Should I buy, hold, or sell UNF stock right now?

Unifirst Corporation (UNF) currently earns a Roarable Rating of C (Hold — HOLD) with 63/100 RQD Confidence. Solid 36.6% gross margin (6% return on capital), mixed timing at 31x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.

What is UNF's 12-month price target and RQD AI Jury consensus?

UNF's 12-month base price target is $260.57 (range $203.24 to $322), backed by transparent SEC XBRL cash-flow, Form 4 insider, and CBOE options flow analysis.

Stock Ratings / Consumer Discretionary / UNF

HRB (82) BFAM (61) SCI (49) RTO (57) ⌘ Pro Terminal →

Unifirst Corporation (UNF) — RQD Stock Rating Cockpit

$254.84 -0.98% NYSE • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $253.91

Unifirst Corporation (UNF) carries a Roarable Rating of C (Hold) with 63/100 RQD Confidence. The composite score sits in the neutral Hold band (59–69), meaning current holders don’t need to panic-sell while prospective buyers can wait for a move into the 70+ Buy zone.

ROARABLE C • HOLD / WATCH Cap $4.61B

📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card

⚡ INSTANT AI QUANT PREVIEW • $0 FREE TIER Click Any Pre-Computed AI Quant Specialist Briefing on UNF Below — or Connect Your Own ChatGPT / Claude

🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is UNF stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

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As of 2026-11-03, Unifirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is rated C (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 63/100 at a spot price of $254.84 (-0.98% 1D, market cap $4.61B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 14/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 8/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 18/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 11/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 12/20. Across 1009 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, UNF ranks #262 in composite RQD confidence.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does UNF compare to HRB and BFAM in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

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Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Other Consumer Services), UNF carries a Roarable C (63/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 31.4x, gross margin of 36.6%, and ROIC of 6.4%. By comparison, HRB (H&R Block Inc.) holds a A- grade (82/100 RQD, P/E 10.1x, ROIC 46.2%, cap $6.29B) and BFAM (Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.) posts a C- grade (61/100 RQD, P/E 16.9x, ROIC 12.8%, cap $2.67B). Among the 5-stock peer group, HRB leads on earnings multiple (10.1x) while HRB leads on capital efficiency (46.2% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for UNF?

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Per UNF's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-08-30, CIK 0000717954), Unifirst Corporation generated $2.43B in revenue (+0.2% YoY), $148.3M in net income, and $142.5M in free cash flow against $2.75B in total assets and $265.5M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Clean SEC annual filing review with no major hidden accounting time-bombs. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).

INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:

🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray

EXT / AFTER-HRS: $253.90 (-0.37%)🧬 Cannibal Buyback (-1.24% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 14/20 (B-) • 5.9% FCF Margin

Verify 90D Bucket Audit →

📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 63/100 (C) historically posted market-perform odds over rolling 90-day windows (+0.9% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 54.8% hit rate — wait for RQD ≥ 70 breakout).

Audit Bucket Track Record →

RQD QUANT TACHOMETERHOLD / WATCH • C

2-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bullish

Cash

SEC

Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw D+ · Rk B

Each axis scored 0–20

12M PRICE TARGET CONE+2.2% Base Target

WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for UNF)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±7.6%

Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (63/100 Composite)

🔍 WHY UNF SCORES 63/100 (C) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag

▲ #1 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+18/20 pts (29% of score)

Altman Z-Score 7.16 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 8/9

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: Cash Engine Quality+14/20 pts (22% of score)

SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 5.9% FCF Margin ($142.5M FCF) & 36.6% Gross Margin

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Whale & Options Positioning8/20 pts (-12 pt drag)

Put hedging (50% put share) caps near-term gamma upside (-12 pts vs max)

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current

Q1 (-3Q)

Grade B$258.08+6.2% Next Q

Q2 (-2Q)

Grade B-$274.00-8.3% Next Q

Q3 (-1Q)

Grade B-$251.14+1.5% Next Q

Current

Grade C$254.84+0.9% Hist 90D α

Trajectory: B (71) → C (63)Full Audit →

⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)GIDEON ASHMERE // FORENSIC SHORT & KILL-SWITCH DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the UNF Bull Thesis Could Fail

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

Even with a 63/100 (C) score, UNF faces multiple-compression risk if 31.4x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #1

Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #2

Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-1.24% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 34.1% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #3

Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($264.80) or 200D SMA ($261.24) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($260.57) toward Bear Floor ($203.24).

