UniFirst (NYSE:UNF) Price Target Raised to $280.00 at Barclays

UniFirst (NYSE:UNF) had its price target lifted by Barclays from $250.00 to $280.00 in a research report report published on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the textile maker’s stock.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of UniFirst from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of UniFirst in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. UBS Group increased their target price on UniFirst from $182.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $198.00 target price on shares of UniFirst in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $214.75.

UniFirst Price Performance

UNF stock opened at $272.28 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $222.42 and its 200-day moving average is $188.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.92 billion, a PE ratio of 36.02 and a beta of 0.69. UniFirst has a 1 year low of $147.66 and a 1 year high of $283.77.

UniFirst (NYSE:UNF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 7th. The textile maker reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.05 by ($0.16). The firm had revenue of $621.32 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $615.23 million. UniFirst had a net margin of 5.70% and a return on equity of 6.68%. The company’s revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.31 EPS. UniFirst has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.580-6.980 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that UniFirst will post 7.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UniFirst Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $0.365 per share. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. UniFirst’s payout ratio is presently 19.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling at UniFirst

In related news, VP David Martin Katz sold 1,464 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $237.54, for a total value of $347,758.56. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 6,461 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,534,745.94. This represents a 18.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.86% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UniFirst

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UNF. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its position in shares of UniFirst by 285.7% during the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 135 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UniFirst in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in shares of UniFirst by 474.1% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 155 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares during the period. Modus Advisors LLC bought a new stake in UniFirst during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of UniFirst by 378.1% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 153 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.17% of the company’s stock.

UniFirst News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting UniFirst this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Cintas agreed to acquire UniFirst for $310 per share (50% cash / 50% stock), creating a clear near‑term takeout valuation and merger arbitrage dynamics that are pushing UNF shares higher. Cintas to Acquire UniFirst in $5.5 Billion Transaction
• Positive Sentiment: Engine Capital (a ~3.2% holder) publicly endorsed the transaction, reducing the likelihood of a contested outcome and increasing odds the board will approve the deal — a tailwind for the stock approaching the offer price. Engine Capital Issues Statement
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its UniFirst price target from $250 to $280 while keeping an “equal weight” rating, signaling some analyst backing for a higher valuation even if the firm remains neutral on medium‑term upside. Benzinga Coverage
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentators (Zacks and others) note strong intraday gains and heavy volume but caution that earnings‑estimate trends and the spread to the offer price could limit further immediate upside until deal closing certainty improves. Zacks: UNF Soars 6.6%
• Negative Sentiment: Several law firms have announced investigations and potential class actions alleging the board may not have secured a fair process/price, introducing litigation risk that could delay closing, increase transaction costs, or affect final consideration. Shareholder Investigation Notice

UniFirst Company Profile

UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a leading provider of customized uniform rental and facility service programs in North America and Europe. The company specializes in the rental, laundering and maintenance of workwear, corporate apparel and protective garments for a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, hospitality, healthcare and food processing. UniFirst also offers a suite of facility service products such as entrance mats, restroom supplies, wipers, mops and hygienic services designed to help customers maintain clean and safe environments.

In addition to its core uniform rental business, UniFirst has expanded its product portfolio to include safety and first-responder gear, flame-resistant clothing, high-visibility apparel and personal protective equipment (PPE).