AZZ vs. CTAS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AZZ and CTAS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | AZZ | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AZZ Inc. | Cintas Corporation |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Building Products | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| Market Capitalization | 3.18 billion USD | 80.11 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | August 19, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AZZ 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 | AZZ | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -2.90% | -2.02% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 4.96% | -8.23% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 30.84% | -2.95% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 29.07% | -2.77% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -2.92% | -3.14% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 29.32% | 8.82% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.28M | 1.70M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.28M | 1.68M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 26.78% | 16.66% |
| Beta | 1.16 | 0.98 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
AZZ
24.26%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 46.90%
- Q3
- 27.60%
- Median
- 15.43%
- Q1
- 8.94%
- Min
- 0.77%
AZZ’s Return on Equity of 24.26% is on par with the norm for the Building Products 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)
AZZ
16.40%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 19.42%
- Q3
- 13.74%
- Median
- 8.72%
- Q1
- 4.81%
- Min
- 0.46%
A Net Profit Margin of 16.40% places AZZ in the upper quartile for the Building Products industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
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)
AZZ
14.89%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 26.72%
- Q3
- 17.70%
- Median
- 12.14%
- Q1
- 9.54%
- Min
- 1.65%
AZZ’s Operating Profit Margin of 14.89% is around the midpoint for the Building Products 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 | AZZ | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 24.26% | 40.41% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 11.73% | 19.17% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 16.40% | 17.54% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.89% | 22.89% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 24.45% | 50.10% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AZZ
1.51
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 3.10
- Q3
- 2.06
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.88
AZZ’s Current Ratio of 1.51 aligns with the median group of the Building Products industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
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)
AZZ
0.48
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 1.64
- Q3
- 1.02
- Median
- 0.62
- Q1
- 0.20
- Min
- 0.00
AZZ’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.48 is typical for the Building Products industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
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)
AZZ
3.62
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 72.12
- Q3
- 34.39
- Median
- 23.97
- Q1
- 7.29
- Min
- 2.97
In the lower quartile for the Building Products industry, AZZ’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.62 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 | AZZ | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.51 | 2.24 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 1.81 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.48 | 0.51 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 3.62 | 24.70 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
AZZ
0.64%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 2.51%
- Q3
- 1.92%
- Median
- 1.30%
- Q1
- 0.78%
- Min
- 0.00%
AZZ’s Dividend Yield of 0.64% is in the lower quartile for the Building Products industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
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)
AZZ
7.81%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 157.36%
- Q3
- 76.90%
- Median
- 30.70%
- Q1
- 17.97%
- Min
- 0.00%
AZZ’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 7.81% is in the lower quartile for the Building Products industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
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 | AZZ | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.64% | 0.79% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 7.81% | 34.09% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
AZZ
12.21
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 45.60
- Q3
- 30.36
- Median
- 21.97
- Q1
- 17.37
- Min
- 12.44
AZZ’s P/E Ratio of 12.21 is below the typical range for the Building Products industry. This may indicate that the stock is potentially undervalued, or it could reflect market concerns about the company’s future prospects.
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)
AZZ
2.00
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 5.90
- Q3
- 3.09
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.37
AZZ’s P/S Ratio of 2.00 aligns with the market consensus for the Building Products industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
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)
AZZ
2.30
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 10.99
- Q3
- 5.69
- Median
- 2.98
- Q1
- 1.80
- Min
- 0.66
AZZ’s P/B Ratio of 2.30 is within the conventional range for the Building Products 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 | AZZ | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 12.21 | 43.16 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.00 | 7.57 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.30 | 17.80 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 8.28 | 47.12 |