Cintas (CTAS) director defers fees into new phantom stock units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Barstad Melanie W. reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Cintas director Melanie W. Barstad received 10.150 Phantom Stock Units as compensation. These units were credited on March 13, 2026 at a reference value of $194.2800 per unit, bringing her total Phantom Stock Unit balance to 4,393.3800 units.

The units reflect Barstad’s election to defer a portion of her cash retainer fees into the company’s Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan. Each Phantom Stock Unit tracks the value of one share of Cintas common stock, including dividend equivalents, but is not an actual share and carries no voting rights. The units are payable only in cash after she terminates service as a director, making this a routine, cash-settled compensation arrangement rather than an open-market stock purchase or sale.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Barstad Melanie W.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

P.O. BOX 625737

(Street)

MASON OH 45040

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CINTAS CORP [ CTAS ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/13/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock Units	(1)	03/13/2026		A		10.15		(1)	(1)	Common Stock	10.15	$194.28	4,393.38	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Reporting Person elected to defer a portion of the Reporting Person's cash retainer fees into Phantom Stock Units pursuant to the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (including dividend equivalents that have been credited as additional Phantom Stock Units), each unit having a value equal to one share of Cintas Corporation common stock but are not actual shares of common stock and carry no voting rights. Phantom Stock Units are payable only in cash after termination of service as a director.

	/s/ Brock Denton as Attorney-in-Fact for Melanie W. Barstad	03/17/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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FAQ

What did Cintas (CTAS) director Melanie Barstad report on this Form 4?

Melanie Barstad reported an acquisition of 10.150 Phantom Stock Units tied to Cintas common stock. These units were credited as part of deferred director compensation and increased her total Phantom Stock Unit balance to 4,393.3800 units as of the reported transaction date.

How many Phantom Stock Units does Melanie Barstad hold in Cintas (CTAS) after this transaction?

After this transaction, Melanie Barstad holds 4,393.3800 Phantom Stock Units linked to Cintas common stock. This reflects the newly credited 10.150 units plus her prior balance, all within the company’s Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan framework for non-employee directors.

What is the value reference used for the Cintas (CTAS) Phantom Stock Units granted to Melanie Barstad?

Each Phantom Stock Unit granted to Melanie Barstad has a value equal to one share of Cintas common stock. The reported transaction used a reference value of $194.2800 per unit when 10.150 units were credited on March 13, 2026 under the deferred compensation plan.

Are Cintas (CTAS) Phantom Stock Units actual shares of common stock?

The Phantom Stock Units are not actual shares of Cintas common stock and carry no voting rights. They are bookkeeping units whose value mirrors one share of common stock, including dividend equivalents, and are ultimately settled only in cash after director service ends.

When will Melanie Barstad receive cash from her Cintas (CTAS) Phantom Stock Units?

Cash payments tied to Melanie Barstad’s Phantom Stock Units are made only after her termination of service as a director. At that point, the units are settled in cash based on the plan’s terms, rather than being converted into actual Cintas common shares.

Is this Cintas (CTAS) Form 4 transaction an open-market stock purchase or sale?

This Form 4 does not show an open-market stock purchase or sale. It records a compensation-related grant of 10.150 Phantom Stock Units to director Melanie Barstad, representing deferred retainer fees payable in cash later, with no immediate trading in Cintas common shares.