Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues increased to $621.3 million, up 2.7% from the prior year period [3][10] - Operating income declined to $45.3 million from $55.5 million year-over-year [10] - Net income decreased to $34.4 million, or $1.89 per diluted share, down from $43.1 million, or $2.31 per diluted share [10] - Adjusted EBITDA was $82.8 million compared to $94 million in the prior year [10] - Effective tax rate increased to 26.9% from 25.6% in the prior year [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Uniform and Facility Service Solutions segment revenues increased to $565.9 million, with organic growth of 2.4% [11][12] - Operating margin for the Uniform and Facility Service Solutions segment was 7.4%, down from 8.8% in the previous year [12] - First Aid and Safety Solutions segment revenues grew by 15.3% to $30.2 million [14] - Other segment revenues decreased by 2.9% to $25.2 million [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The employment climate has softened, affecting rental and direct sale accounts [6][14] - Energy costs represented 4.1% of revenues in the first quarter [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on investments in sales and service organizations to build a sustainable growth platform [3][4] - Key initiatives include operational excellence through the UniFirst Way, enhanced inventory management, and digital transformation [4][5] - The company is evaluating an unsolicited proposal from Cintas, engaging independent advisors to determine the best course of action [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in the ongoing investments yielding measurable improvements [7] - The full-year guidance for fiscal 2026 remains unchanged, with consolidated revenue expected between $2.475 billion and $2.495 billion [16] - Management anticipates steady improvement towards mid-single-digit organic growth and high-teens adjusted EBITDA margins by 2027 or 2028 [18][19] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $32 million of common stock during the quarter and increased the common stock dividend [7] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $38.9 million, with four first-aid businesses acquired for $14.9 million [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Timeline for achieving long-term objectives - Management expects to see steady improvement towards mid-single-digit organic growth and high-teens adjusted EBITDA margins by 2027 or 2028 [18][19] Question: New account growth and customer mix - New account growth is strong, particularly in mid-size accounts, due to a tiered sales organization [31][32] Question: Impact of employment climate on growth - The employment climate has become a headwind, affecting existing account penetration and overall growth [33][34] Question: Unchanged revenue guidance - Management feels positive about top-line momentum but believes it is too early to make meaningful changes to guidance [38][39] Question: Categories of savings from margin improvement initiatives - Significant opportunities include global inventory sharing and new product launches, with benefits expected to materialize over the next few years [41][42][43]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues increased to $621.3 million, up 2.7% from the prior year period [3][9] - Operating income decreased to $45.3 million from $55.5 million year-over-year [9] - Net income decreased to $34.4 million, or $1.89 per diluted share, down from $43.1 million, or $2.31 per diluted share [9] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $82.8 million from $94 million in the prior year [9] - Effective tax rate increased to 26.9% from 25.6% in the prior year [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Uniform and Facility Service Solutions revenues increased to $565.9 million, with organic growth of 2.4% driven by strong new account sales and improved customer retention [10][12] - First Aid and Safety Solutions revenues increased by 15.3% to $30.2 million, primarily due to investments in the First Aid van business [13] - Other segment revenues decreased by 2.9% to $25.2 million, reflecting the anticipated start of a large refurbishment project wind-down [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The employment climate has softened, affecting both rental and direct sale accounts, which has tempered growth [6][32] - Energy costs represented 4.1% of revenues in the first quarter [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on investments in sales and service organizations to build a stronger platform for growth [3][4] - Key initiatives include operational excellence through the UniFirst Way, enhanced inventory management, and digital transformation [4][5] - The company is committed to creating value for all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and shareholders [7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in the ongoing investments yielding measurable improvements in growth metrics [6] - The full-year guidance for fiscal 2026 remains unchanged, with consolidated revenue expected between $2.475 billion and $2.495 billion [15] - Management anticipates inflection points in profitability and growth initiatives by 2027 and 2028 [19][40] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $32 