Core Points - UniFirst Corporation filed its preliminary proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, recommending shareholders vote for its director nominees and expressing confidence in its long-term growth strategy [1][3][4] Group 1: Board of Directors - The Board nominated CEO Steven S. Sintros and Audit Committee Chairman Joseph M. Nowicki for election, while Raymond C. Zemlin will retire after his term [2] - The Board recommends shareholders vote against the nominees proposed by Engine Capital Management, LP, advocating for its own candidates instead [3] - The current Board consists of seven directors, five of whom are independent, with expertise in finance, operations, technology, and other relevant areas [5] Group 2: Strategic Focus - The Company emphasizes a clear strategy focused on investing in people, technology, and infrastructure to drive growth and profitability [4] - The Board is committed to refreshing its composition, having appointed three new independent directors in the past three years [5] Group 3: Proxy Materials - UniFirst's preliminary proxy materials are available on the SEC's website, and definitive materials will be mailed to eligible shareholders [6] - Shareholders are advised to disregard any proxy materials from Engine Capital and to use the WHITE proxy card provided by UniFirst [6] Group 4: Company Overview - UniFirst is a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety services, with over 270 service locations and more than 2 million workers outfitted daily [8]

Core Insights - UniFirst Corporation reported its fourth quarter and full year financial results for fiscal 2025, highlighting a solid performance despite the absence of an extra operational week compared to the previous fiscal year [1][4]. Financial Highlights - Q4 2025 revenues were $614.4 million, down from $639.9 million in Q4 2024, but increased by 3.4% when excluding the impact of the extra week in the prior year [6][11]. - Full year revenues for fiscal 2025 reached $2.432 billion, a slight increase of 0.2%, with a 2.1% increase when excluding the extra week [6][11]. - Operating income for Q4 2025 was $49.6 million, compared to $54.0 million in Q4 2024, while full year operating income was $184.5 million, up 0.5% from the previous year [6][11]. - Net income for Q4 2025 was $41.0 million, down from $44.6 million in Q4 2024, while full year net income increased to $148.3 million from $145.5 million [6][11]. Segment Performance - The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment reported Q4 revenues of $560.1 million, a decrease from $586.0 million in the prior year, with organic growth of 2.9% attributed to new account sales and improved customer retention [6][11]. - The First Aid & Safety Solutions segment saw revenues of $31.1 million in Q4 2025, up from $29.3 million in Q4 2024, reflecting a strong organic growth of 12.4% [12]. - Adjusted EBITDA margin for the Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment was 14.3% in Q4 2025, down from 14.9% in Q4 2024, impacted by investments in growth and digital transformation [6][8]. Cost and Investment Insights - Costs related to Key Initiatives, including CRM and ERP projects, amounted to $1.4 million in Q4 2025 and $6.8 million for the full year, affecting operating and Adjusted EBITDA margins [3][4][7]. - The company anticipates $7.0 million in costs related to Key Initiatives for fiscal 2026 [10]. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of August 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents totaled $203.5 million, an increase from $161.6 million in the prior year [12][17]. - Cash flow from operating activities increased to $296.9 million in fiscal 2025, reflecting a 0.5% growth [12][22]. - The company repurchased 402,415 shares for approximately $70.9 million during fiscal 2025, with $40.6 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization [12][22]. Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, UniFirst expects revenues between $2.475 billion and $2.495 billion, with fully diluted earnings per share projected between $6.58 and $6.98 [10][12].

Company Overview - UniFirst Corporation is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety supplies and services [3] - The company manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries and manufactures its own branded workwear and protective clothing at five ISO-9001-certified manufacturing facilities [3] - UniFirst operates more than 270 service locations and serves over 300,000 customer locations, outfitting more than 2 million workers daily with a workforce of over 16,000 employees [3] Upcoming Financial Reporting - UniFirst Corporation will report its Fiscal 2025 third quarter results on July 2, 2025, before the market opens [1] - A conference call will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day to discuss quarterly financial results, business highlights, and outlook [1] - The company may address questions regarding business and financial developments, earnings forecasts, and other relevant matters, potentially including undisclosed information [1]