Click to view the earnings moves in CTAS
Cintas Surges on Strong Earnings—But Do Historical Patterns Point to More Upside?
With Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS) announcing robust fiscal Q2 2026 results today, the market is buzzing. Revenue grew 9.3% to $2.80 billion and net income climbed 10.4%—enough to please even the most discerning shareholders. But if you’re considering trading CTAS after these numbers, you’ll want to know: How has this stock really behaved after earnings in the past?
Earnings Numbers Impress, Stock Gains 2.5%
CTAS stock jumped +2.5% on the day, far tighter than the ±5.0% move that options traders had priced in before the report. Notably, last quarter’s reaction was much quieter, clocking in at just -0.3%. Today’s market reaction sits well within Cintas’s usual earnings move—but there’s a fascinating historical story beneath these numbers.
How Does CTAS Stock Typically React on Earnings Day?
Looking back at the last 12 earnings cycles, Cintas has posted an average gain of +1.8% on the day of earnings, with the initial open gapping up by +1.4%. Interestingly, 75% of these sessions have seen the stock move higher on earnings days—a testament to the company’s ability to deliver. After the open, the average drift to the close has been a smaller +0.4%.
The chart below breaks down these tendencies for quick reference:
| Stock Performance | Earnings Move | Open Gap | Open to High | Open to Low | Open to Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Return | +1.8% | +1.4% | +2.5% | -1.9% | +0.4% |
| % of Moves Up | 75.0% | 58.3% | 58.3% | ||
| % of Moves Down | 25.0% | 41.7% | 41.7% |
It’s also useful to examine the magnitude of moves—not just direction. Below, you’ll find the absolute returns (i.e., regardless of up or down) for a sense of volatility on earnings days:
| Stock Performance | Earnings Move | Open Gap | Open to High | Open to Low | Open to Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Average Return | 4.5% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 2.2% |
| Max Absolute Return | 10.6% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 5.1% | 4.9% |
| Min Absolute Return | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
Want more detailed statistics? View full historical stock performance data for CTAS around earnings.
How Does CTAS Perform After the Earnings Dust Settles?
If you’re a trader considering a play the day after earnings, history offers some guidance: CTAS averages a +0.6% gain the next day, and has climbed higher 81.8% of the time. The outperformance tends to persist, but with diminishing effect—up to +0.2% over the following two weeks.
| Stock Performance | 1 Day After Earnings | 2 Days After Earnings | 3 Days After Earnings | 1 Week After Earnings | 2 Weeks After Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Return | +0.6% | +0.6% | +0.5% | +0.5% | +0.2% |
| % of Moves Up | 81.8% | 54.5% | 54.5% | 63.6% | 45.5% |
| % of Moves Down | 18.2% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 36.4% | 54.5% |
Options Traders Dial In: Focus on 19-Dec-25 180 Puts
It wasn’t just the stock making moves—options trading was hot, too. Today’s most actively traded single-leg option was the 19-Dec-25 180 put, as traders considered their next play. Here’s a closer look at that contract:
| Option Contract | 19-Dec-25 180 P |
|---|---|
| Volume | 451 |
| VWAP price | 0.08 |
| Open interest | 57 |
| Yesterday's closing price | 9.30 |
Key Takeaways for Investors
Despite an earnings print that easily exceeded last year’s figures, CTAS traded right in line with its historical tendencies—modest positive moves that often fade a bit by the close. The stock has a strong bias for upside moves after earnings, but volatility can run higher than what we saw today. Options traders looking for fireworks might be left wanting, but for investors and swing traders, the historical playbook points toward gradual gains more often than not.
Curious about more? Dive deeper into the full CTAS earnings stock movement stats here.
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