United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) Shares Sold by Pacer Advisors Inc.

Key Points

• Pacer Advisors Inc. has cut its stake in United Rentals, Inc. by 35.7%, selling 1,925 shares, resulting in a total of 3,460 shares valued at approximately $2,168,000.
• United Rentals reported a quarterly EPS of $10.47, missing analysts' expectations slightly, but achieved a revenue of $3.94 billion, which surpassed estimates.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.79 per share, yielding 0.81%, with a dividend payout ratio of 18.52% and the dividend payment set for August 27th.

Pacer Advisors Inc. lessened its stake in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI - Free Report) by 35.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,460 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 1,925 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.'s holdings in United Rentals were worth $2,168,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in United Rentals by 77,674.5% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 887,407 shares of the construction company's stock worth $556,138,000 after purchasing an additional 886,266 shares during the period. Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC acquired a new position in United Rentals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $330,989,000. Capital World Investors increased its position in United Rentals by 17.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,221,228 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,564,722,000 after purchasing an additional 323,636 shares during the period. Capital International Investors increased its position in United Rentals by 41.0% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 1,051,365 shares of the construction company's stock worth $740,624,000 after purchasing an additional 305,491 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP increased its position in United Rentals by 105.6% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 546,165 shares of the construction company's stock worth $384,740,000 after purchasing an additional 280,502 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.26% of the company's stock.

United Rentals Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of United Rentals stock traded up $2.57 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $882.99. 450,849 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 666,298. United Rentals, Inc. has a 52-week low of $525.91 and a 52-week high of $903.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a fifty day moving average of $758.38 and a 200-day moving average of $698.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The construction company reported $10.47 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.54 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. United Rentals had a return on equity of 32.01% and a net margin of 16.11%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $10.70 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 13th will be given a $1.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 18.52%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Rentals news, VP Andrew B. Limoges sold 708 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $705.86, for a total value of $499,748.88. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 1,921 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,355,957.06. This trade represents a 26.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on URI shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on United Rentals from $702.00 to $955.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday. Cfra Research raised United Rentals to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on United Rentals from $920.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group boosted their price target on United Rentals from $780.00 to $835.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and set a $810.00 price target (up previously from $740.00) on shares of United Rentals in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently 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.