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ARAMARK Holdings (ARMK)
NYSE:ARMK

ARAMARK Holdings (ARMK) AI Stock Analysis

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ARMK

ARAMARK Holdings

(NYSE:ARMK)

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Neutral 68 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$44.00
▲(7.34% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/21/26
The score is driven primarily by stable-to-improving fundamentals (strong revenue momentum and positive cash generation) and supportive technical uptrend. Offsetting factors are compressed margins and softer cash conversion, plus a relatively expensive valuation (high P/E with only a modest dividend). Earnings-call tone and reiterated FY26 guidance provide additional support.
Positive Factors
Recurring revenue & strong client retention
High client retention plus material new strategic wins create durable contracted revenue and reduce renewal risk. Recurring food, facilities and uniform contracts lock in cash flow, support predictable backlog, and amplify scale benefits across procurement and operations for multi-year revenue stability.
Sustained international outperformance
Consistent, double-digit international growth diversifies revenue and reduces U.S.-centric cycle risk. Broad country contributions and repeat account wins indicate scalable operating processes and local competitive strength, supporting longer-term margin expansion as scale and mobilization costs normalize.
Improving liquidity and proactive debt management
Meaningful cash buffer and successful loan repricing lower interest expense and increase financial flexibility. Proactive refinancing reduces refinancing risk, supports guidance targets (leverage <3x), and gives the company room to fund mobilizations, shareholder returns, or opportunistic investments without immediate liquidity strain.
Negative Factors
Thin and compressed profitability
Very low operating and net margins limit earnings resilience to cost inflation or revenue mix shifts. Small margin buffers mean modest cost increases or contract mix changes can erase profits, constraining reinvestment, FCF conversion, and long-term returns unless structural margin recovery occurs.
Weak cash conversion and declining free cash flow
Declining FCF and ~50% conversion of net income reduce internal funding capacity for debt paydown, capex normalization, or dividends. Persistent weak cash conversion raises sensitivity to working capital swings and increases reliance on external financing for growth or shareholder actions over the medium term.
Elevated mobilization CapEx and seasonal working capital needs
Large new-account mobilizations drive higher near-term capex and working capital that weigh on margins and cash flow. If wins continue, cumulative mobilization costs can depress medium-term returns and make meeting margin/FCF targets more dependent on efficient rollout and contract economics.

ARAMARK Holdings (ARMK) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

ARAMARK Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAramark provides food, facilities, and uniform services to education, healthcare, business and industry, sports, leisure, and corrections clients in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Food and Support Services United States, Food and Support Services International, and Uniform and Career Apparel. The company offers food-related managed services, including dining, catering, food service management, and convenience-oriented retail services; non-clinical support services, such as patient food and nutrition, retail food, and procurement services; and plant operations and maintenance, custodial/housekeeping, energy management, grounds keeping, and capital project management services. It also provides on-site restaurants, catering, convenience stores, and executive dining services; beverage and vending services; and facility management services comprising landscaping, transportation, payment, and other facility consulting services relating to building operations. In addition, the company offers concessions, banquet, and catering services; retail services and merchandise sale, recreational, and lodging services; and facility management services at sports, entertainment, and recreational facilities. Further, the company offers correctional food; and operates commissaries, laundry facilities, and property rooms. Additionally, it provides design, sourcing and manufacturing, delivery, cleaning, maintenance, and marketing services for uniforms and accessories; provides managed restroom services; and rents uniforms, work clothing, outerwear, particulate-free garments, and non-garment items and related services that include mats, shop towels, and first aid supplies. The company was formerly known as ARAMARK Holdings Corporation and changed its name to Aramark in May 2014. Aramark was founded in 1959 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyARAMARK generates revenue primarily through its three main business segments: Food and Support Services, Uniform and Career Apparel, and Facilities Management. The Food and Support Services segment, which includes services such as catering, dining, and food retail, constitutes the largest portion of revenue, driven by contracts with educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and businesses. The Uniform and Career Apparel segment generates income from the rental and sale of uniforms and related products to various industries. Additionally, the Facilities Management segment offers services like maintenance, cleaning, and security, contributing to the company’s diversified income streams. ARAMARK also benefits from long-term contracts with clients, which provide stable and recurring revenue. Partnerships with various organizations in sectors such as education and healthcare further enhance its earnings potential by expanding service offerings and client reach.

