Unifirst Stock Price, News & Analysis

UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American provider of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety supplies and services. Headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, the company serves business customers through rental and service programs that help outfit workers and support workplace facilities. UniFirst and its subsidiaries also manage specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries, reflecting its role in environments that require strict garment handling and contamination control.

According to company disclosures, UniFirst operates through three reportable segments: Uniform & Facility Service Solutions, First Aid & Safety Solutions, and Other. The Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment is described as the core of the business and is a primary driver of consolidated revenues. It focuses on supplying and servicing uniforms and workwear programs and a range of facility service products. The First Aid & Safety Solutions segment provides first aid and safety supplies and services, while the Other segment consists of nuclear solutions and related activities, which can be affected by the timing and duration of power reactor outages and project-based work.

UniFirst states that it 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. The company notes that, together with its subsidiaries, it manages specialized garment programs tailored to cleanroom and nuclear facilities. These activities include handling garments used in controlled environments and supporting customers in industries where safety, cleanliness, and regulatory compliance are central operational concerns.

The company reports that it partners with leading brands and also manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products. Manufacturing is carried out at company-owned facilities that are described as ISO-9001-certified in certain disclosures. This combination of manufacturing and service capabilities supports UniFirst’s uniform rental and service programs, as well as its facility and safety offerings.

UniFirst highlights its scale in North America, noting that it has more than 270 service locations, serves over 300,000 customer locations, and has 16,000-plus employee Team Partners. The company reports that it outfits more than 2 million workers every day. This network underpins its ability to deliver recurring uniform, workwear, and facility services to a broad base of business customers.

Within its Uniform & Facility Service Solutions segment, UniFirst has indicated that organic growth has been supported by new customer account acquisitions and improved retention. Management commentary describes the company’s approach as a service-driven model that emphasizes reliability, local accountability, and long-term relationships. The segment’s results can be influenced by merchandise costs, healthcare claims expense, legal costs, and planned investments in growth and digital transformation initiatives.

The First Aid & Safety Solutions segment focuses on first aid and safety supplies and services. UniFirst has discussed investments in this segment, including in its first aid van business, with the goal of driving growth and improving profitability. The segment’s performance reflects these investments and the development of its first aid and safety offerings.

The Other segment consists of nuclear solutions. UniFirst notes that this segment is affected by the cyclical and seasonal nature of the nuclear industry, including the timing and duration of power reactor outages and project-based activities. Because of the high fixed-cost nature of this business, changes in revenue can have a disproportionate impact on segment profitability.

From a capital structure perspective, UniFirst has disclosed that it entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, providing an unsecured revolving credit facility with the ability to issue letters of credit and, subject to conditions, increase aggregate commitments. The agreement includes financial and restrictive covenants, as well as customary events of default, and is part of the company’s approach to liquidity and financial flexibility.

UniFirst’s board and management have also referenced an enterprise resource planning project, described as a key initiative intended to enhance long-term growth, scalability, operating efficiency, and profitability. Related costs have been recognized in the company’s results and are factored into its financial outlook.

Corporate governance and shareholder matters are significant aspects of UniFirst’s recent history. The company maintains a dual-class share structure with Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, which carry different voting rights. Recent proxy materials and public communications from investors have focused on board composition, strategic alternatives, and the company’s response to acquisition proposals. At the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the company reported that its nominees were re-elected as Class II Directors, and the board later appointed one of these directors as Chairman of the Board.

UniFirst has confirmed that it received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Cintas Corporation to acquire all outstanding UniFirst common and Class B shares for cash. The UniFirst board engaged independent financial and legal advisors and stated that it is carefully reviewing and evaluating the proposal to determine the course of action it believes is in the best interests of the company, its shareholders, and other stakeholders. As of the latest disclosures provided, UniFirst has indicated that shareholders do not need to take any action regarding this proposal, and no definitive transaction has been announced in the materials cited.

In addition to its core operations, UniFirst has highlighted initiatives related to operational efficiency and infrastructure. For example, the company has participated in a multi-site energy modernization program involving LED lighting installations across numerous facilities in the United States. This program is described as improving energy efficiency and providing financial benefits through reduced energy costs, while also contributing to projected reductions in CO₂ emissions over a multi-year period.

UniFirst’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol UNF. The company has a history of paying regular quarterly cash dividends on both its Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as reflected in board declarations of dividends payable on specified future dates to shareholders of record on corresponding record dates. UniFirst has also reported share repurchases of its Common Stock under an existing share repurchase authorization.

