September 18, 2003

Cintas Corporation Reports First Quarter Sales and Profits

CINCINNATI, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 of $678 million, a 2 percent increase from the previous year's first quarter revenue of $666 million. The company also reported a 7 percent increase in pre-tax profits before a one-time charge (3 percent increase after the charge). Net income and earnings per share, after the one-time charge, were $63.3 million and $.37, respectively, or a 3% increase from the first quarter results a year ago.

Scott D. Farmer, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our government reports that the economy is growing, however, it is a jobless recovery. In fact, in the month of August, U.S. government statistics showed a continued decline in the workforce of 93,000 jobs. Many of our customers' businesses continue to experience the pressure of a sluggish economy and, as a result, our business has been negatively impacted. However, we are pleased with the fact that we continued to grow in this economic environment."

Mr. Farmer continued, "We are also pleased with the tremendous progress we have made in integrating the Omni operations, which were acquired in May 2002. Omni was the largest acquisition in the Company's history, and those operations are now fully integrated into our business. With the integration of Omni behind us, our gross margins of 42.4 percent compare very favorably to the fourth quarter gross margins of 41.3 percent. In addition, our balance sheet continues to strengthen as our operations gain efficiencies and generate healthy cash flow. We attribute this constant improvement to our people, who share in a common goal of always trying to make our company better."

Mr. Farmer stated, "During the quarter, we had a one-time charge of approximately $4 million to write off a receivable from a garment manufacturer. A few years ago, we had provided capital to a garment manufacturer to allow him to improve his operation and to increase capacity. Unfortunately, the supplier's business has subsequently deteriorated. Although we believe there is some chance for a partial recovery, we believe that the receivable should be written off, in its entirety, at this time."

Strong Balance Sheet
The Company's balance sheet is strong and the company has reduced its long-term debt to total capitalization from 31 percent at August 31, 2002 to 24 percent at August 31, 2003. Cash and marketable securities reached $92 million, an increase of $23 million from August 31, 2002, and shareholders' equity reached $1.7 billion, compared to $1.5 billion last year.

Outlook
Mr. Farmer commented, "We reiterate our guidance for the full fiscal year 2004. Our forecast is for revenue to be in a range of $2.75 to $2.95 billion compared to fiscal 2003's revenue of $2.69 billion. Our guidance for earnings per share is $1.52 to $1.64 compared to $1.45 for fiscal 2003. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2004 will be approximately $150 million."

About Cintas
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products and first aid and safety products for over 500,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a Nasdaq-100 company and component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. The Company has achieved 34 consecutive years of growth in sales and earnings, to date.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as estimates, anticipates, projects, plans, expects, intends, believes, should and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in this news release. Factors that might cause such a difference include the possibility of greater than anticipated operating costs, lower sales volumes, the performance and costs of integration of acquisitions, fluctuations in costs of materials and labor, costs and possible effects of union organizing activities, outcome of pending environmental matters, the initiation or outcome of litigation, higher assumed sourcing or distribution costs of products and the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Cintas undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect the events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made.

For additional information, contact:

William C. Gale
Senior Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(513)573-4211

Karen L. Carnahan
Vice President and Treasurer
(513)573-4013

 

Cintas Corporation Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share data)
  Three Months Ended  
  Aug 31, 2003 Aug 31, 2002 % Chng.
Revenue:      
        Rentals $538,404 $523,656 2.8
        Other services 139,252 142,070 -2.0

Total revenue

$677,656 $665,726 1.8
       
Costs and expenses (income):      
        Cost of rentals $298,145 $286,951 3.9
        Cost of other services  92,063 96,762 -4.9
        Selling and admin. expenses 176,130 176,832 -0.4
        Interest income (413) (739) -44.1
        Interest expense 6,880 8,024 -14.3
        Write off of loan receivable 4,343 0 N/A

Total costs and expenses

$577,148 $567,830 1.6
       
Income before income taxes 100,508 97,896 2.7
Income taxes 37,181 36,249 2.6

Net income

$63,327 $61,647 2.7
       
Per share data:      
Basic earnings per share $.37 $.36 2.8
Diluted earnings per share $.37 $.36 2.8
       

