Heritage Trust Co Buys 4,294 Shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Key Points

• Heritage Trust Co increased its holdings in United Rentals by 136.4%, acquiring an additional 4,294 shares, bringing its total to 7,443 shares valued at $4,665,000.
• Analysts have set a consensus price target of $830.71 for United Rentals, with ratings ranging from "sell" to "strong buy," indicating varied investor sentiment.
• United Rentals reported $10.47 earnings per share for the last quarter, slightly missing expectations, but achieved revenue of $3.94 billion, exceeding forecasts.

Heritage Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI - Free Report) by 136.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,443 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,294 shares during the period. Heritage Trust Co's holdings in United Rentals were worth $4,665,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of URI. Forum Financial Management LP boosted its stake in shares of United Rentals by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 749 shares of the construction company's stock worth $528,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the period. Centaurus Financial Inc. increased its stake in shares of United Rentals by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 999 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $704,000 after buying an additional 17 shares during the period. Leavell Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in United Rentals by 3.6% in the first quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 515 shares of the construction company's stock worth $323,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the period. Baer Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in United Rentals by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Baer Investment Advisory LLC now owns 3,202 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $2,007,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. Finally, HBK Sorce Advisory LLC increased its holdings in United Rentals by 4.0% during the first quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 490 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $307,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at United Rentals

In other United Rentals news, VP Andrew B. Limoges sold 708 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $705.86, for a total transaction of $499,748.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 1,921 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,355,957.06. This represents a 26.93% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.53% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

United Rentals Price Performance

Shares of URI stock traded down $4.68 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $856.58. 157,935 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 657,768. United Rentals, Inc. has a 12 month low of $525.91 and a 12 month high of $903.60. The company has a market cap of $55.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.17, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.72. The company's 50 day moving average price is $774.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $702.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.86.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The construction company reported $10.47 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $10.54 by ($0.07). United Rentals had a return on equity of 32.01% and a net margin of 16.11%. The company had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $10.70 EPS. United Rentals's quarterly revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 earnings per share for the current year.

United Rentals Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 13th will be issued a $1.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 13th. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. United Rentals's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.52%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America upped their price target on United Rentals from $895.00 to $900.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 24th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of United Rentals from $565.00 to $620.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on United Rentals from $535.00 to $571.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $810.00 target price (up from $740.00) on shares of United Rentals in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of United Rentals from $974.00 to $921.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $830.71.

United Rentals 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.