United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) Shares Sold by Argus Investors Counsel Inc.

Argus Investors Counsel Inc. decreased its stake in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) by 1.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,254 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 35 shares during the quarter. United Rentals comprises 1.5% of Argus Investors Counsel Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 20th largest position. Argus Investors Counsel Inc.’s holdings in United Rentals were worth $2,292,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in United Rentals by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 13,565 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $10,984,000 after purchasing an additional 875 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in United Rentals by 13.3% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 904 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $732,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Everpar Advisors LLC purchased a new position in United Rentals in the third quarter worth approximately $204,000. Mather Group LLC. increased its stake in United Rentals by 1.6% during the third quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 1,021 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $827,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alpha Cubed Investments LLC raised its position in United Rentals by 3.4% in the third quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 515 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $417,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

United Rentals Stock Down 2.2 %

URI stock opened at $737.27 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.03, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.98. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $757.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $769.69. United Rentals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $596.48 and a fifty-two week high of $896.98.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $11.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $11.65 by ($0.06). United Rentals had a return on equity of 34.21% and a net margin of 16.78%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that United Rentals, Inc. will post 46.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th will be paid a $1.79 dividend. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 12th. This is an increase from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio is currently 16.83%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on URI shares. Baird R W upgraded United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of United Rentals from $985.00 to $835.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of United Rentals from $400.00 to $565.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $956.00 price target (down from $963.00) on shares of United Rentals in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded United Rentals from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $658.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $814.08.

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.