Basic shares outstanding

170,652 170,036  

Diluted shares outstanding

171,922 172,199  

 

CINTAS CORPORATION SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
  Three Months Ended  
  Aug 31, 2003 Aug 31, 2002 % Chng.
Rental gross margin 44.6% 45.2%  
Other services gross margin  33.9% 31.9%  
Total gross margin 42.4% 42.4%  
       
Pre-tax income before one-time charge $104,851 $97,896 7.1
One-time charge 4,343 0  
Pre-tax income after one-time charge $100,508 $97,896 2.7
       
Net margin 9.3% 9.3%  
       
Depreciation and amortization 35,435 38,066 -6.9
Capital expenditures 31,007 21,647 43.2
       
Long-Term Debt to Capitalization 23.6% 30.9%  

 

Cintas Corporation Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except share data)
  Aug 31, 2003 Aug 31, 2002
     
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
        Cash and cash equivalents $54,914 $33,407
        Marketable securities 37,371 35,753
        Accounts receivable, net 271,766 282,351
        Inventories 224,845 209,513
        Uniforms and other rental items in service 299,726 292,057
        Prepaid expenses 8,759 10,963
Total current assets 897,381 864,044
     
Property and equipment, at cost, net 779,552 770,291
     
Goodwill 726,334 689,043
Service contracts 140,606 155,361
Other assets 52,253 57,213
  $2,596,126 $2,535,952
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY    
Current liabilities:    
        Accounts payable $48,839 $70,854
        Accrued liabilities 85,904 115,333
        Income taxes:    
             Current 31,415 26,233
              Deferred  66,484 74,290
        Long-term debt due within one year 26,653 16,736
Total current liabilities 259,295 303,446
     
Long-term debt due after one year 527,714 663,590
     
Deferred income taxes 99,139 83,243
     
Shareholders’ equity:    
Preferred stock, no par value, 100,000 shares authorized, none outstanding
Common stock, no par value, 425,000,000 shares authorized,
170,731,456 shares issued and outstanding
(170,142,146 at August 31, 2002)
77,530 68,579
Retained earnings 1,631,398 1,426,783
Other accumulated comprehensive income (loss):    
     Foreign currency translation                         2,979 (6,403)
     Unrealized loss on derivatives (1,929) (3,286)
Total shareholders' equity 1,709,978 1,485,673
  $2,596,126 $2,535,952
     

 

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
  Three Months Ended
  Aug 31, 2003 Aug 31, 2002
Cash flows from operating activities:    
     
Net income $63,327 $61,647
     
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
   Depreciation 29,017 30,428
   Amortization of deferred charges 6,418 7,638
   Deferred income taxes 15,593 16,570
   Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:    
       Accounts receivable 6,844 1,739
       Inventories 4,055 (15,641)
       Uniforms and other rental items in service 5,995 (11,121)
       Prepaid expenses (1,152) (773)
       Accounts payable (5,075) 10,388
       Accrued compensation and related liabilities  (3,801)  (3,776)
       Accrued liabilities (64,051) (41,562)
       Income taxes payable 14,888 14,442
   Net cash provided by operating activities 72,058 69,979
     
Cash flows from investing activities:    
     
Capital expenditures (31,007) (21,647)
Proceeds from sale or redemption of marketable securities 2,137 8,686
Purchase of marketable securities          (14,088) 19
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (6,480) (15,931)
Other 1,533 204

Net cash used in investing activities

(47,905) (28,669)
     
Cash flows from financing activities:    
     
Repayment of long-term debt (1,797) (48,798)
Stock options exercised 1,406 2,071
Other (1,087) (1,804)

Net cash used in financing activities

(1,478) (48,531)
     
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 22,675 (7,221)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 32,239 40,628
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $54,914 $33,407

For additional information, contact:

William C. Gale
Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(513)573-4211

Karen L. Carnahan
Vice President and Treasurer
(513)573-4013