million of common stock during the quarter and over $77 million in the past two quarters [6] - The board is evaluating an unsolicited non-binding proposal from Cintas, engaging independent financial and legal advisors [7][8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Timeline for achieving long-term objectives - Management expects steady improvement towards mid-single-digit organic growth and high-teens adjusted EBITDA margins by 2027 and 2028 [17][19] Question: New account growth and customer mix - New accounts are primarily from mid-size customers, with a focus on improving sales organization structure [29][30] Question: Impact of employment climate on growth - The employment situation has become incrementally more impactful, affecting existing account penetration [32] Question: Unchanged revenue guidance despite momentum - Management believes it is early in the year to make meaningful changes to guidance, despite positive top-line momentum [38] Question: ERP implementation status - The ERP project is ongoing, with core financial modules being prioritized this year and supply chain enhancements expected in 2027 [50][51]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues increased to $621.3 million, up 2.7% from the prior year period [3][9] - Operating income decreased to $45.3 million from $55.5 million year-over-year [9] - Net income for the quarter decreased to $34.4 million, or $1.89 per diluted share, down from $43.1 million, or $2.31 per diluted share [9] - Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $82.8 million compared to $94 million in the prior year [9] - Effective tax rate increased to 26.9% from 25.6% in the prior year [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Uniform and Facility Service Solutions segment revenues increased to $565.9 million, with organic growth of 2.4% [10][11] - First Aid and Safety Solutions segment revenues grew by 15.3% to $30.2 million, driven by investments in the First Aid Van Business [5][12] - Other segment revenues decreased by 2.9% to $25.2 million due to anticipated project wind-downs [12][13] - Operating margin for Uniform and Facility Service Solutions was 7.4%, down from 8.8% in the previous year [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The employment climate has softened, affecting both rental and direct sale accounts [5][6] - Energy costs represented 4.1% of revenues in the first quarter [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on investments in sales and service organizations to build a sustainable growth platform [3][4] - Key initiatives include operational excellence through the UniFirst Way, enhanced inventory management, and digital transformation [4][5] - The company is evaluating an unsolicited proposal from Cintas, engaging independent advisors to determine the best course of action [7][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in the ongoing investments yielding measurable improvements in growth metrics [6] - The full-year fiscal 2026 guidance remains unchanged, with consolidated revenue expected between $2.475 billion and $2.495 billion [15] - Management anticipates steady improvement towards mid-single-digit organic growth and high-teens adjusted EBITDA margins by 2027-2028 [17][18] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $32 million of common stock during the quarter and increased the common stock dividend [6] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $38.9 million, with four first-aid businesses acquired for $14.9 million [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Timeline for achieving long-term objectives - Management expects to see steady improvement towards mid-single-digit organic growth and high-teens adjusted EBITDA margins by 2027-2028, with significant milestones anticipated in the next 18-24 months [17][18] Question: New account growth and customer mix - New account growth is being driven by a tiered sales organization focusing on mid-size accounts, which has shown positive results [26][27] Question: Impact of employment climate on growth - The employment climate has become a headwind, but the company is making progress in product placements and customer retention [28][30] Question: Unchanged revenue guidance - Management feels positive about top-line momentum but believes it is too early to make meaningful changes to guidance due to economic weaknesses affecting customer purchasing [33][34] Question: ERP implementation status - The ERP project is ongoing, with foundational releases scheduled for this year and supply chain enhancements expected in 2027 [44][45]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced slight gains, with the Dow Jones increasing by approximately 0.1% to 49,485.07, NASDAQ rising by 0.20% to 23,594.64, and S&P 500 up by 0.12% to 6,952.97 [1] - Health care shares saw a gain of 1.4%, while materials stocks declined by 1% [1] Company Performance - UniFirst Corp (NYSE:UNF) shares fell around 4% after reporting mixed first-quarter results, with adjusted earnings of $1.97 per share, missing market estimates of $2.06 per share. Quarterly sales were $621.318 million, exceeding expectations of $615.253 million [2] - Innovative Eyewear Inc (NASDAQ:LUCY) shares surged 57% to $1.86 after reporting