Values First Advisors Inc. Takes Position in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Values First Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 204 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $144,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Rentals in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in United Rentals in the third quarter worth $31,000. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management purchased a new position in United Rentals during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. increased its position in United Rentals by 80.0% during the third quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 45 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HM Payson & Co. purchased a new stake in shares of United Rentals in the third quarter valued at $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

United Rentals Trading Down 2.4 %

Shares of NYSE:URI opened at $734.83 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.68. The business’s 50-day moving average is $745.64 and its 200 day moving average is $769.84. United Rentals, Inc. has a 1 year low of $596.48 and a 1 year high of $896.98.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $11.59 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $11.65 by ($0.06). United Rentals had a net margin of 16.78% and a return on equity of 34.21%. On average, research analysts predict that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.93 earnings per share 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. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th will be paid a dividend of $1.79 per share. This is an increase from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 12th. United Rentals’s payout ratio is presently 16.83%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

URI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of United Rentals from $800.00 to $910.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on United Rentals from $940.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Barclays increased their price target on United Rentals from $400.00 to $565.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on United Rentals from $775.00 to $765.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded United Rentals from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $658.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $814.08.

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.