CHRW vs CTAS: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: CHRW, with $16.2B of yearly revenue, about 1.4× CTAS's $11.3B.
  • More profitable: CTAS keeps 18 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 4 cents at CHRW.
  • More cash from each sale: CTAS turns 20 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 6 cents at CHRW.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) is the larger business by reported revenue: $16.2B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 1.4× CTAS's $11.3B (fiscal year ended May 2026). CHRW's net margin was 3.6% and CTAS's 17.8%. The SEC classifies them differently (Arrangement of Transportation of Freight & Cargo; Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments); what connects them is shared exposure to the Economic trends research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Industrials
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
CHRW December 31 · CTAS May 31
Reviewed
Jul 29, 2026

CHRW vs CTAS: quick comparison

Company factCHRWCTAS
CompanyC.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.Cintas Corporation
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
SEC industryArrangement of Transportation of Freight & CargoMen's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments
Fiscal year-endDecember 31May 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-1310-K · 2026-07-29

CHRW vs CTAS: audited financials

  • Scale: CHRW's $16.2B of revenue is about 1.4× CTAS's $11.3B.
  • Net margin: CTAS kept 17.8% of revenue as net income versus 3.6% at CHRW.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled CHRW 5.6% of revenue, or 1.56× net income; CTAS 20.2% of revenue, or 1.14× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 5 months apart (2025-12-31 for CHRW, 2026-05-31 for CTAS), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

CHRW: FY ending 2025-12-31 · CTAS: FY ending 2026-05-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where CHRW and CTAS overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Economic trends.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: CHRW files as Arrangement of Transportation of Freight & Cargo; CTAS as Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: CHRW's year ends December 31 and CTAS's May 31, about 5 months apart.
  • Profitability: net margin of 3.6% for CHRW versus 17.8% for CTAS.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW)

C.H. Robinson is a freight broker and logistics provider connecting shippers with carriers.

Cintas Corporation (CTAS)

Cintas provides uniform rental, facility supplies, and safety products to businesses.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves CHRW

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for CHRW. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-13.

What moves CTAS

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for CTAS. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-07-29.

The investment question

You now know CHRW reports about 1.4× CTAS's revenue, and CTAS keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to economic trends, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. CHRW's fiscal year ends December 31, while CTAS's ends May 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 20 matched transaction rows for CHRW and 9 matched transaction rows for CTAS. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

CHRW vs CTAS FAQs

Are CHRW and CTAS direct competitors?

Not necessarily. C.H. Robinson Worldwide files as Arrangement of Transportation of Freight & Cargo and Cintas as Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments. The pair is compared because both map to the Economic trends research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is CHRW or CTAS the bigger company by revenue?

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) is the larger business by reported revenue: $16.2B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 1.4× CTAS's $11.3B (fiscal year ended May 2026). CHRW's net margin was 3.6% and CTAS's 17.8%. The SEC classifies them differently (Arrangement of Transportation of Freight & Cargo; Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments); what connects them is shared exposure to the Economic trends research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, CHRW or CTAS?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this CHRW vs CTAS comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and Cintas Corporation tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

CHRW vs CTAS compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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