26 weeks ended February 28, 2026, with a 3.0% increase year-over-year. Operating income declined 17.8% in the same period, reflecting increased costs. UniFirst maintains strong liquidity with a current ratio of 3.11 as of May 30, 2026. Recent news highlights include Q3 earnings and revenues surpassing estimates and ongoing dividend payments.

Scenarios for UNF

Bull case model:

UniFirst's diversified product and service offerings across multiple industries and geographies provide resilience and growth opportunities. The company's recent revenue growth in its core Uniform & Facility Service Solutions and First Aid & Safety Solutions segments indicates ongoing demand and successful customer retention strategies. The multiyear ERP implementation could improve operational efficiencies and supply chain automation, enhancing profitability. Strong liquidity and cash flow generation support continued investments, share repurchases, and dividend payments, reflecting financial discipline. The company's scale and integrated service model create barriers to entry for competitors and support long-term customer relationships.

Bear case model:

UniFirst faces risks from inflationary pressures, including increased energy, labor, and healthcare costs, which have negatively impacted margins. Economic uncertainties, elevated interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and tariffs on imported goods could increase costs and reduce customer demand, particularly if wearer levels decline. The company's operating income and net income have declined year-over-year, indicating margin pressures. The wind-down of certain projects and cyclical nature of segments like nuclear specialty garments may lead to revenue volatility. Execution risks exist around the multiyear ERP project, which could face delays or cost overruns. Increased share repurchases and capital expenditures may strain liquidity if cash flow weakens.

Moat:

UniFirst's moat is supported by its extensive operational scale and integrated service model, which includes design, manufacturing, rental, cleaning, delivery, and sales of uniforms and protective clothing. Its broad product range, including specialized protective garments, and its service offerings such as safety training and facility supplies, create a comprehensive solution for customers. The company's established relationships with over 300,000 customer locations across North America and Europe provide a wide and diversified customer base. The multiyear ERP investment aims to enhance operational efficiency and supply chain management, potentially strengthening competitive positioning. The company's ability to manage pricing through customer agreements and maintain service quality supports customer retention and organic growth. However, the business is exposed to cost pressures from inflation, labor markets, and tariffs, which could impact margins.

Risks overview
Risks summary
Sustained inflationary pressures combined with economic uncertainties and execution risks related to ERP implementation represent the primary risks to UniFirst's business and financial performance.
Risks details:

• Inflation and Cost Pressures: Rising energy, labor, and healthcare costs have negatively impacted margins and could continue to pressure profitability if sustained.
• Economic and Geopolitical Uncertainty: Elevated interest rates, geopolitical issues, and tariffs on imported goods may increase costs and reduce customer demand, affecting revenues and margins.
• Project and Segment Volatility: The wind-down of large refurbishment projects and the cyclical nature of the nuclear business segment may cause revenue fluctuations.
• ERP Implementation Risks: The ongoing multiyear ERP project carries risks of delays, cost overruns, and integration challenges that could affect operational efficiency.
• Liquidity and Capital Allocation: Increased share repurchases and capital expenditures may strain liquidity if operating cash flow declines.

FINAL FORECAST FOR UNF

Final take one line
UniFirst exhibits very high visibility with detailed segment disclosures, recent financial data, and active business developments amid operational and economic challenges.
Final take 12 to 24 month view

Business trends: Continued revenue growth driven by core Uniform & Facility Service Solutions and First Aid & Safety Solutions segments, supported by customer retention and van business expansion.
Execution milestones: Ongoing multiyear ERP implementation through 2027 aimed at enhancing operational efficiency; active share repurchase program and dividend payments.
Key risks: Inflationary cost pressures, economic and geopolitical uncertainties, ERP project execution risks, and potential revenue volatility from project wind-downs and cyclical segments.

Valye AI Visibility Research Score

Very high visibility

Visibility score reflects the breadth and consistency of available disclosure across SEC filings, recent public reporting, and baseline business context (research-only; not investment advice).

