UNF Stock: UniFirst Is Being Bought by Cintas — Is the 8% Merger Spread Worth the FTC Risk?

UniFirst (UNF) Q3 FY2026 — UniFirst is being acquired by Cintas for $155 cash + 0.772 Cintas shares (~$295 today), but the stock trades near $274 — an ~8% spread reflecting FTC antitrust risk after a June 11 Second Request. This isn't a fundamentals story anymore — it's a merger-arbitrage bet. Cintas, the #1 uniform-rental company, is buying UniFirst. Shareholders approved on June 11, but the FTC issued a Second Request the same day. If the deal closes you make ~8%; if it breaks the stock likely falls ~32%. THE CALL: HOLD (3/5, SPECIAL SITUATION) — base-case value ~$295 vs ~$274 today. KEY METRICS: - Deal: $155.00 cash + 0.7720 Cintas (CTAS) shares per UNF share; ~$5.5B EV; announced Mar 11, 2026 - Deal value ~$295 (at CTAS ~$182) vs UNF price ~$274 → ~8% gross spread - Shareholders approved June 11, 2026; FTC issued a Second Request the same day (antitrust review) - If deal closes: ~+8%; if it breaks: standalone ~$185 (~−32%); market-implied ~80% close probability - Q3 revenue $634.4M (+3.9%, organic +3.6%); reported EPS $1.09 depressed by ~$26M deal + ERP costs (underlying ~$2.17) - Adjusted EBITDA $82.6M (13.0% margin); segments: Uniform & Facility $575.7M, First Aid $30.8M, Nuclear $27.8M - Balance sheet: $168.9M cash + investments, zero long-term debt, $2.2B equity - Expected close 2H calendar 2026, subject to regulatory approval What to watch: any FTC news (clearance, divestiture demand, or a block), the deal spread itself, and Cintas's share price (which sets the value of the 0.772-share portion) Also on YouTube: @ChargedAlpha DISCLAIMER: For informational and educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Do your own research before any investment decision.