Business segments and services

UniFirst’s operations are organized into three reportable segments:

• Uniform & Facility Service Solutions – Focused on supplying and servicing uniforms and workwear programs and facility service products. This segment is identified as the core driver of consolidated revenues and reflects the company’s primary uniform and facility service activities.
• First Aid & Safety Solutions – Provides first aid and safety supplies and services. The company has invested in this segment, including its first aid van business, to support growth and profitability.
• Other – Consists of nuclear solutions. Results in this segment are influenced by the cyclical and seasonal nature of the nuclear industry, including the timing and duration of reactor outages and project-based work.

Across these segments, UniFirst states that it supplies and services uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety supplies and services, and manages specialized garment programs for cleanroom and nuclear industries. It also manufactures branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at company-owned manufacturing facilities.

Scale and operational footprint

UniFirst reports that it operates more than 270 service locations and serves over 300,000 customer locations across North America. The company states that it has more than 16,000 employee Team Partners and outfits more than 2 million workers each day. This footprint supports its uniform rental and service programs, facility service offerings, and first aid and safety services.

Capital allocation and financial structure

UniFirst has highlighted a flexible balance sheet and cash flow generation that support capital allocation decisions such as dividends and share repurchases. The company has declared regular quarterly cash dividends on its Common Stock and Class B Common Stock and has repurchased shares under an existing authorization. The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides an unsecured revolving credit facility with the potential to increase total commitments, subject to conditions, and includes financial covenants and customary events of default.

Strategic initiatives and governance context

UniFirst has undertaken an enterprise resource planning project described as a key initiative aimed at enhancing growth, scalability, operating efficiency, and profitability over the long term. Costs associated with this project have been disclosed in the company’s financial results and guidance.

In the area of corporate governance, UniFirst’s dual-class share structure and board decisions have been the subject of public commentary from certain shareholders and proxy advisory firms. Communications from these parties have discussed topics such as strategic alternatives, potential sale of the company, and the evaluation of acquisition proposals. UniFirst’s board has stated that it remains open-minded and will continue to take actions and make decisions that it believes are in the best interest of all shareholders.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• What does UniFirst Corporation do?
  UniFirst Corporation supplies and services uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety supplies and services across North America. Together with its subsidiaries, it also manages specialized garment programs for cleanroom and nuclear industries and manufactures branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products.
• How is UniFirst organized from a business segment perspective?
  The company reports three segments: Uniform & Facility Service Solutions, First Aid & Safety Solutions, and Other. Uniform & Facility Service Solutions is the core segment focused on uniforms, workwear programs, and facility service products. First Aid & Safety Solutions covers first aid and safety supplies and services, and the Other segment consists of nuclear solutions.
• Where is UniFirst headquartered and where does it operate?
  UniFirst is headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts. It describes itself as a North American leader in its markets and reports more than 270 service locations serving over 300,000 customer locations, outfitting more than 2 million workers daily.
• What types of customers and industries does UniFirst serve?
  UniFirst serves business customers that use uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety supplies and services. It also manages specialized garment programs for cleanroom and nuclear industries, indicating a presence in controlled and regulated environments.
• Does UniFirst manufacture its own products?
  Yes. UniFirst states that, in addition to partnering with leading brands, it manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at company-owned manufacturing facilities that are described as ISO-9001-certified in certain disclosures.
• How large is UniFirst’s service network?
  The company reports more than 270 service locations and over 300,000 customer locations, with more than 16,000 employee Team Partners. It states that it outfits more than 2 million workers every day.
• What is UniFirst’s stock symbol and where is it listed?
  UniFirst’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol UNF.
• Does UniFirst pay dividends?
  Yes. UniFirst’s board has declared regular quarterly cash dividends on the company’s Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, payable on specified dates to shareholders of record on corresponding record dates.
• Has UniFirst received any acquisition proposals?
  UniFirst has confirmed receipt of an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Cintas Corporation to acquire all outstanding UniFirst common and Class B shares for cash. The board engaged independent financial and legal advisors and has stated that it is carefully reviewing and evaluating the proposal. As described in the company’s public statements, shareholders are not required to take any action regarding the proposal based on the information provided.
• What recent operational initiatives has UniFirst highlighted?
  UniFirst has discussed an enterprise resource planning project intended to enhance long-term growth, scalability, operating efficiency, and profitability. It has also participated in an energy modernization program involving LED lighting installations across multiple facilities, which is projected to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions over time.