Cintas Corporation (CTAS) vs Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)

DAL leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Cintas Corporation and Delta Air Lines, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 17, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Compare

Total return — CTAS vs DAL

growth of $100 · last 19y
CTAS +1747.1%DAL +264.8%CTAS compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
101001k10kStart $1002011201520192023$1,847$365
CTAS DAL

CTAS vs DAL: by the numbers

  • CTAS is the larger company ($67.88B vs $54.62B market cap).
  • DAL trades at the lower earnings multiple (12.14 vs 35.79 P/E).
  • CTAS converts more revenue to profit (17.57% vs 6.87% net margin).
  • DAL grew revenue faster over the past five years (38.80% vs 9.83% CAGR).
  • CTAS pays the higher dividend yield (1.06% vs 0.90%).

Which is better, CTAS or DAL?

Metric tally: CTAS 8 · DAL 9

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueDAL(lower P/E)
GrowthDAL(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeCTAS(higher dividend yield)
QualityCTAS(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

MetricCTASDAL
P/E ratio35.7912.14
Forward P/E31.2015.19
P/S ratio6.260.83
P/B ratio14.412.66
PEG ratio3.080.21
EV / EBITDA23.606.96
FCF yield2.59%7.23%

Profitability

MetricCTASDAL
Gross margin50.36%26.19%
Operating margin22.95%8.83%
Net margin17.57%6.87%
ROE40.46%21.97%
ROIC22.95%8.30%

Dividends

MetricCTASDAL
Dividend yield1.06%0.90%
Payout ratio40.18%9.72%

Growth (annualized)

MetricCTASDAL
Revenue CAGR (5Y)9.83%38.80%
EPS CAGR (5Y)16.48%0.89%
FCF CAGR (5Y)9.81%115.85%
Total return CAGR (5Y)14.47%13.55%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CTAS or DAL?
It depends on your goal. value: DAL (lower P/E); growth: DAL (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CTAS (higher dividend yield); quality: CTAS (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, DAL leads 9 to 8.
Is CTAS or DAL cheaper?
On trailing earnings, DAL is cheaper: CTAS trades at a 35.79 P/E and DAL at 12.14.
Which has grown faster, CTAS or DAL?
Over the past five years, DAL grew revenue faster — CTAS at a 9.83% CAGR versus DAL at 38.80%.
Does CTAS or DAL pay a bigger dividend?
CTAS yields 1.06% and DAL yields 0.90% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CTAS or DAL more profitable?
CTAS runs the higher net margin — CTAS at 17.57% versus DAL at 6.87%.
Which has been the better investment, CTAS or DAL?
Over the past 10-year, CTAS delivered the higher annualized total return — CTAS at 23.15% versus DAL at 9.47%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 17, 2026.