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $UNF• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite

Contract: “UNF Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Nov 28, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”

YES 63%NO 37%Trade / Inspect Odds →

RSI-14 MOMENTUMNEUTRAL RANGE

4330 Oversold · 70 Hot

ALTMAN-Z SHIELDFORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)

7.16>3.0 Fortress Safe

PIOTROSKI F-SCOREHIGH QUALITY (7–9)

8 / 99-Pt Accounting

52-WEEK LASER RANGE67% OF RANGE

L: $148$254.84H: $307

1. Money & Cash Health● MIXED

Are profits real cash in the bank?

Decent core business (36.6% gross margin), though cash flow growth is moderate rather than explosive right now.

Factor Grade: B-RQD 14 / 20

2. Big Money & Insiders● TRIMMING

Are whales & executives buying or selling?

Insiders and big institutional desks have been trimming shares rather than stepping up to buy.

Factor Grade: DRQD 20 / 40

3. Hidden Risks & Market Weather● ALL CLEAR

SEC fine-print scan & interest-rate fit

Clean SEC fine-print check with low hidden accounting risk and favorable interest-rate weather.

Factor Grade: BRQD 29 / 40

MULTI-MODEL JEV QUANT JURY DELIBERATION

2-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bullish on UNF

Cash & Moat Bull AI

ROIC & Free Cash Flow Model

BULLISH (70)

6.4% ROIC with 36.6% gross margin and 3.06% FCF yield.

SEC Forensic Auditor AI

10-K Accruals & Altman-Z Guard

BULLISH (90)

Altman-Z 7.16 and Piotroski 8/9 pass balance-sheet audit.

Whale & Macro Hawk AI

Options Skew, 13F & Fed NetLiq

NEUTRAL (52)

20/40 institutional & smart-money positioning score with 11/20 macro alignment.

Bull Case: Why Buyers Like UNF

✓Clean SEC annual filing review with no major hidden accounting time-bombs.

Bear Case: What Could Go Wrong

!Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.

ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher & Roarable Quantitative Research Desk

Scheduled RQD Strong Buys & Whale Accumulation Briefing (UNF Tape Review)

✓Breakdown of the highest-scoring RQD Green-Light breakouts across our 5,200+ rated universe
✓Forensic Red-Light accounting & dilution traps to review on your watchlist
✓Includes downloadable .ics calendar invite & nightly RQD rating-change email alerts

RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED

Want Custom AI PineScript / Python Indicators & Priority Rating-Change Alerts?

Join Founding VIP Waitlist (No Card Required) →$100K Arena

UNF // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +2.04%▼ DESCENDING CHANNEL

2026-11-03O $257.4H $257.4L $254.8C $254.8VOL 212.1K

RES: $282.9SUP: $230.3SMA50: $264.8SMA200: $261.2

PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

UNF Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

🦋 UNF Butterfly Map → + Track UNF →

Share Count & Dilution Monitor

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle

24.3%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. +0.2% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on UNF today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for UNF. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video

🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for UNF today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →

DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (UNF)

Consumer Discretionary Rank #262 of 1009 ⚔️ HRB vs UNF Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (UNF vs. HRB, BFAM, SCI, RTO)

Industry: Other Consumer Services (73 Tracked Issuers)

Across 1009 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Unifirst Corporation (UNF) ranks #262 by composite RQD confidence (63/100, grade C) and #282 by equity capitalization ($4.61B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, HRB leads on earnings valuation at 10.1x trailing P/E, while HRB leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 46.2% ROIC and 44.5% gross margin. HRB currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 82/100 (A-) compared with UNF at 63/100 (C).