ARAMARK Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 10, 2026
(Q1-2026)
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% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed strong positive momentum: solid organic revenue growth, exceptional client retention, record-level new business wins (notably large healthcare system contracts), robust International performance, and meaningful GPO/supply chain expansion with AI-driven efficiencies. Short-term headwinds were largely timing-related (a 53rd-week calendar shift) and seasonal (higher working capital and elevated Q1 CapEx tied to new wins), plus isolated mobilization costs and commodity pressures. Management reiterated confident FY26 guidance and highlighted actions to improve capital structure and shareholder returns.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Organic Revenue Growth
Organic revenue grew 5% in Q1 to $4.8 billion; excluding a calendar shift impact (~$125 million, ~3% of revenue) organic growth would have been approximately 8%.
FSS US Growth Momentum
FSS US organic revenue reached $3.4 billion, up 2% in Q1; would have been ~5% growth absent the calendar shift. Key drivers included workplace experience, refreshments, healthcare, sports/entertainment, and corrections.
International Outperformance
International organic revenue was $1.5 billion, up over 13% year-over-year and marking the nineteenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Every country contributed, led by the UK, Spain, Germany, and Chile, and the business recorded well over 100 core account wins in the quarter.
Profitability — Operating Income and AOI
Operating income was $218 million (up slightly YoY). Adjusted operating income (AOI) was $263 million, up 1% on a constant-currency basis; AOI would have been ~11% higher without the calendar shift (calendar shift reduced AOI by an estimated $25 million).
Large Strategic Client Wins
Secured major healthcare contracts including Penn Medicine (largest US contract win) and RWJBarnabas Health (18 locations, 5,700 beds; system larger than Penn), plus a statewide Alabama corrections contract (27 facilities) and significant mining wins including Codelco.
Sustained High Client Retention
Management reported unprecedented/record-high client retention levels at this point in the fiscal year — described as 'virtually flawless' — supporting net-new growth and recurring revenue stability.
Global Supply Chain / GPO Growth and AI Integration
Global supply chain and GPO experienced double-digit growth, supporting well over $20 billion of contracted spend. AI-driven tools (mobile chatbots, AI analytics, internal AI systems) are delivering back-end efficiencies, procurement insights, and productivity gains.
Corporate Financial Actions & Liquidity
Executed $30 million in share repurchases, repriced $2.4 billion of 2030 term loans to save ~25 basis points of interest expense, and ended the quarter with approximately $1.4 billion in cash availability.
Confident Guidance and Targets
Management reiterated FY26 guidance: organic revenue growth 7%–9%, AOI growth 12%–17%, adjusted EPS growth 20%–25%, leverage ratio below 3x, and a net new target of 4%–5% — expressing high confidence in achieving these targets.
Negative Updates
Calendar Shift Impact on Quarterly Comparisons
A 53rd week in FY2025 shifted activity timing into FY2026 quarters: Q1 was negatively impacted by ~3% of revenue (~$125 million) and AOI by ~$25 million; management noted adjusted EPS growth was adversely affected by ~13% in Q1. The shift alters quarter-to-quarter cadence though not full-year results.
Seasonal Cash Outflow and Working Capital Use
Q1 experienced a normal seasonal cash outflow that was about $200 million higher than the prior year, driven by elevated working capital usage tied to strong growth and timing related to new account rollouts.
Elevated CapEx Related to New Wins
Capital expenditures were elevated in Q1 at approximately 4.5% of revenue (above the historical ~3.5%) due to timing and commitments associated with sizable new business wins—expected to normalize by year-end.
US AOI Decline (Timing-Related)
US adjusted operating income declined about 1% YoY in Q1; management estimates the calendar shift negatively impacted US AOI growth by ~10%, implying underlying US AOI would have been roughly +9% absent the shift.
Mobilization/Start-up Costs in Some International Contracts
International profit was strong overall (+12% AOI growth CC), but results were partially offset by mobilization and start-up costs in select countries tied to new Sports & Entertainment and Higher Education contracts.
Inflationary Risks and Mix Effects
Inflation is running near management assumptions (pricing roughly 3% in Q1); however, certain commodities—notably beef—remain elevated and present upside risk to costs. Management expects pricing and operating levers to offset most inflationary pressure.
Event Timing Headwinds
Q1 was impacted by approximately nine fewer MLB games compared with the prior year, creating a modest revenue headwind for the quarter. Management expects cadence normalization in Q2.
Company Guidance
Aramark reiterated fiscal 2026 guidance and provided Q1 metrics: organic revenue was $4.8B, up 5% (would have been ~8% excluding a ~$125M/≈3% calendar-shift), FSS US organic revenue was $3.4B (+2%, ~+5% ex-shift), International was $1.5B (+>13% organic); operating income was $218M and adjusted operating income (AOI) was $263M (up 1% cc; AOI would have been ~+11% without an estimated $25M calendar-shift drag), US AOI down 1% (would have been ~+9% ex-shift), interest expense $81M, adjusted tax rate ~25%, GAAP EPS $0.36 and adjusted EPS $0.51 (calendar shift cut adjusted EPS growth by ~13%); Q2 should get an opposite ~3% revenue benefit from the calendar shift; full-year guidance remains organic revenue +7–9%, AOI +12–17%, adjusted EPS +20–25% and leverage below 3x; quarter-end cash availability ~$1.4B, $30M of share repurchases, $2.4B of 2030 term loans repriced saving 25 bps, Q1 CapEx ~4.5% of revenue (expected to normalize toward ~3.5% FY), and global supply‑chain/GPO contracted spend is >$20B with double‑digit growth.

