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AVY vs. CTAS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

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Here’s a clear look at AVY and CTAS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Overview

CTAS’s market capitalization of 88.57 billion USD is significantly greater than AVY’s 14.32 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.

With betas of 0.89 for AVY and 1.06 for CTAS, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.

SymbolAVYCTAS
Company NameAvery Dennison CorporationCintas Corporation
CountryUSUS
SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
IndustryBusiness Equipment & SuppliesSpecialty Business Services
CEODeon M. StanderTodd M. Schneider
Price183.24 USD219.36 USD
Market Cap14.32 billion USD88.57 billion USD
Beta0.891.06
ExchangeNYSENASDAQ
IPO DateApril 4, 1977August 19, 1983
ADRNoNo

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of AVY 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.

AVY vs. CTAS: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Profitability

Return on Equity

AVY

30.48%

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
16.56%
Q3
16.56%
Median
12.99%
Q1
11.92%
Min
11.92%

AVY’s Return on Equity of 30.48% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

CTAS

41.30%

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
30.24%
Q3
17.20%
Median
7.32%
Q1
4.37%
Min
-13.44%

CTAS’s Return on Equity of 41.30% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Specialty Business Services industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their ROE against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Return on Invested Capital

AVY

13.21%

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
13.21%
Q3
11.67%
Median
10.45%
Q1
8.54%
Min
6.64%

In the upper quartile for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, AVY’s Return on Invested Capital of 13.21% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.

CTAS

22.69%

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
22.69%
Q3
10.02%
Median
5.30%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-1.58%

In the upper quartile for the Specialty Business Services industry, CTAS’s Return on Invested Capital of 22.69% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their ROIC against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin

AVY

7.98%

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
13.49%
Q3
7.98%
Median
5.35%
Q1
3.84%
Min
3.84%

AVY’s Net Profit Margin of 7.98% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

CTAS

17.53%

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
17.53%
Q3
11.60%
Median
5.65%
Q1
1.65%
Min
-5.21%

A Net Profit Margin of 17.53% places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Specialty Business Services industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin

AVY

12.83%

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
17.67%
Q3
12.83%
Median
8.01%
Q1
7.07%
Min
5.16%

AVY’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.83% is around the midpoint for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

CTAS

22.77%

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
29.40%
Q3
16.52%
Median
5.78%
Q1
1.54%
Min
-5.17%

An Operating Profit Margin of 22.77% places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Specialty Business Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their Operating Margin against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolAVYCTAS
Return on Equity (TTM)30.48%41.30%
Return on Assets (TTM)8.36%18.50%
Return on Invested Capital (TTM)13.21%22.69%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)7.98%17.53%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)12.83%22.77%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)28.79%49.51%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio

AVY

1.03

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
1.76
Q3
1.76
Median
1.65
Q1
1.19
Min
1.03

AVY’s Current Ratio of 1.03 falls into the lower quartile for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

CTAS

1.72

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
2.21
Q3
1.84
Median
1.52
Q1
0.94
Min
0.26

CTAS’s Current Ratio of 1.72 aligns with the median group of the Specialty Business Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their Current Ratio against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

AVY

1.59

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
0.69
Q3
0.69
Median
0.61
Q1
0.21
Min
0.01

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.59, AVY operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Business Equipment & Supplies industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

CTAS

0.59

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
1.02
Q3
0.93
Median
0.62
Q1
0.22
Min
0.03

CTAS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.59 is typical for the Specialty Business Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their D/E Ratio against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio

AVY

9.41

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
12.58
Q3
10.20
Median
8.76
Q1
6.65
Min
2.29

AVY’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.41 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

CTAS

22.84

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
15.61
Q3
6.91
Median
3.29
Q1
0.04
Min
-8.58

With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 22.84, CTAS demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Specialty Business Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their Interest Coverage against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolAVYCTAS
Current Ratio (TTM)1.031.72
Quick Ratio (TTM)0.681.50
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM)1.590.59
Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM)0.410.28
Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM)2.320.86
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)9.4122.84

Growth

The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for AVY and CTAS. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.

Revenue Growth

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their annual year-over-year Revenue Growth.

Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their annual year-over-year Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth.

Free Cash Flow Growth

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their annual year-over-year Free Cash Flow Growth.

Dividend

Dividend Yield

AVY

1.95%

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
19.11%
Q3
8.38%
Median
3.82%
Q1
2.68%
Min
2.04%

AVY’s Dividend Yield of 1.95% is below the typical range for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates that shareholder returns are likely driven more by potential capital appreciation than by dividend income.

CTAS

0.98%

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
4.40%
Q3
1.37%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTAS’s Dividend Yield of 0.98% is consistent with its peers in the Specialty Business Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their Dividend Yield against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio

AVY

40.30%

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
233.86%
Q3
93.40%
Median
43.44%
Q1
39.85%
Min
38.49%

AVY’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 40.30% is within the typical range for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

CTAS

33.25%

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
79.38%
Q3
51.62%
Median
23.75%
Q1
1.08%
Min
0.00%

CTAS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 33.25% is within the typical range for the Specialty Business Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their Payout Ratio against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolAVYCTAS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.95%0.98%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)40.30%33.25%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio

AVY

20.71

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
19.85
Q3
17.85
Median
14.65
Q1
11.60
Min
10.05

At 20.71, AVY’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.

CTAS

49.81

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
52.23
Q3
42.83
Median
32.04
Q1
16.00
Min
2.24

A P/E Ratio of 49.81 places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Specialty Business Services industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their P/E Ratio against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Forward P/E to Growth Ratio

AVY

2.17

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
2.08
Q3
1.58
Median
1.08
Q1
0.82
Min
0.55

AVY’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.17 is exceptionally high for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.

CTAS

4.88

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
4.93
Q3
3.34
Median
2.19
Q1
0.14
Min
0.06

A Forward PEG Ratio of 4.88 places CTAS in the upper quartile for the Specialty Business Services industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their Forward PEG Ratio against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio

AVY

1.64

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
1.62
Q3
1.57
Median
0.91
Q1
0.37
Min
0.20

With a P/S Ratio of 1.64, AVY trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

CTAS

8.65

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
6.26
Q3
3.60
Median
1.90
Q1
0.73
Min
0.34

With a P/S Ratio of 8.65, CTAS trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Specialty Business Services industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their P/S Ratio against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio

AVY

6.67

Business Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max
2.90
Q3
2.90
Median
1.32
Q1
1.26
Min
0.55

At 6.67, AVY’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Business Equipment & 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.

CTAS

19.29

Specialty Business Services Industry

Max
3.69
Q3
3.69
Median
2.13
Q1
1.55
Min
0.59

The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Specialty Business Services industry.

AVY vs. CTAS: A comparison of their P/B Ratio against their respective Business Equipment & Supplies and Specialty Business Services industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolAVYCTAS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM)20.7149.81
Forward PEG Ratio (TTM)2.174.88
Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM)1.648.65
Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM)6.6719.29
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM)24.2248.05
EV-to-EBITDA (TTM)12.4931.82
EV-to-Sales (TTM)2.018.90