United Rentals (NYSE:URI) Upgraded to "Strong-Buy" at Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research upgraded United Rentals to “Strong Buy” from “Hold,” while the broader analyst consensus remains “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $1,288.19.
• United Rentals reported strong quarterly results, with EPS of $15.55 and revenue of $4.89 billion, exceeding estimates; revenue increased 15.7% year over year.
• Shares opened at $1,100.81, down 0.9%, while institutional investors own a substantial 96.26% of the company.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Zacks Research from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report released on Thursday, Zacks reports.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of United Rentals in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on United Rentals from $1,245.00 to $1,355.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $1,258.00 price objective on United Rentals in a research note on Friday. KeyCorp restated an "overweight" rating on shares of United Rentals in a report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of United Rentals in a report on Monday, September 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,288.19.

United Rentals Stock Down 0.9%

Shares of URI opened at $1,100.81 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $68.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.19, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.83. United Rentals has a 52 week low of $701.59 and a 52 week high of $1,179.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.80. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $1,042.68 and a 200-day moving average of $1,021.42.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The construction company reported $15.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $13.97 by $1.58. United Rentals had a return on equity of 33.47% and a net margin of 16.33%. The business had revenue of $4.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $11.70 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Rentals will post 49.30 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Rentals

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Cidel Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 2.4% during the second quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 425 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $481,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 3.1% during the third quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 331 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $331,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC increased its position in shares of United Rentals by 0.9% during the first quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 1,172 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $854,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of United Rentals by 16.9% during the second quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 76 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $86,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of United Rentals by 2.0% during the first quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 605 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $441,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.26% of the company's stock.

Key United Rentals News

Here are the key news stories impacting United Rentals this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record quarter and higher outlook: United Rentals reported third-quarter revenue of approximately $4.9 billion, up 16% year over year, while earnings of $15.55 per share exceeded consensus expectations. Specialty-rental revenue rose 35%, and the company raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $18.0 billion-$18.2 billion from the prior outlook, above the roughly $17.8 billion consensus. United Rentals Tops Q3 Earnings & Revenue Estimates, Raises 2026 View
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst and shareholder support: Zacks added URI to its Rank #1, or “Strong Buy,” list. Institutional positioning was mixed but included sizable additions from JPMorgan Chase and other investors, suggesting continued long-term interest.
• Neutral Sentiment: Capital returns remain supportive: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.97 per share and continues to execute its previously announced share-repurchase program. The dividend’s low yield limits its impact as an immediate valuation catalyst.
• Negative Sentiment: Downgrade pressures valuation: A recent analyst move from overweight to neutral lowered the price target to $1,170 from $1,235. The downgrade indicates that analysts see less near-term upside after URI’s strong run, even though operating results remain solid. United Rentals Falls as Analyst Downgrade Appears to Pressure Shares
• Negative Sentiment: Acquisition concerns: Analysts believe the pool of large general-equipment rental targets is shrinking after years of industry consolidation. That could reduce an important avenue for United Rentals’ future expansion and make its ambitious longer-term growth plans harder to achieve.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds caution: Company insiders recorded five open-market sales during the past six months and no purchases. While such sales can be routine, the pattern may reinforce investor concerns after the stock’s significant appreciation.

United Rentals Company Profile

United Rentals, Inc is an equipment rental company serving construction, industrial, infrastructure, utilities, government and other commercial customers. The company provides access to equipment and related services through a network of rental locations, helping customers manage projects without purchasing and maintaining all of the equipment they need.

Its rental fleet includes aerial work platforms, earthmoving equipment, material-handling equipment, general construction tools, trucks and trailers, and light-duty equipment.

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