Ticker / Company	Roarable Grade	RQD Score	Trailing P/E	Gross Margin	ROIC	1D Change	Market Cap	Head-to-Head
UNF ACTIVE Unifirst Corporation	C	63/100	31.4x	36.6%	6.4%	-0.98%	$4.61B	Benchmark Subject
HRB H&R Block Inc.	A-	82/100	10.1x	44.5%	46.2%	+3.28%	$6.29B	/hrb-vs-unf →
BFAM Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.	C-	61/100	16.9x	23.8%	12.8%	-17.92%	$2.67B	/bfam-vs-unf →
SCI Service Corporation International	D	49/100	18.9x	26.5%	11.9%	+1.60%	$10.38B	/sci-vs-unf →
RTO Rentokil Initial plc American	D+	57/100	32.8x	—	9.9%	+0.26%	$11.76B	/rto-vs-unf →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-08-30 • CIK 0000717954 ↗

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-08-30), Unifirst Corporation (UNF) reported GAAP revenue of $2.43B (+0.2% vs. FY2024 revenue of $2.43B , and +8.9% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $148.3M, operating cash flow of $296.9M, and free cash flow of $142.5M (+5.7% YoY). On the balance sheet, UNF closed FY2025 with $2.75B in total assets against $265.5M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 7.16, Piotroski F-Score: 8/9).

Fiscal Period	Filing Date	Revenue	Net Income	Operating Cash Flow	Free Cash Flow	Total Assets	Total Debt
FY2025 (FY)	2025-08-30	$2.43B	$148.3M	$296.9M	$142.5M	$2.75B	$265.5M
FY2024 (FY)	2024-08-31	$2.43B	$145.5M	$295.3M	$134.9M	$2.70B	$255.6M
FY2023 (FY)	2023-08-26	$2.23B	$103.7M	$215.8M	$115.3M	$2.68B	$627.0M

3. UNF Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is UNF stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

How does UNF compare to HRB and BFAM in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for UNF?

Where is UNF trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

UNF last traded at $254.84 (-0.98% on volume of 212,108 shares), positioning the stock -3.76% below its 50-day simple moving average ($264.80) and -2.45% below its 200-day simple moving average ($261.24). Across its 52-week range of $147.66 to $306.67, UNF sits at the 67.4% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 43.0 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±7.6% ($235.47 to $274.21).

Direct Sub-Reports: UNF RQD Cockpit UNF 12M Forecast UNF Earnings & Move UNF Dividends & DRIP UNF Insiders & 13F UNF Whale Options UNF Profit Sankey UNF News & Why

ROARABLE RATING BRIEF • RQD 63/100 (C) ✓ SEC XBRL & RQD VERIFIED

UNF — Unifirst Corporation: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor

Methodology: RQD v6.2 Deterministic 5-Pillar & SEC XBRL Audit

Updated: 2025-08-30

1. Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor

Unifirst Corporation (UNF) earns a live Roarable RQD composite score of 63/100, corresponding to a C letter grade (Roarable Hold) at a spot price of $254.84 (-0.98% 1D, market capitalization $4.61B).

Fundamental Cash Engine (14/20): Anchored by return on invested capital (ROIC) of 6.4%, gross margin of 36.6%, operating margin of 7.6%, and free cash flow yield of 3.06%.
Whale 13F & Options Flow (8/20) + Insider Conviction (12/20): Tracks institutional 13F accumulation, CBOE options call/put positioning, and SEC Form 4 / Congressional PTR filings.
Macro Regime Fit (11/20) + Forensic Balance Sheet (18/20): Incorporates a 0.91x equity beta, Altman Z-Score of 7.16, Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, and Debt/Equity of 0.11x.

2. Business Model, Unit Margins & SEC Financial Trajectory

Unifirst Corporation (UNF) is a NYSE-listed issuer classified in the Consumer Discretionary sector and the Other Consumer Services industry. — — Revenue generation is reflected in the SEC financials, which report annual revenue of $2.43B for FY 2025, but the source does not describe products, customers, or revenue model.

In its latest audited SEC EDGAR 10-K filing for FY2025 (filed 2025-08-30), Unifirst Corporation (UNF) reported $2.43B in annual revenue (up from $2.43B in FY2024, +0.2% YoY) and $148.3M in GAAP net income. Over the multi-year SEC filing window from FY2023 ($2.23B revenue, $103.7M net income) through FY2025, UNF scaled operating cash flow to $296.9M and free cash flow to $142.5M, backed by $2.75B in total assets against $265.5M in total debt.

