EX-99 2 ex992024-5x31.htm EX-99
Exhibit 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2024
Cintas Corporation Announces
Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
CINCINNATI, July 18, 2024 -- Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today reported results for its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter ended May 31, 2024. Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $2.47 billion compared to $2.28 billion in last year’s fourth quarter, an increase of 8.2%. The organic revenue growth rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, which adjusts for the impacts of acquisitions, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and workday differences, was 7.5%.
Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $1,215.4 million compared to $1,088.8 million in last year’s fourth quarter, an increase of 11.6%. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 49.2% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to 47.7% in last year's fourth quarter, an increase of 150 basis points.
Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $547.6 million compared to $470.8 million in last year's fourth quarter, an increase of 16.3%. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 22.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to 20.6% in last year's fourth quarter.
Net income was $414.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $346.2 million in last year's fourth quarter. Fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $3.99 compared to $3.33 in last year's fourth quarter, an increase of 19.8%.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, revenue was $9.60 billion compared to $8.82 billion for fiscal 2023, an increase of 8.9%. Operating income for fiscal 2024 was $2.07 billion compared to $1.80 billion for fiscal 2023, an increase of 14.8%. Operating income as a percent of revenue was 21.6% in fiscal 2024 compared to 20.4% in fiscal 2023. Diluted EPS for fiscal 2024 was $15.15 compared to $12.99 in fiscal 2023, an increase of 16.6%.
Cash flow from operating activities was $2.08 billion in fiscal 2024 compared to $1.60 billion in fiscal 2023, an increase of 30.2%. Cintas spent $409.5 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2024, which is 4.3% as a percentage of revenue. Cintas acquired businesses for a total of $186.8 million in fiscal 2024. During fiscal 2024, Cintas paid cash dividends of $530.9 million, an increase of 18.0% over fiscal 2023. During fiscal 2024, and as of July 17, 2024, Cintas purchased 1,623,870 shares of Cintas common stock at an average price of $609.04 per share, for a total purchase price of $1.0 billion.
Todd M. Schneider, Cintas' President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our strong fourth quarter results conclude another successful fiscal year of robust revenue growth and margin expansion, including an all-time high in operating income as a percent of revenue. Strong cash generation continued to fuel our balanced capital allocation strategy, focusing on new products and services for our customers and new technology to further enhance our position for the long-term, investing in strategic acquisitions and on returning capital to shareholders. We believe our results demonstrate the Cintas value proposition continues to resonate - we have a product or service to help nearly every business across North America focus on what they do best, while we take care of their image, safety, cleanliness and compliance needs."
"Our fiscal 2025 outlook reflects our continued confidence in our strategy. We remain focused on delivering outstanding customer experiences, nurturing the differentiated Cintas culture that drives our employee-partners and our success, and achieving growth and margin expansion aided by superior operations and investments in technology."

For fiscal 2025, revenue is expected to be in the range of $10.16 billion to $10.31 billion. Please keep in mind there are two fewer workdays in fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024. The following table helps illustrate the impact of two fewer workdays:

|  |  |  | Fiscal 2025 |  | Fiscal 2025
(in millions) | Fiscal 2024 |  |  | Low end of Range | Growth vs. 2024 |  | High end of Range | Growth vs. 2024
| A |  |  | B | E |  | H | I
Total revenue guidance | $ | 9,596.6 |  |  |  | $ | 10,160.0 |  | 5.9% |  | $ | 10,310.0 |  | 7.4%
|  |  |  |  | E=(B-A)/A |  |  | I=(H-A)/A
| C |  |  | D |  |  | D |
Workdays in the period | 262 |  |  | 260 |  |  | 260 |
| A |  |  | F | G |  | J | K
Workday adjusted revenue growth | $ | 9,596.6 |  |  |  | $ | 10,238.2 |  | 6.7% |  | $ | 10,389.3 |  | 8.3%
|  |  |  | F=(B/D)*C | E=(F-A)/A |  | F=(H/D)*C | K=(J-A)/A
Acquisition impact |  |  |  |  | (0.3)% |  |  | (0.3)%
Organic revenue growth |  |  |  |  | 6.4% |  |  | 8.0%

Please note the following regarding the total revenue guidance:
•Guidance does not assume any future acquisitions;
•Guidance assumes a constant foreign currency exchange rate.
For fiscal 2025, diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $16.25 to $16.75.

|  |  |  | Fiscal 2025 |  | Fiscal 2025
| Fiscal 2024 |  |  | Low end of Range | Growth vs. 2024 |  | High end of Range | Growth vs. 2024
Diluted EPS guidance | $ | 15.15 |  |  |  | $ | 16.25 |  | 7.3% |  | $ | 16.75 |  | 10.6%

Please note the following regarding diluted EPS guidance:
•Fiscal year 2025 interest, net is expected to be approximately $106.0 million compared to $95.0 million in fiscal year 2024, predominately as a result of higher variable rate debt used to complete a portion of the previously mentioned share buybacks through July 17, 2024. This may change as a result of future share buybacks or acquisition activity;
•Our fiscal 2025 effective tax rate is expected to be 20.4%, the same compared to fiscal 2024;
•Guidance does not include any future share buybacks or significant economic disruptions or downturn.

On May 2, 2024, Cintas announced that its Board of Directors approved a four-for-one split of its common stock. Shareholders of record, as of September 4, 2024, will receive three additional shares for each share held, which will be distributed after market close on September 11, 2024. Cintas anticipates its common stock to begin trading at the split-adjusted price on September 12, 2024. Our financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 will be reported after the completion of the stock split.
The following table shows our fiscal 2024 diluted EPS and our fiscal 2025 diluted EPS outlook on a proforma basis after the impact of the recently announced common stock split.

|  |  | Fiscal 2025 |  | Fiscal 2025
($s in millions, except EPS) | Fiscal 2024 |  |  | Low end of Range | Growth vs. 2024 |  | High end of Range | Growth vs. 2024
Diluted EPS guidance | $ | 15.15 |  |  |  | $ | 16.25 |  | 7.3 | % |  | $ | 16.75 |  | 10.6 | %
Net income allocated to common shareholders, as reported | $ | 1,565.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proforma basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 406.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proforma effect of dilutive securities - employee stock options | 6.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proforma diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 413.5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proforma diluted earnings per share | $ | 3.79 |  |  |  | $ | 4.06 |  | 7.1 | % |  | $ | 4.19 |  | 10.6 | %

Cintas
Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety training, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.
Cintas will host a live webcast to review the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and fiscal year results today at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The webcast will be available to the public on Cintas' website at www.Cintas.com. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call and will remain available for two weeks.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements regarding our future business plans and expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “target,” “forecast,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may” and “will” or the negative versions thereof and similar words, terms and expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of Cintas and speak only as of the date made. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in or implied by this Press Release. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the possibility of greater than anticipated operating costs including energy and fuel costs; lower sales volumes; loss of customers due to outsourcing trends; the performance and costs of integration of acquisitions; supply chain constraints and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and higher interest rates; fluctuations in costs of materials and labor, including increased medical costs; costs and possible effects of union organizing activities; failure to comply with government regulations concerning employment discrimination, employee pay and benefits and employee health and safety; the effect on operations of exchange rate fluctuations, tariffs and other political, economic and regulatory risks; uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation; our ability to meet our aspirations relating to environmental, social and governance (ESG) opportunities, improvements and efficiencies; the cost, results and ongoing assessment of internal controls for financial reporting; the effect of new accounting pronouncements; risks associated with cybersecurity threats, including disruptions caused by the inaccessibility of computer systems data and cybersecurity management, the initiation or outcome of litigation, investigations or other proceedings; higher assumed sourcing or distribution costs of products; the disruption of operations from catastrophic or extraordinary events including global health pandemics; the amount and timing of repurchases of our common stock, if any; changes in global tax and labor laws; and the reactions of competitors in terms of price and service. Cintas undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements or to otherwise update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or to reflect events, circumstances or any other unanticipated developments arising after the date on which such statements are made, except otherwise as required by law. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2023 and in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The risks and uncertainties described herein are not the only ones we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties presently not known to us, or that we currently believe to be immaterial, may also harm our business.
For additional information, contact:
J. Michael Hansen, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer - 513-972-2079
Jared S. Mattingley, Vice President, Treasurer & Investor Relations - 513-972-4195

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share data)

| Three Months Ended
| May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023 |  | % Change
Revenue: |  |  |  |  |
Uniform rental and facility services | $ | 1,911,190 |  |  | $ | 1,773,206 |  |  | 7.8%
Other | 559,745 |  |  | 511,265 |  |  | 9.5%
Total revenue | 2,470,935 |  |  | 2,284,471 |  |  | 8.2%
Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |
Cost of uniform rental and facility services | 983,049 |  |  | 926,689 |  |  | 6.1%
Cost of other | 272,437 |  |  | 269,004 |  |  | 1.3%
Selling and administrative expenses | 667,855 |  |  | 617,980 |  |  | 8.1%
Operating income | 547,594 |  |  | 470,798 |  |  | 16.3%
Interest income | (3,621) |  |  | (844) |  |  | 329.0%
Interest expense | 24,076 |  |  | 25,773 |  |  | (6.6)%
Income before income taxes | 527,139 |  |  | 445,869 |  |  | 18.2%
Income taxes | 112,824 |  |  | 99,668 |  |  | 13.2%
Net income | $ | 414,315 |  |  | $ | 346,201 |  |  | 19.7%
Basic earnings per share | $ | 4.06 |  |  | $ | 3.39 |  |  | 19.8%
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 3.99 |  |  | $ | 3.33 |  |  | 19.8%
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 101,545 |  |  | 101,788 |  |  |
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 103,332 |  |  | 103,418 |  |  |

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(In thousands except per share data)

| Twelve Months Ended
| May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023 |  | % Change
Revenue: |  |  |  |  |
Uniform rental and facility services | $ | 7,465,199 |  |  | $ | 6,897,130 |  |  | 8.2%
Other | 2,131,416 |  |  | 1,918,639 |  |  | 11.1%
Total revenue | 9,596,615 |  |  | 8,815,769 |  |  | 8.9%
Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |
Cost of uniform rental and facility services | 3,865,071 |  |  | 3,632,175 |  |  | 6.4%
Cost of other | 1,045,128 |  |  | 1,010,226 |  |  | 3.5%
Selling and administrative expenses | 2,617,783 |  |  | 2,370,704 |  |  | 10.4%
Operating income | 2,068,633 |  |  | 1,802,664 |  |  | 14.8%
Interest income | (5,742) |  |  | (1,716) |  |  | 234.6%
Interest expense | 100,740 |  |  | 111,232 |  |  | (9.4)%
Income before income taxes | 1,973,635 |  |  | 1,693,148 |  |  | 16.6%
Income taxes | 402,043 |  |  | 345,138 |  |  | 16.5%
Net income | $ | 1,571,592 |  |  | $ | 1,348,010 |  |  | 16.6%
Basic earnings per share | $ | 15.40 |  |  | $ | 13.21 |  |  | 16.6%
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 15.15 |  |  | $ | 12.99 |  |  | 16.6%
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 101,653 |  |  | 101,645 |  |  |
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 103,367 |  |  | 103,377 |  |  |

CINTAS CORPORATION SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Gross Margin and Net Income Margin Results

| Three Months Ended |  | Twelve Months Ended
| May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023 |  | May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023
Uniform rental and facility services gross margin | 48.6% |  | 47.7% |  | 48.2% |  | 47.3%
Other gross margin | 51.3% |  | 47.4% |  | 51.0% |  | 47.3%
Total gross margin | 49.2% |  | 47.7% |  | 48.8% |  | 47.3%
Net income margin | 16.8% |  | 15.2% |  | 16.4% |  | 15.3%

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The press release contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of the rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. To supplement its consolidated condensed financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company provides these additional non-GAAP financial measures of free cash flow and organic revenue growth. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate to enhance understanding of its past performance as well as prospects for future performance. A reconciliation of the differences between these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are shown in the tables below.
Computation of Free Cash Flow

| Twelve Months Ended
(In thousands) | May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023
Net cash provided by operations | $ | 2,079,781 |  |  | $ | 1,597,814 |
Capital expenditures | (409,469) |  |  | (331,109) |
Free cash flow | $ | 1,670,312 |  |  | $ | 1,266,705 |

Management uses free cash flow to assess the financial performance of the Company. Management believes that free cash flow is useful to investors because it relates the operating cash flow of the Company to the capital that is spent to continue, improve and grow business operations.

Computation of Organic Revenue Growth

|  |  | Twelve Months Ended
|  |  |  |  |  |  | May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023 |  | Growth %
|  |  |  |  |  |  | A |  | B |  | G
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,596,615 |  |  | $ | 8,815,769 |  |  | 8.9%
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | G=(A-B)/B
|  |  |  |  |  |  | C |  | D |  |
Workdays in the period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 262 |  | 261 |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | E |  | F |  | H
Workday adjusted revenue growth |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,559,987 |  |  | $ | 8,815,769 |  |  | 8.4%
|  |  |  |  |  |  | E=(A/C)*D |  | F=(B/D)*D |  | H=(E-F)/F
Acquisition and foreign currency exchange impact, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (0.4)%
Organic revenue growth |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.0%

Management believes that organic revenue growth is valuable to investors because it reflects the revenue performance compared to a prior period with the same number of revenue generating days and excludes the impact from acquisitions and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT DATA

(In thousands) | Uniform Rental and Facility Services |  | First Aid and Safety Services |  | All Other |  |  |  | Total
For the three months ended May 31, 2024 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | $ | 1,911,190 |  |  | $ | 277,638 |  |  | $ | 282,107 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,470,935 |
Gross margin | $ | 928,141 |  |  | $ | 153,832 |  |  | $ | 133,476 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,215,449 |
Selling and administrative expenses | $ | 495,187 |  |  | $ | 90,507 |  |  | $ | 82,161 |  |  |  |  | $ | 667,855 |
Operating income | $ | 432,954 |  |  | $ | 63,325 |  |  | $ | 51,315 |  |  |  |  | $ | 547,594 |
For the three months ended May 31, 2023 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | $ | 1,773,206 |  |  | $ | 249,756 |  |  | $ | 261,509 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,284,471 |
Gross margin | $ | 846,517 |  |  | $ | 127,390 |  |  | $ | 114,871 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,088,778 |
Selling and administrative expenses | $ | 461,621 |  |  | $ | 80,312 |  |  | $ | 76,047 |  |  |  |  | $ | 617,980 |
Operating income | $ | 384,896 |  |  | $ | 47,078 |  |  | $ | 38,824 |  |  |  |  | $ | 470,798 |
For the twelve months ended May 31, 2024 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | $ | 7,465,199 |  |  | $ | 1,067,334 |  |  | $ | 1,064,082 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,596,615 |
Gross margin | $ | 3,600,128 |  |  | $ | 592,656 |  |  | $ | 493,632 |  |  |  |  | $ | 4,686,416 |
Selling and administrative expenses | $ | 1,940,627 |  |  | $ | 353,503 |  |  | $ | 323,653 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,617,783 |
Operating income | $ | 1,659,501 |  |  | $ | 239,153 |  |  | $ | 169,979 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,068,633 |
For the twelve months ended May 31, 2023 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | $ | 6,897,130 |  |  | $ | 951,496 |  |  | $ | 967,143 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,815,769 |
Gross margin | $ | 3,264,955 |  |  | $ | 482,088 |  |  | $ | 426,325 |  |  |  |  | $ | 4,173,368 |
Selling and administrative expenses | $ | 1,786,198 |  |  | $ | 301,398 |  |  | $ | 283,108 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,370,704 |
Operating income | $ | 1,478,757 |  |  | $ | 180,690 |  |  | $ | 143,217 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,802,664 |

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands except per share data)

| May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023
ASSETS |  |  |
Current assets: |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 342,015 |  |  | $ | 124,149 |
Accounts receivable, net | 1,244,182 |  |  | 1,152,993 |
Inventories, net | 410,201 |  |  | 506,604 |
Uniforms and other rental items in service | 1,040,144 |  |  | 1,011,918 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 148,665 |  |  | 142,795 |
Total current assets | 3,185,207 |  |  | 2,938,459 |
Property and equipment, net | 1,534,168 |  |  | 1,396,476 |
Investments | 302,212 |  |  | 247,191 |
Goodwill | 3,212,424 |  |  | 3,056,201 |
Service contracts, net | 321,902 |  |  | 346,574 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | 187,953 |  |  | 178,464 |
Other assets, net | 424,951 |  |  | 382,991 |
| $ | 9,168,817 |  |  | $ | 8,546,356 |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |  |  |
Current liabilities: |  |  |
Accounts payable | $ | 339,166 |  |  | $ | 302,292 |
Accrued compensation and related liabilities | 214,130 |  |  | 239,086 |
Accrued liabilities | 761,283 |  |  | 632,504 |
Income taxes, current | 18,618 |  |  | 12,470 |
Operating lease liabilities, current | 45,727 |  |  | 43,710 |
Debt due within one year | 449,595 |  |  | — |
Total current liabilities | 1,828,519 |  |  | 1,230,062 |
Long-term liabilities: |  |  |
Debt due after one year | 2,025,934 |  |  | 2,486,405 |
Deferred income taxes | 475,512 |  |  | 498,356 |
Operating lease liabilities | 146,824 |  |  | 138,278 |
Accrued liabilities | 375,656 |  |  | 329,269 |
Total long-term liabilities | 3,023,926 |  |  | 3,452,308 |
Shareholders’ equity: |  |  |
Preferred stock, no par value: 100,000 shares authorized, none outstanding | — |  |  | — |
Common stock, no par value, and paid-in capital: 425,000,000 shares authorized FY 2024: 193,274,296 issued and 101,251,994 outstanding FY 2023: 192,198,938 issued and 101,732,148 outstanding | 2,305,301 |  |  | 2,031,542 |
Retained earnings | 10,617,955 |  |  | 9,597,315 |
Treasury stock: FY 2024: 92,022,302 shares FY 2023: 90,466,790 shares | (8,698,085) |  |  | (7,842,649) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 91,201 |  |  | 77,778 |
Total shareholders’ equity | 4,316,372 |  |  | 3,863,986 |
| $ | 9,168,817 |  |  | $ | 8,546,356 |

Cintas Corporation
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

| Twelve Months Ended
| May 31, 2024 |  | May 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |
Net income | $ | 1,571,592 |  |  | $ | 1,348,010 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |
Depreciation | 280,866 |  |  | 257,041 |
Amortization of intangible assets and capitalized contract costs | 161,518 |  |  | 152,121 |
Stock-based compensation | 116,986 |  |  | 103,621 |
Deferred income taxes | (28,912) |  |  | 23,233 |
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses: |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net | (91,399) |  |  | (151,771) |
Inventories, net | 95,766 |  |  | (35,658) |
Uniforms and other rental items in service | (22,815) |  |  | (98,252) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and capitalized contract costs | (117,674) |  |  | (132,173) |
Accounts payable | 36,896 |  |  | 53,369 |
Accrued compensation and related liabilities | (27,013) |  |  | 2,711 |
Accrued liabilities and other | 97,750 |  |  | 41,314 |
Income taxes, current | 6,220 |  |  | 34,248 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 2,079,781 |  |  | 1,597,814 |
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |
Capital expenditures | (409,469) |  |  | (331,109) |
Purchases of investments | (7,546) |  |  | (4,566) |
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired | (186,837) |  |  | (46,357) |
Other, net | (4,779) |  |  | (6,640) |
Net cash used in investing activities | (608,631) |  |  | (388,672) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |
Payments of commercial paper, net | — |  |  | (261,200) |
Repayment of debt | (13,450) |  |  | (50,000) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock-based compensation awards | 1,370 |  |  | 3,021 |
Dividends paid | (530,909) |  |  | (449,917) |
Repurchase of common stock | (700,033) |  |  | (398,865) |
Other, net | (10,468) |  |  | (15,875) |
Net cash used in financing activities | (1,253,490) |  |  | (1,172,836) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 206 |  |  | (2,628) |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 217,866 |  |  | 33,678 |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 124,149 |  |  | 90,471 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ | 342,015 |  |  | $ | 124,149 |