Benchmark Investment Advisors LLC Takes $5.15 Million Position in United Rentals, Inc. $URI

Key Points

• Benchmark Investment Advisors bought 4,543 United Rentals shares worth approximately $5.15 million, making URI its 13th-largest holding and 2.3% of its portfolio. Institutional investors collectively own 96.26% of the stock.
• United Rentals exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $12.76 in EPS versus the $11.53 consensus and $4.41 billion in revenue, up 11.8% year over year. Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $1,246.19.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.97, equivalent to $7.88 annually and a 0.7% yield. Shares opened at $1,095.21, while an executive vice president sold 1,500 shares at an average price of $1,133.15.

Benchmark Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 4,543 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $5,146,000. United Rentals comprises about 2.3% of Benchmark Investment Advisors LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in URI. PFG Investments LLC lifted its position in 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 purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its position in United Rentals by 16.9% in the 2nd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 76 shares of the construction company's stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. grew its position in United Rentals by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 387 shares of the construction company's stock worth $292,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. raised its stake in United Rentals by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 322 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $260,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in United Rentals by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 605 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $441,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. 96.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

United Rentals Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of URI stock opened at $1,095.21 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $68.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.30, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.80. United Rentals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $701.59 and a 52 week high of $1,179.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $1,099.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $949.51.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The construction company reported $12.76 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $11.53 by $1.23. The business had revenue of $4.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.22 billion. United Rentals had a net margin of 15.67% and a return on equity of 31.72%. United Rentals's quarterly revenue was up 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $10.47 earnings per share. Analysts predict that United Rentals, Inc. will post 48.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 12th will be issued a $1.97 dividend. This represents a $7.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 12th. United Rentals's payout ratio is presently 18.92%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Rentals news, EVP William E. Grace sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,133.15, for a total transaction of $1,699,725.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,062 shares in the company, valued at $6,869,155.30. This represents a 19.84% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.47% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on URI shares. UBS Group raised their price target on United Rentals from $1,300.00 to $1,350.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Bank of America upped their price objective on United Rentals from $1,195.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Robert W. Baird set a $1,300.00 target price on United Rentals in a report on Friday, July 24th. Morgan Stanley set a $1,335.00 target price on United Rentals and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, KeyCorp restated an "overweight" rating and set a $1,350.00 price target on shares of United Rentals in a research note on Friday, July 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $1,246.19.

United Rentals Company Profile

United Rentals, Inc NYSE: URI is a leading equipment rental company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The firm provides rental solutions and related services to construction, industrial, commercial, and municipal customers. Its business model centers on providing access to a broad fleet of equipment on a short-term or long-term basis, enabling customers to avoid the capital expenditure of ownership and to scale equipment use to match project needs.

The company's product and service offerings span general construction equipment and a range of specialty categories, including aerial work platforms, earthmoving and excavation machines, material handling equipment, pumps, power and HVAC systems, trench and shoring solutions, and tools.

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