Guidance Capital Inc. Makes New $776,000 Investment in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Guidance Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 1,102 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $776,000.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in United Rentals by 4.0% in the third quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 339 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $274,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC now owns 324 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. First County Bank CT grew its position in United Rentals by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. First County Bank CT now owns 422 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $342,000 after purchasing an additional 13 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC grew its position in United Rentals by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 844 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $683,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the period. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in United Rentals by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 453 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $367,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

United Rentals Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:URI opened at $754.18 on Wednesday. United Rentals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $596.48 and a fifty-two week high of $896.98. The company’s 50-day moving average is $759.85 and its 200 day moving average is $769.92. 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 has a market capitalization of $49.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.68.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $11.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates 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, equities research analysts forecast that United Rentals, Inc. will post 46.09 earnings per share for the current year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 12th. This is a positive change from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.95%. United Rentals’s payout ratio is presently 16.83%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Baird R W raised shares of United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Citigroup dropped 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 report on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays boosted their price objective on United Rentals from $400.00 to $565.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. 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 report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on United Rentals from $940.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus 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.