Cintas (CTAS) vs UL Solutions (ULS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Cintas (CTAS) has outperformed UL Solutions (ULS) over the past year, losing 1.0% versus a loss of 8.6%. Cintas is the larger company by market cap ($78.78 billion vs $13.55 billion), about 5.8 times the size. On valuation, UL Solutions trades at a lower forward P/E (25.8x vs 32.0x for Cintas).
Cintas offers the higher dividend yield (0.95% vs 0.82%). Cintas converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 17.8% versus 10.6%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CTAS | ULS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $197.19 | $67.13 |
| Market cap | $78.78B | $13.55B |
| 1-day change | +0.63% | -1.81% |
| YTD return | +4.85% | -14.87% |
| 1-year return | -0.99% | -8.62% |
| 5-year return | +89.59% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 38.66 | 27.07 |
| Forward P/E | 32.01 | 25.81 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.10 | $2.48 |
| Dividend yield | 0.95% | 0.82% |
| Annual dividend | $1.87 | $0.55 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.26B | $3.05B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.94% | +6.38% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.00B | $325.00M |
| Gross margin | 50.67% | 49.46% |
| Operating margin | 23.14% | 17.10% |
| Net margin | 17.75% | 10.65% |
| 52-week high | $219.17 | $107.54 |
| 52-week low | $161.16 | $63.17 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.03% | -37.58% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.71% | +43.72% |
| Average volume | 2.14M | 890.60K |
| Shares outstanding | 399.52M | 78.14M |
| Employees | 48,100 | 14,587 |
| Sector | Industrials | Health Care |
| Industry | Garments and Clothing | Precision Instruments |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Cintas is about 5.8 times larger than UL Solutions by market value ($78.78B vs $13.55B).
- Cintas trades at a higher earnings multiple (38.7x vs 27.1x trailing P/E).
- Cintas is more profitable, keeping 17.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.6 cents for UL Solutions.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Cintas in Industrials and UL Solutions in Health Care.
About Cintas
CTAS stock →Cintas Corporation provides corporate identity uniforms and other garments 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.
Industrials · Garments and Clothing · 48,100 employees
About UL Solutions
ULS stock →UL Solutions Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides testing, inspection and certification services and related software and advisory services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Industrial, Consumer, and Software and Advisory.
Health Care · Precision Instruments · 14,587 employees
CTAS vs ULS FAQ
Which is bigger, Cintas or UL Solutions?
Cintas (CTAS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $78.78B compared with $13.55B for UL Solutions (ULS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CTAS or ULS?
CTAS returned -0.99% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.62% for ULS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CTAS or ULS?
ULS has the lower trailing P/E at 27.1, versus 38.7 for CTAS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cintas or UL Solutions?
Cintas has the higher yield at 0.95%, compared with 0.82% for UL Solutions.
Are Cintas and UL Solutions in the same industry?
No. Cintas is in the Industrials sector, while UL Solutions is in Health Care.