Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST – Get Free Report) and Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS – Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Casella Waste Systems and Cintas, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Casella Waste Systems | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2.56 |
| Cintas | 1 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 2.53 |
Casella Waste Systems currently has a consensus price target of $105.83, suggesting a potential upside of 8.42%. Cintas has a consensus price target of $218.50, suggesting a potential downside of 2.50%. Given Casella Waste Systems’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Casella Waste Systems is more favorable than Cintas.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Casella Waste Systems and Cintas”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Casella Waste Systems | $1.84 billion | 3.38 | $7.87 million | $0.09 | 1,084.56 |
| Cintas | $11.26 billion | 7.90 | $2.00 billion | $5.07 | 44.20 |
Cintas has higher revenue and earnings than Casella Waste Systems. Cintas is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Casella Waste Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Casella Waste Systems and Cintas’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Casella Waste Systems | 0.29% | 5.32% | 2.49% |
| Cintas | 17.82% | 42.57% | 20.07% |
Volatility and Risk
Casella Waste Systems has a beta of 0.78, indicating that its share price is 22% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cintas has a beta of 0.92, indicating that its share price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
99.5% of Casella Waste Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.5% of Cintas shares are held by institutional investors. 3.8% of Casella Waste Systems shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 14.4% of Cintas shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Cintas beats Casella Waste Systems on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Casella Waste Systems
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a vertically integrated solid waste services company in the United States. It offers resource management services primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers. The company provides non-hazardous solid waste services, including collections, transfer stations, recycling, and disposal operations. In addition, it markets materials, including fibers, corrugated cardboard, newsprint, plastics, glass, ferrous, and aluminum metals. Casella Waste Systems, Inc. was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Rutland, Vermont.
About Cintas
Cintas Corporation engages in the provision of corporate identity uniforms and related business services primarily in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Uniform Rental and Facility Services, First Aid and Safety Services, and All Other segments. The company rents and services uniforms and other garments, including flame resistant clothing, mats, mops and shop towels, and other ancillary items; and provides restroom cleaning services and supplies, as well as sells uniforms. In addition, the company offers first aid and safety services, and fire protection products and services. It provides its products and services through its distribution network and local delivery routes, or local representatives to small service and manufacturing companies, as well as major corporations. The company was founded in 1968 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cintas Corporation was formerly a subsidiary of Cintas Corporation.
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