preliminary fourth-quarter sales of about $1 million, a 45% year-over-year increase [8] - Ventyx Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:VTYX) shares rose 34% to $13.47 following reports of advanced acquisition talks with Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:LLY) for over $1 billion [8] - Captivision Inc (NASDAQ:CAPT) shares increased by 34% to $0.50 after receiving an extension for Nasdaq compliance [8] - Cohen & Company Inc (NYSE:COHN) shares dropped 16% to $25.54 after a previous gain of 12% [8] - Curis Inc (NASDAQ:CRIS) shares fell 21% to $0.79 after announcing a private placement pricing totaling up to $80.8 million [8] - Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) shares decreased by 18% to $4.32 [8] Commodity Market - In commodity news, oil prices fell by 0.7% to $56.72, gold decreased by 0.9% to $4,455.40, silver dropped by 5.6% to $76.540, and copper fell by 2.1% to $5.9365 [4] International Markets - European shares were mixed, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 slipping 0.1%, Spain's IBEX 35 Index down 0.2%, London's FTSE 100 declining 0.7%, Germany's DAX gaining 0.8%, and France's CAC 40 up by 0.1% [5] - Asian markets closed mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 1.06%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declining 0.94%, China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.05%, and India's BSE Sensex falling 0.12% [6]

Financial Performance - Consolidated revenues increased by 2.7% to $621.3 million compared to $604.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025[6] - Net income was $34.4 million, down from $43.1 million in the prior year period, with diluted earnings per share at $1.89 compared to $2.31[6] - Operating income decreased to $45.3 million from $55.5 million in the prior year period[17] - Total revenues for the thirteen weeks ended November 29, 2025, were $621.318 million, representing a 2.4% increase from $604.908 million in the same period last year[19] - Net income for the quarter was $34.363 million, a decrease from $43.105 million in the same quarter last year[21] Margins and Ratios - Operating margin decreased to 7.3% from 9.2% in the prior year period, reflecting planned investments in growth and digital transformation initiatives[6] - Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 13.3% from 15.5% in the prior year period[6] - Operating income decreased to $41.837 million with an operating margin of 7.4%, compared to $55.531 million and 9.2% in the prior year[19] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $82.811 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 13.3%, down from $93.960 million and 15.5% year-over-year[19][24] - The quarterly tax rate was 26.9%, up from 25.6% in the prior year period[6] Guidance and Future Outlook - The company reaffirmed its full-year fiscal 2026 guidance of consolidated revenues between $2.475 billion and $2.495 billion and fully diluted earnings per share between $6.58 and $6.98[10] Share Repurchase and Capital Management - The company repurchased $31.7 million of shares in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with $8.9 million remaining under its existing share repurchase authorization[15] Growth Initiatives - Costs related to the Key Initiative were approximately $2.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, expected to enhance long-term growth and profitability[3] - Organic growth, excluding acquisitions and currency fluctuations, was 2.4%[7] Cash and Assets - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were $123.977 million, down from $166.246 million at the end of the same period last year[21] - Total current assets decreased to $872.717 million from $924.603 million[18] - Total liabilities decreased to $590.100 million from $609.198 million[18] - The company reported a decrease in net cash provided by operating activities to $14.851 million, compared to $58.124 million in the prior year[21] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $38.883 million, up from $33.566 million in the same period last year[21] - The company incurred $13.391 million in acquisition costs during the quarter, compared to $2.352 million in the prior year[21]

Core Insights - UniFirst Corporation reported a first quarter revenue increase of 2.7% to $621.3 million compared to $604.9 million in the same period last year, driven by organic growth in its core Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment [6][22] - The company experienced a decline in operating margin to 7.3% from 9.2% in the prior year, attributed to planned investments in growth and digital transformation initiatives [6][22] - Net income decreased to $34.4 million from $43.1 million year-over-year, with diluted earnings per share dropping to $1.89 from $2.31 [6][22] Financial Performance - Consolidated revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 were $621.3 million, a 2.7% increase from $604.9 million in fiscal 2025 [6][22] - Operating margin fell to 7.3% from 9.2% in the previous year, reflecting the impact of growth investments [6][22] - Net income was reported at $34.4 million, down from $43.1 million, with diluted earnings per share at $1.89 compared to $2.31 [6][22] Segment Performance - The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment generated revenues of $565.9 million, reflecting a 2.4% organic growth [7][22] - The First Aid & Safety Solutions segment saw a revenue increase of 15.3% to $30.2 million, while the Other segment's revenue decreased by 2.9% to $25.2 million [7][22] - Operating income for the Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment was $41.8 million, with an operating margin of 7.4% [22][29] Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns - The company repurchased $31.7 million of its common stock in the first quarter and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.365 per share, marking the eighth consecutive year of dividend growth [3][14] - As of November 29, 2025, UniFirst had cash and cash equivalents of $129.5 million and no long-term debt [14][20] Financial Outlook - UniFirst reaffirmed its full-year fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting consolidated revenues between $2.475 billion and $2.495 billion and fully diluted earnings per share between $6.58 and $6.98 [9][10]

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index improved to a reading of 52.1, remaining in the "Neutral" zone, up from 47.9 [7] - U.S. stocks closed higher, with the Dow Jones index gaining approximately 1%, reaching record highs as investors shifted towards cyclical and blue-chip stocks [1] Sector Performance - Memory chip stocks, including Sandisk Corp., Western Digital Corp., and Seagate Technology Holdings, experienced significant gains due to expectations of rising memory prices amid a global supply crunch [2] - Most sectors on the S&P 500 ended positively, with materials, health care, and industrials showing the largest gains, while energy and communication services sectors closed lower [5] Company-Specific Developments - Tesla Inc. saw a decline of over 4%, marking its tenth drop in 11 sessions, influenced by competitive pressures in the robotaxi market and market share losses in Europe to BYD [3] - Investors are anticipating earnings results from Albertsons Companies Inc., UniFirst Corp., and Constellation Brands Inc. [6] Economic Indicators - The S&P Global services PMI decreased to 52.5 in December from 54.1 in the previous month, while the composite PMI fell to 52.7, the lowest in eight months [4]

Group 1 - U.S. stock futures are trading mixed, with several companies expected to report earnings today [1] - Albertsons Companies Inc. is anticipated to post quarterly earnings of 68 cents per share on revenue of $19.17 billion, with shares gaining 1.1% to $17.30 in after-hours trading [1] - Penguin Solutions Inc. reported quarterly earnings of 49 cents per share, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of 44 cents, and quarterly sales of $343.071 million, beating the estimate of $338.758 million, leading to a 6.7% increase in shares to $22.99 [1] - UniFirst Corp. is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.06 per share on revenue of $615.25 million, with shares rising 2.3% to $207.80 in after-hours trading [1] - AAR Corp. posted better-than-expected second-quarter results and forecasts third-quarter sales between $813.840 million and $827.404 million, surpassing market estimates of $793.438 million, resulting in a 5.6% increase in shares to $94.50 [1] - Constellation Brands Inc. is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.64 per share on revenue of $2.16 billion, with shares rising 0.5% to $144.37 in after-hours trading [1]

Core Insights - TimesSquare Capital Management's "U.S. Small Cap Growth Strategy" reported a gross return of 2.26% and a net return of 2.01% for Q3 2025, significantly underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index, which returned 12.19% [1] - The fund's top five holdings and their performance details are highlighted, indicating a focus on specific stocks for potential growth [1] Company Overview: UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF) - UniFirst Corporation provides workplace uniforms and protective workwear, with a one-month return of 10.04% and a 52-week decline of 3.31%, closing at $197.92 per share on January 5, 2026, with a market capitalization of $3.586 billion [2] - The company has made significant technological upgrades in recent years, improving operations and customer service, which is expected to enhance margins and positively impact share price [3] - Despite its potential, UniFirst is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 31 hedge fund portfolios holding its shares at the end of Q3 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter [4]

Earnings Reports - Next Wednesday will see a notable increase in earnings, with nine companies reporting [1] - Key reports include Constellation Brands Inc., a consumer staples giant, and Jefferies Financial Group Inc., a financials firm, both reporting after market close [1] - Albertsons Companies Inc. Class A leads a group of retail and industrial companies reporting pre-market on Wednesday, which includes MSC Industrial Direct Company Inc., Cal-Maine Foods Inc., Unifirst Corporation, and AZZ Inc. [1] - AAR Corp. and technology companies Penguin Solutions Inc. and Applied Digital Corp. are set to report after market close on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively [1]