YHB Investment Advisors Inc. Sells 3,845 Shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

YHB Investment Advisors Inc. reduced its stake in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI - Free Report) by 15.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,503 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 3,845 shares during the period. United Rentals accounts for approximately 1.1% of YHB Investment Advisors Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. YHB Investment Advisors Inc.'s holdings in United Rentals were worth $11,757,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in United Rentals during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp raised its position in shares of United Rentals by 1,900.0% in the 3rd quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp now owns 100 shares of the construction company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of United Rentals in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its position in shares of United Rentals by 71.4% in the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 48 shares of the construction company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Rentals in the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. 96.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Rentals Stock Down 1.6 %

URI stock traded down $10.88 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $674.81. 594,512 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 462,652. The stock has a market cap of $45.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. United Rentals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $325.15 and a fifty-two week high of $732.37. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $680.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $565.11.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The construction company reported $11.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $10.85 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $3.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.63 billion. United Rentals had a return on equity of 36.80% and a net margin of 16.91%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 13.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $9.74 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that United Rentals, Inc. will post 43.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th were paid a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 13th. This is an increase from United Rentals's previous quarterly dividend of $1.48. United Rentals's payout ratio is presently 18.44%.

United Rentals announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, January 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the construction company to buy up to 3.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on URI. BNP Paribas reissued an "underperform" rating and issued a $485.00 price objective on shares of United Rentals in a research report on Friday, January 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on United Rentals from $510.00 to $718.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on United Rentals in a research note on Monday, January 8th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $500.00 target price for the company. Evercore ISI raised their target price on United Rentals from $575.00 to $740.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on United Rentals from $322.00 to $559.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $584.07.

Insider Transactions at United Rentals

In other news, CFO William E. Grace sold 775 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $655.62, for a total value of $508,105.50. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 6,323 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,145,485.26. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.53% of the company's stock.

About United Rentals

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.