ARAMARK Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong TTM revenue growth and positive operating/free cash flow support the score, but profitability is thin (net margin ~1.7%, EBIT margin ~3.0%) with clear margin compression versus 2023–2024. Free cash flow is down TTM and cash conversion is weak (FCF ~0.52x net income). Balance sheet metrics look improved in the TTM snapshot (low debt-to-equity), but the sharp discrepancy versus prior-year leverage figures is a notable risk to monitor.
Income Statement
64
Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue is up strongly (+151%), extending a multi-year recovery after the 2021 decline. Profitability is positive but thin: TTM net margin is ~1.7% and EBIT margin is ~3.0%, both well below 2023 levels (when margins were materially higher). Gross margin has also compressed versus 2023–2024, indicating cost pressure and/or pricing mix headwinds, even as earnings remain positive.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Leverage appears manageable with solid equity support: TTM debt-to-equity is low (~0.11) and return on equity is ~10.6%, broadly steady versus recent years (outside of the 2023 spike). That said, annual filings (2022–2025) show materially higher leverage (debt-to-equity ~1.8–2.9), suggesting either a meaningful recent debt reduction or a potential reporting/classification shift; this discrepancy is a key item to monitor. Asset base is stable, and equity has been relatively steady over time.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash generation is positive, with TTM operating cash flow of ~$726M and free cash flow of ~$379M. However, free cash flow has declined TTM (about -16.5%), and free cash flow is only about half of net income (~0.52x), pointing to weaker cash conversion. Operating cash flow relative to revenue is modest (coverage around ~0.25), suggesting cash generation is adequate but not especially strong for the level of sales.
BreakdownTTMSep 2025Sep 2024Sep 2023Sep 2022Sep 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue18.79B18.51B17.40B16.08B13.69B12.10B
Gross Profit1.31B1.07B1.43B1.31B1.07B1.09B
EBITDA1.27B1.25B1.19B1.44B830.05M831.55M
Net Income316.94M326.39M262.52M674.11M194.48M-90.83M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets13.54B13.30B12.67B16.87B15.08B14.38B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments439.63M639.10M714.83M2.04B329.45M532.59M
Total Debt6.84B5.72B5.57B6.94B7.79B7.83B
Total Liabilities10.31B10.14B9.63B13.15B12.04B11.64B
Stockholders Equity3.21B3.15B3.04B3.71B3.03B2.72B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow257.12M454.46M299.09M305.02M329.74M281.74M
Operating Cash Flow725.99M921.03M726.51M766.43M694.50M657.08M
Investing Cash Flow-645.30M-722.42M-415.86M208.91M-831.29M-634.39M
Financing Cash Flow-141.63M-234.63M-1.56B653.65M-37.69M-2.01B

