UniFirst Corporation (UNF) is gearing up to report first-quarter earnings results before the bell on Wednesday, January 7, and Wall Street isn't exactly brimming with optimism about the print.
Analysts are expecting the uniform services company to post quarterly earnings of $2.06 per share, which would represent a notable decline from the $2.40 per share reported in the year-ago period. On the revenue side, things look slightly brighter—UniFirst is projected to bring in $615.23 million, up from $604.91 million a year earlier.
The earnings report arrives at an interesting moment for UniFirst. On December 22, the company received an acquisition proposal from Cintas Corporation (CTAS) offering $275 per share in cash. That proposal has added a new dimension to how investors are thinking about the stock, though shares closed Wednesday at $192.90, down 1.1%—still well below that offer price.
What the Smart Money Is Saying
Looking at recent analyst activity from Wall Street's most accurate forecasters reveals a generally cautious stance on UniFirst heading into this earnings release.
UBS analyst Joshua Chan, who maintains a 55% accuracy rate, kept his Neutral rating on the stock but trimmed his price target from $190 to $182 on October 23, 2025.
Barclays analyst Manav Patnaik, sporting a more impressive 73% accuracy rate, has been even more bearish. He maintained an Underweight rating while slashing his price target from $152 to $145 on October 23, 2025.
JP Morgan's Andrew Steinerman, with a 71% accuracy rate, reinstated an Underweight rating back in July with a $175 price target.
Perhaps most notably, Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann—who boasts a 74% accuracy rate—maintained a Neutral rating but cut his price target substantially from $218 to $197 on April 3, 2025. That significant reduction suggests growing concerns about the company's near-term prospects.
The consistent theme across these analyst notes is caution, with multiple price target reductions and a prevalence of Neutral and Underweight ratings. With earnings just around the corner, investors will soon see whether that caution was warranted or if UniFirst can surprise to the upside.
