AN vs. CTAS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AN and CTAS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | AN | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AutoNation, Inc. | Cintas Corporation |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Specialty Retail | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| Market Capitalization | 8.15 billion USD | 80.11 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | May 11, 1990 | August 19, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AN and CTAS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | AN | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -3.42% | -2.02% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 1.40% | -8.23% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 35.70% | -2.95% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 30.27% | -2.77% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -1.14% | -3.14% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 27.34% | 8.82% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.37M | 1.70M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.44M | 1.68M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 25.38% | 16.66% |
| Beta | 0.92 | 0.98 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
AN
26.13%
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 64.63%
- Q3
- 37.13%
- Median
- 19.07%
- Q1
- 10.79%
- Min
- -16.66%
AN’s Return on Equity of 26.13% is on par with the norm for the Specialty Retail industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
CTAS
40.41%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.93%
- Q3
- 16.86%
- Median
- 10.28%
- Q1
- 6.63%
- Min
- 0.71%
CTAS’s Return on Equity of 40.41% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
AN
2.31%
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 21.04%
- Q3
- 10.99%
- Median
- 6.08%
- Q1
- 2.46%
- Min
- -4.37%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, AN’s Net Profit Margin of 2.31% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
CTAS
17.54%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 16.98%
- Q3
- 9.05%
- Median
- 5.35%
- Q1
- 3.42%
- Min
- -2.31%
CTAS’s Net Profit Margin of 17.54% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
AN
4.53%
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 33.35%
- Q3
- 16.40%
- Median
- 9.28%
- Q1
- 4.05%
- Min
- -10.63%
AN’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.53% is around the midpoint for the Specialty Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
CTAS
22.89%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 23.33%
- Q3
- 12.51%
- Median
- 8.33%
- Q1
- 4.45%
- Min
- -2.90%
An Operating Profit Margin of 22.89% places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AN | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 26.13% | 40.41% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.80% | 19.17% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 2.31% | 17.54% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 4.53% | 22.89% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.91% | 50.10% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AN
0.81
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 2.72
- Q3
- 1.81
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.52
AN’s Current Ratio of 0.81 falls into the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
CTAS
2.24
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 3.73
- Q3
- 2.13
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.91
- Min
- 0.59
CTAS’s Current Ratio of 2.24 is in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
AN
2.12
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 3.44
- Q3
- 1.57
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.22
- Min
- 0.00
AN’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Specialty Retail industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.12. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
CTAS
0.51
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 2.24
- Q3
- 1.14
- Median
- 0.76
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
CTAS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.51 is typical for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
AN
3.25
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 48.12
- Q3
- 39.12
- Median
- 14.13
- Q1
- 3.63
- Min
- -36.00
In the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, AN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.25 indicates a tighter cushion for servicing debt, suggesting less financial flexibility than many of its competitors.
CTAS
24.70
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.70
- Q3
- 13.44
- Median
- 9.06
- Q1
- 3.42
- Min
- -10.97
CTAS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 24.70 is in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AN | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.81 | 2.24 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.21 | 1.81 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 2.12 | 0.51 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 3.25 | 24.70 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
AN
0.00%
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 6.48%
- Q3
- 2.84%
- Median
- 1.04%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AN currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
CTAS
0.79%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 3.65%
- Q3
- 2.43%
- Median
- 1.58%
- Q1
- 0.74%
- Min
- 0.00%
CTAS’s Dividend Yield of 0.79% is consistent with its peers in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
AN
0.00%
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 192.64%
- Q3
- 79.43%
- Median
- 26.55%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AN has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
CTAS
34.09%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 137.88%
- Q3
- 73.07%
- Median
- 44.79%
- Q1
- 27.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
CTAS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 34.09% is within the typical range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AN | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.79% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 34.09% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
AN
12.96
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 47.04
- Q3
- 27.74
- Median
- 23.51
- Q1
- 13.77
- Min
- 7.47
In the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, AN’s P/E Ratio of 12.96 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
CTAS
43.16
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 57.87
- Q3
- 33.40
- Median
- 23.56
- Q1
- 15.28
- Min
- 6.56
A P/E Ratio of 43.16 places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
AN
0.30
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 5.77
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.21
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.09
In the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, AN’s P/S Ratio of 0.30 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
CTAS
7.57
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.84
- Q3
- 2.58
- Median
- 1.09
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.06
With a P/S Ratio of 7.57, CTAS trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
AN
3.03
Specialty Retail Industry
- Max
- 16.93
- Q3
- 7.92
- Median
- 3.98
- Q1
- 1.86
- Min
- 0.55
AN’s P/B Ratio of 3.03 is within the conventional range for the Specialty Retail industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
CTAS
17.80
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 6.40
- Q3
- 3.97
- Median
- 2.44
- Q1
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.40
At 17.80, CTAS’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AN | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 12.96 | 43.16 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.30 | 7.57 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.03 | 17.80 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 28.89 | 47.12 |