United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) Holdings Cut by K.J. Harrison & Partners Inc

K.J. Harrison & Partners Inc lowered its holdings in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI - Free Report) by 32.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,100 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 2,000 shares during the period. K.J. Harrison & Partners Inc's holdings in United Rentals were worth $2,569,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Erste Asset Management GmbH lifted its holdings in United Rentals by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH now owns 2,794 shares of the construction company's stock worth $2,002,000 after acquiring an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP increased its stake in shares of United Rentals by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 749 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $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% in the fourth quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 999 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $704,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of United Rentals by 4.0% in the first quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 490 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $307,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the period. Finally, Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC increased its stake in shares of United Rentals by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 568 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $400,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.26% of the company's stock.

United Rentals Price Performance

NYSE URI opened at $754.03 on Friday. United Rentals, Inc. has a 12 month low of $525.91 and a 12 month high of $896.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.01 billion, a PE ratio of 19.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.70. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $688.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $682.49.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The construction company reported $8.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $8.92 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $3.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.61 billion. United Rentals had a net margin of 16.38% and a return on equity of 33.11%. United Rentals's revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $9.15 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 14th were given a $1.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 14th. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.95%. United Rentals's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.54%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of United Rentals from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $702.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating and issued a $810.00 price target (up previously from $740.00) on shares of United Rentals in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of United Rentals from $974.00 to $921.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of United Rentals from $535.00 to $571.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of United Rentals from an "underperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $705.00 to $666.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, United Rentals presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $766.23.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Rentals news, EVP Michael D. Durand sold 1,100 shares of United Rentals stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $626.28, for a total value of $688,908.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 8,748 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,478,697.44. The trade was a 11.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Andrew B. Limoges sold 708 shares of United Rentals 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 now owns 1,921 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,355,957.06. This trade represents a 26.93% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.

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