Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.

Liabilities represents obligations of a company arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow of economic benefits from the entity.

Cintas Corp., consolidated balance sheet: liabilities and stockholders’ equity

US$ in thousands

	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019
Accounts payable	339,166)	302,292)	251,504)	230,786)	230,995)	226,020)
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	214,130)	239,086)	236,992)	241,469)	127,417)	155,509)
Insurance reserve	176,758)	155,046)	163,958)	156,447)	165,427)	165,667)
Employee benefit related liabilities	188,367)	167,095)	146,237)	129,348)	134,846)	123,794)
Dividends	137,609)	117,565)	97,525)	79,135)	—)	—)
Estimated legal reserves	45,000)	27,000)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Accrued interest	15,050)	15,151)	15,448)	24,420)	24,538)	24,687)
Other	198,499)	150,647)	165,780)	129,560)	131,842)	119,792)
Accrued liabilities	761,283)	632,504)	588,948)	518,910)	456,653)	433,940)
Income taxes, current	18,618)	12,470)	—)	—)	27,099)	—)
Operating lease liabilities, current	45,727)	43,710)	43,872)	43,850)	43,031)	—)
Debt due within one year	449,595)	—)	311,574)	899,070)	—)	312,264)
Current liabilities	1,828,519)	1,230,062)	1,432,890)	1,934,085)	885,195)	1,127,733)
Debt due after one year	2,025,934)	2,486,405)	2,483,932)	1,642,833)	2,539,705)	2,537,507)
Deferred income taxes	475,512)	498,356)	473,777)	386,647)	388,579)	438,179)
Operating lease liabilities, long-term	146,824)	138,278)	129,064)	130,774)	122,695)	—)
Accrued liabilities	375,656)	329,269)	319,397)	454,637)	498,509)	330,522)
Long-term liabilities	3,023,926)	3,452,308)	3,406,170)	2,614,891)	3,549,488)	3,306,208)
Total liabilities	4,852,445)	4,682,370)	4,839,060)	4,548,976)	4,434,683)	4,433,941)
Preferred stock, no par value, none outstanding	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Common stock, no par value, and paid-in capital	2,305,301)	2,031,542)	1,771,917)	1,516,202)	1,274,210)	1,068,256)
Retained earnings	10,617,955)	9,597,315)	8,719,163)	7,877,015)	7,296,509)	6,691,236)
Treasury stock	(8,698,085)	(7,842,649)	(7,290,801)	(5,736,258)	(5,182,137)	(4,717,619)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	91,201)	77,778)	107,917)	30,888)	(153,380)	(39,152)
Shareholders’ equity	4,316,372)	3,863,986)	3,308,196)	3,687,847)	3,235,202)	3,002,721)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	9,168,817)	8,546,356)	8,147,256)	8,236,823)	7,669,885)	7,436,662)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-05-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-05-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-05-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-05-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-05-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-05-31).

Liabilities

Current liabilities exhibit fluctuation, with a significant peak in 2021 reaching approximately 1.93 billion US dollars followed by a decrease in the subsequent two years before rising again in 2024 to about 1.83 billion. Accounts payable demonstrate a consistent upward trend over the entire period, increasing from roughly 226 million to 339 million US dollars.

Accrued compensation and related liabilities experience variability; they declined from 2019 to 2020, surged significantly in 2021, and then gradually decreased through 2024. Employee benefit related liabilities show a steady increase throughout the years, nearly doubling from 124 million in 2019 to 188 million in 2024.

Debt due within one year is erratic, with a notable spike in 2021 but absent data in some years, while debt due after one year initially declines sharply between 2020 and 2021, then recovers somewhat but remains below earlier levels by 2024.

Accumulated accrued liabilities as a broad category show two distinct figures: one set increases until 2021 then decreases, and another shows a declining pattern until 2021, followed by an upward movement through 2024.

Operating lease liabilities, both current and long-term, increase steadily over the period, indicating growing obligations under lease agreements.

Insurance reserves remain relatively stable, with minor fluctuations. Estimated legal reserves appear only in the last two years, increasing from 27 million to 45 million US dollars.

Overall, total liabilities grow moderately from approximately 4.43 billion in 2019 to 4.85 billion US dollars in 2024, with some volatility reflecting changes in both short- and long-term obligations.

Equity and Capital

Common stock and paid-in capital steadily increase each year, rising from about 1.07 billion in 2019 to 2.31 billion US dollars by 2024, reflecting ongoing equity contributions or retained capital adjustments.

Retained earnings exhibit a strong upward trajectory, nearly doubling over the period, indicating accumulated profitability and reinvestment. This growth supports an increase in shareholders’ equity overall.

Treasury stock shows an increasing negative balance, expanding from approximately -4.7 billion to -8.7 billion US dollars, indicative of substantial share repurchases or treasury holdings increase over time.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) shifts from a negative position in 2019 and 2020 to positive values afterward, which may reflect working through previously incurred losses or favorable changes in other comprehensive income components.

Despite fluctuations, shareholders’ equity increases from about 3 billion to 4.3 billion US dollars during the period, signaling strengthening equity base despite significant treasury stock holdings.

Other Observations

Dividends are reported starting in 2021 and consistently increase through 2024, reflecting growing shareholder returns. Income taxes current show sporadic data with values present in 2020, 2023, and 2024 only.

Accrued interest remains relatively stable, showing a slight decrease over time. The category "Other" within accrued liabilities increases notably in 2024, suggesting rising miscellaneous obligations.

Deferred income taxes grow from 438 million to about 476 million US dollars, marking a gradual but consistent increase potentially aligned with earnings and tax timing differences.

Summary

The financial data reveals a company managing a complex mix of liabilities and equity with overall growth in total assets and equity base. The increase in accounts payable, employee benefits liabilities, lease obligations, and estimated legal reserves suggests expanding operational scale and potential increased commitments.

Equity growth through raised common stock and retained earnings underscores underlying profitability, while growing treasury stock reflects active capital management via share buybacks.

Volatility in current liabilities and short-term debt indicates fluctuating liquidity or financial structuring decisions. The steady increase in dividends points to shareholder confidence and profitability sustainability.

Overall, the financial trends imply expansion balanced with capital return to shareholders, alongside increased liabilities characteristic of growing operational activities and investment commitments.

Download chart

Cintas Corp. (NASDAQ:CTAS)

Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity