United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have issued a hold recommendation and nine have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $804.15.

A number of research analysts recently commented on URI shares. Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $956.00 price target (down previously from $963.00) on shares of United Rentals in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on United Rentals from $775.00 to $765.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised United Rentals from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $705.00 to $666.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on United Rentals from $1,004.00 to $974.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Baird R W upgraded United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th.

United Rentals Stock Down 4.5 %

NYSE:URI opened at $564.56 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $669.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $750.88. United Rentals has a twelve month low of $544.32 and a twelve month high of $896.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $11.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $11.65 by ($0.06). United Rentals had a return on equity of 34.21% and a net margin of 16.78%. Equities research analysts expect that United Rentals will post 44.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th were paid a $1.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 12th. This is an increase from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.27%. United Rentals’s payout ratio is currently 18.48%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO William E. Grace sold 1,100 shares of United Rentals stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $638.10, for a total transaction of $701,910.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,880 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,390,128. The trade was a 13.78 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.53% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rialto Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in United Rentals in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in United Rentals during the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of United Rentals by 241.7% in the 4th quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 41 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hanson & Doremus Investment Management bought a new position in United Rentals in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. 96.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Rentals Company Profile

United Rentals, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental company. It operates in two segments, General Rentals and Specialty. The General Rentals segment rents general construction and industrial equipment includes backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, and material handling equipment; aerial work platforms, such as boom and scissor lifts; and general tools and light equipment comprising pressure washers, water pumps, and power tools for construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and government entities.