ARAMARK Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price40.99
Price Trends
50DMA
38.67
Positive
100DMA
38.34
Positive
200DMA
39.15
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.64
Negative
RSI
60.78
Neutral
STOCH
56.75
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ARMK, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 40.99 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 39.49, above the 50-day MA of 38.67, and above the 200-day MA of 39.15, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.64 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 60.78 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 56.75 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ARMK.

ARAMARK Holdings Risk Analysis

ARAMARK Holdings disclosed 32 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. ARAMARK Holdings reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

ARAMARK Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$4.05B30.836.50%0.71%0.20%2.72%
75
Outperform
$79.40B42.9143.25%0.88%8.60%11.45%
73
Outperform
$2.58B16.979.10%2.20%4.62%102.72%
68
Neutral
$10.77B34.4710.08%1.14%6.35%24.07%
66
Neutral
$15.20B46.405.86%2.20%1.56%-32.50%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
61
Neutral
$1.51B17.967.44%59.19%-35.47%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ARMK
ARAMARK Holdings
40.99
4.95
13.74%
ABM
ABM Industries
43.78
-8.94
-16.96%
CBZ
CBIZ
27.28
-50.83
-65.07%
CTAS
Cintas
196.78
-4.86
-2.41%
UNF
UniFirst
232.80
24.49
11.75%
RTO
Rentokil Initial
30.78
7.01
29.49%

ARAMARK Holdings Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Aramark Grants Special RSUs to Key Operating Executives
Positive
Feb 20, 2026

On February 17, 2026, Aramark’s board-level Compensation and Human Resources Committee approved a special grant of $3 million in Restricted Stock Units to Marc Bruno, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Food and Facilities. The award, effective February 19, 2026, is structured to vest over three years or around a future CEO succession date, tying Bruno’s compensation to leadership continuity and long-term service.

The committee on the same date approved an identical $3 million RSU grant and vesting structure for Carl Mittleman, Chief Operating Officer, International. These parallel awards underscore the company’s intent to retain and incentivize its top operating executives through a period of anticipated leadership transition, with potential accelerated vesting in certain non-retirement termination scenarios.

The most recent analyst rating on (ARMK) stock is a Buy with a $50.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on ARAMARK Holdings stock, see the ARMK Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Aramark Shareholders Reaffirm Board, Auditor and Pay Plan
Positive
Feb 4, 2026

At its February 3, 2026 annual meeting, Aramark shareholders re-elected all 11 director nominees, overwhelmingly ratified Deloitte & Touche as auditor for fiscal 2026, and approved executive compensation in a non-binding vote, signaling strong investor endorsement of the company’s leadership and governance framework.

The most recent analyst rating on (ARMK) stock is a Buy with a $44.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on ARAMARK Holdings stock, see the ARMK Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and Financing
Aramark Holdings Reprices and Refinances U.S. Loans
Positive
Dec 12, 2025

On December 11, 2025, Aramark Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Aramark Holdings, entered into an amendment to its Credit Agreement, resulting in the repricing and refinancing of its U.S. Term B-8 Loans with new U.S. Term B-10 Loans amounting to approximately $2.38 billion due in June 2030. This financial restructuring aims to optimize the company’s debt profile and maintain favorable terms, potentially impacting its financial stability and stakeholder interests positively.

The most recent analyst rating on (ARMK) stock is a Buy with a $49.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on ARAMARK Holdings stock, see the ARMK Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 21, 2026