3. Institutional Bull vs. Bear Thesis & Valuation Tradeoff

🐂 Primary Bull Case (C • RQD 63/100): Clean SEC annual filing review with no major hidden accounting time-bombs. Free cash flow yield of 3.06% and institutional whale pillar of 8/20. With Fundamental Cash Engine at 14/20 and Institutional Whale Flow at 8/20, sustained execution supports upside toward the upper end of the $147.66 – $306.67 52-week range.
🐻 Primary Bear Case & Valuation Risk: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run. Investors must weigh 31.4x trailing P/E and 15.1x EV/EBITDA against 7.6% operating margins and a 0.91x macro beta.

4. 2nd-Order Butterfly Ripples & Key Questions to Watch

— The news wire does indicate a sector-linked ripple: the FTC merger signal involving Cintas moved both companies' shares, which suggests that a regulatory decision affecting the combined peer group could be a second-order event for UNF. Investors should watch the outcome of the FTC review, since a block would remove a potential transaction path and could alter competitive and valuation dynamics across the group.

Key Question #1: Can UNF sustain or expand its 7.6% operating margin and 6.4% ROIC against Other Consumer Services peers over the next 4 quarters?
Key Question #2: Following FY2025 revenue of $2.43B and free cash flow of $142.5M, how will capital allocation balance growth reinvestment against $265.5M in total debt?
Key Question #3: How sensitive is UNF's 29.2x forward P/E multiple to Consumer Discretionary capital spending cycles and macro interest-rate shifts (Beta 0.91x)?

UNF Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire

Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Unifirst Corporation (UNF) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below

💬 Jump to UNF Debate Forum (3) ↓

🟡 MARKET WIRE Yahoo Finance • 1d ago

Cintas, UniFirst shares tumble as FTC signals intent to block $5.5 billion merger

Yahoo Finance report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Seeking Alpha • 1d ago

UniFirst, Cintas filed substantial compliance with the FTC on Friday

Seeking Alpha report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Quantisnow • 1d ago

UniFirst Declares Increased Cash Dividends

Quantisnow report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Yahoo Finance • 1d ago

Unifirst Corporation (UNF) Stock Forecasts

Yahoo Finance report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Quiver Quantitative • 1d ago

Why UniFirst (UNF) Stock Is Down Today

Quiver Quantitative report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE MarketBeat • 1d ago

UniFirst Corporation $UNF Stock Sold by Vest Financial LLC

MarketBeat report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Seeking Alpha • 1d ago

UniFirst/Cintas deal spread blows out on report FTC will sue to block deal (update)

Seeking Alpha report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Stock Titan • 1d ago

A race car won at Martinsville this spring. UniFirst's car returns for its final sponsored race of 2026.

Stock Titan report covering Unifirst Corporation (UNF) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🔥 THE ROAR PIT • LIVE COMMUNITY DEBATE 3 Active Posts & Replies

UNF Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $254.84?

🐂 67% BULLISH CONVICTION COMMUNITY TUG-OF-WAR ON UNF 🐻 33% BEARISH CONVICTION

MI MidwestValue RQD DEBATE OPENER • Fundamental Long-Only 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $333.84 (+31.0%)

📌 Pinned Debate

Forensic balance-sheet strength (Altman Z 7.16, Piotroski F 8/9, Debt/Equity 0.11) gives the company substantial financial resilience.

Don't sleep on UNF's setup in Consumer Discretionary. Forensic balance-sheet strength (Altman Z 7.16, Piotroski F 8/9, Debt/Equity 0.11) gives the company substantial financial resilience.. Beta of 0.91 means it moves fast when momentum turns, and the 5-pillar RQD gauge (63/100) backs up the fundamental quality.

EarningsSniper 🐂 BULL

Both sides have a point here — UNF's 18/20 balance sheet score keeps downside contained, so the real swing factor next earnings call is backlog and FCF conversion.

RI RiskArb_Desk RQD DEBATE OPENER • Hedged Event Driven 🐻 BEARISH 🎯 Target: $196.23 (-23.0%)

Spot @ $254.84

A 31.4 trailing P/E against a 6.4% ROIC leaves the valuation dependent on expectations the reported returns do not yet support, amid an

I respect the product at Unifirst Corporation, but the stock at $254.84 is a different story. A 31.4 trailing P/E against a 6.4% ROIC leaves the valuation dependent on expectations the reported returns do not yet support, amid an FTC merger block signal.. FCF yield is 3.06% and RQD sits at 63/100 (C) — why pay up here when you can wait for next quarter's numbers?