Howard Capital Management Inc. Boosts Stake in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Howard Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) by 4.6% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 412 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. Howard Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in United Rentals were worth $290,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in URI. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Rentals in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Rentals by 80.0% in the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 45 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

URI has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup dropped their price target on United Rentals from $985.00 to $835.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Baird R W raised United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on United Rentals from $775.00 to $765.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Truist Financial reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $956.00 price target (down from $963.00) on shares of United Rentals in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Argus boosted their price target on United Rentals from $840.00 to $880.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $829.00.

United Rentals Stock Performance

URI stock opened at $638.53 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.70 billion, a PE ratio of 16.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.68. United Rentals, Inc. has a 12-month low of $596.48 and a 12-month high of $896.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $726.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $769.89.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last released its quarterly 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 net margin of 16.78% and a return on equity of 34.21%. As a group, research analysts forecast that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th will be issued a dividend of $1.79 per share. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.12%. This is a boost from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 12th. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio is presently 18.48%.

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.