Industrials stock comparison

CTAS vs GNRC: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: CTAS, with $11.3B of yearly revenue, about 2.7× GNRC's $4.2B.
  • More profitable: CTAS keeps 18 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 4 cents at GNRC.
  • More cash from each sale: CTAS turns 20 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 10 cents at GNRC.

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

Cintas (CTAS) is the larger business by reported revenue: $11.3B in its fiscal year ended May 2026, about 2.7× GNRC's $4.2B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). CTAS's net margin was 17.8% and GNRC's 3.8%. The SEC classifies them differently (Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments; Motors & Generators); 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
CTAS May 31 · GNRC December 31
Reviewed
Jul 29, 2026

CTAS vs GNRC: quick comparison

Company factCTASGNRC
CompanyCintas CorporationGenerac Holdings Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNYSE
SEC industryMen's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied GarmentsMotors & Generators
Fiscal year-endMay 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-07-2910-K · 2026-02-18

CTAS vs GNRC: audited financials

  • Scale: CTAS's $11.3B of revenue is about 2.7× GNRC's $4.2B.
  • Net margin: CTAS kept 17.8% of revenue as net income versus 3.8% at GNRC.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled CTAS 20.2% of revenue, or 1.14× net income; GNRC 10.4% of revenue, or 2.71× 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 (2026-05-31 for CTAS, 2025-12-31 for GNRC), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

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

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

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Economic trends.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: CTAS files as Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments; GNRC as Motors & Generators.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: CTAS's year ends May 31 and GNRC's December 31, about 5 months apart.
  • Scale: CTAS reported about 2.7× the annual revenue of GNRC.
  • Profitability: net margin of 17.8% for CTAS versus 3.8% for GNRC.

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.

Cintas Corporation (CTAS)

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

Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC)

Generac makes backup generators and home energy-storage systems for residential and commercial use.

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 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.

What moves GNRC

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for GNRC. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-18.

The investment question

You now know CTAS reports about 2.7× GNRC'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.

Members-only research

What members are reading this month

The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $39 a month.

Read the full research

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

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

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 9 matched transaction rows for CTAS and 2 matched transaction rows for GNRC. 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.

CTAS vs GNRC FAQs

Are CTAS and GNRC direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Cintas files as Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments and Generac as Motors & Generators. The pair is compared because both map to the Economic trends research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is CTAS or GNRC the bigger company by revenue?

Cintas (CTAS) is the larger business by reported revenue: $11.3B in its fiscal year ended May 2026, about 2.7× GNRC's $4.2B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). CTAS's net margin was 17.8% and GNRC's 3.8%. The SEC classifies them differently (Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments; Motors & Generators); 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, CTAS or GNRC?

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 CTAS vs GNRC 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 Cintas Corporation and Generac Holdings Inc. 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 2026-10-03. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-10-03. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

CTAS vs GNRC 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.

$39/mo or $249/yr · cancel future renewals anytime · sources included