100
LLM visibility overview
LLM Visibility known facts
  • UniFirst Corporation is a leading North American provider of workplace uniforms and protective work wear clothing, operating since 1950 [S1].
  • The company designs, manufactures, personalizes, rents, cleans, delivers, and sells a wide range of uniforms and protective clothing including flame resistant and high visibility garments [S1].
  • UniFirst also rents and sells industrial wiping products, floor mats, facility service products, restroom and cleaning supplies, first aid cabinet services, safety supplies, and provides certain safety training [S1].
  • The company serves over 300,000 customer locations across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, catering to businesses of all sizes and multiple industries [S1].
  • UniFirst reorganized its business into three reportable operating segments as of Q4 fiscal 2025: Uniform & Facility Service Solutions, First Aid & Safety Solutions, and Other [S1].
  • The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment includes rental and cleaning operations, manufacturing, corporate functions, and cleanroom operations primarily in the U.S. and Canada [S1].
  • The First Aid & Safety Solutions segment sells first aid cabinet services, safety supplies, provides safety training, and maintains wholesale distribution and pill packaging for non-prescription medicines [S1].
  • The Other segment includes the nuclear business and specialty garments primarily for nuclear applications [S1].
  • For the 26 weeks ended February 28, 2026, UniFirst reported consolidated revenues of $1,243.8 million, a 3.0% increase compared to the prior year period [S1].
  • The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment revenue grew 2.8% driven by organic growth and improved customer retention [S1].
  • First Aid & Safety Solutions segment revenues increased 13.7%, primarily due to double-digit growth in the van business [S1].
  • The Other segment revenues declined slightly due to the wind-down of a large refurbishment project and fewer nuclear reactor outages [S1].
  • Cost of revenues increased 2.8% to $796.7 million for the 26 weeks ended February 28, 2026, mainly due to investments in service staffing and higher healthcare claims expenses, partially offset by lower merchandise costs as a percentage of revenues [S1].
  • Selling and administrative expenses increased 10.9% to $157.4 million for the 13 weeks ended February 28, 2026, reflecting higher costs related to sales, marketing, and general administration [S1].
  • Operating income for the 26 weeks ended February 28, 2026 was $71.3 million, down 17.8% compared to the prior year period [S1].
  • Net income for the 13 weeks ended February 28, 2026 was $20.5 million, a 16.3% decrease compared to the prior year period [S1].
  • Diluted earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended February 28, 2026 was $1.09 [S1].
  • As of May 30, 2026, UniFirst held $163.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $5.7 million in short-term investments, with current assets of $919.9 million and current liabilities of $295.7 million, resulting in a current ratio of 3.11 and a cash ratio of 0.57 [S1].
  • The company has ongoing investments in a multiyear ERP project through 2027 aimed at improving master data management, finance, supply chain, and procurement automation [S1].
  • UniFirst's liquidity is supported by cash generated from operations, cash reserves, and available credit facilities, which management believes are sufficient to meet working capital and capital expenditure needs for at least the next 12 months [S1].
  • Recent business news highlights include Q3 earnings and revenues surpassing estimates as of July 1, 2026 [N1], and regular dividend payments with ex-dividend reminders [N2][N3].
  • The company has been active in share repurchases authorized by the Board, with repurchases totaling approximately $31.7 million during the 26 weeks ended February 28, 2026 [S1].
  • Risks include potential adverse impacts from inflation, elevated interest rates, geopolitical issues, tariffs on imported goods, and economic conditions affecting customer demand and costs [S1].
Sources
Sources - Context summary

Generated 2026-07-08

Sources - Earning calls
Sources - Other context
Sources - SEC Filings
  • S1 | 2026-07-08 | 10-Q
Sources - News headlines
  • N1 | 2026-07-01 | www.nasdaq.com | UniFirst (UNF) Q3 Earnings and Revenues Surpass Estimates | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/unifirst-unf-q3-earnings-and-revenues-surpass-estimates
  • N2 | 2026-06-04 | www.nasdaq.com | UNF Ex-Dividend Reminder - 6/5/26 | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/unf-ex-dividend-reminder-6-5-26
  • N3 | 2026-04-15 | www.nasdaq.com | Daily Dividend Report: O,PG,UNF,EQT,ROK | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/daily-dividend-report-opgunfeqtrok
  • N4 | 2026-04-01 | www.nasdaq.com | UniFirst (UNF) Beats Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/unifirst-unf-beats-q2-earnings-and-revenue-estimates
  • N5 | 2026-03-31 | www.nasdaq.com | Pre-Market Earnings Report for April 1, 2026 : CAG, LW, MSM, UNF, NG, TLRY, PED | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/pre-market-earnings-report-april-1-2026-cag-lw-msm-unf-ng-tlry-ped
  • N6 | 2026-03-28 | www.nasdaq.com | Cintas Corporation: The Deep Value Opportunity in Plain Sight | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/cintas-corporation-deep-value-opportunity-plain-sight
  • N7 | 2026-03-12 | www.nasdaq.com | Stocks Pressured by Higher Oil Prices, But Positive Oracle AI News Helps Tech Stocks | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/stocks-pressured-higher-oil-prices-positive-oracle-ai-news-helps-tech-stocks-0
  • N8 | 2026-03-11 | www.nasdaq.com | Stocks Mixed as IEA Announces Historic Oil Reserve Release | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/stocks-mixed-iea-announces-historic-oil-reserve-release
Important legal disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal or tax advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. The Valye AI Score is a model-based estimate derived from public information and is subject to change without notice. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information herein. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should conduct their own research and consult a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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