Schroder Investment Management Group Decreases Stock Position in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Schroder Investment Management Group lessened its position in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) by 3.4% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 42,753 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 1,494 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group’s holdings in United Rentals were worth $30,183,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in URI. Allstate Corp purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals in the fourth quarter worth about $1,377,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its holdings in United Rentals by 92.9% during the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 81 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the period. Alerus Financial NA purchased a new stake in shares of United Rentals during the fourth quarter worth $2,685,000. Premier Fund Managers Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 10.2% in the fourth quarter. Premier Fund Managers Ltd now owns 26,840 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $18,935,000 after acquiring an additional 2,490 shares during the period. Finally, Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC grew its position in shares of United Rentals by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 4,952 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $3,488,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

United Rentals Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:URI opened at $631.17 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $680.92 and its 200 day moving average is $753.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. United Rentals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $585.27 and a 52 week high of $896.98. The stock has a market cap of $41.24 billion, a PE ratio of 16.29, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.76.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last issued its earnings results 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 return on equity of 34.21% and a net margin of 16.78%. Research analysts anticipate that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 earnings per share for the current year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th were issued a dividend of $1.79 per share. This is a positive change from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 12th. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio is currently 18.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

URI has been the subject of several analyst reports. Bank of America cut their target price on United Rentals from $850.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of United Rentals from $1,004.00 to $974.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of United Rentals from $985.00 to $835.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Baird R W raised shares of United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of United Rentals from $775.00 to $765.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $804.15.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Rentals news, CFO William E. Grace sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $638.10, for a total value of $701,910.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,880 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,390,128. This trade represents a 13.78 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

United Rentals Company 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.