Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. Sells 40 Shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. lessened its stake in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,185 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 40 shares during the period. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in United Rentals were worth $1,826,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of URI. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in United Rentals in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its position in United Rentals by 71.4% in the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 48 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in United Rentals in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in United Rentals by 1,525.0% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 65 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in United Rentals during the 3rd quarter worth $40,000. Institutional investors own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at United Rentals

In other news, CFO William E. Grace sold 775 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $655.62, for a total transaction of $508,105.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 6,323 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,145,485.26. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.49% of the company’s stock.

United Rentals Stock Up 2.9 %

URI stock traded up $20.36 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $711.16. 365,072 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 584,997. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $681.18 and its 200-day moving average is $580.42. The company has a market cap of $47.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.23, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.83. United Rentals, Inc. has a 12 month low of $325.15 and a 12 month high of $732.37.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The construction company reported $9.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $8.35 by $0.80. The firm had revenue of $3.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.44 billion. United Rentals had a return on equity of 36.44% and a net margin of 17.31%. The company’s revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $7.95 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that United Rentals, Inc. will post 43.54 earnings per share for the current year.

United Rentals declared that its board has approved a share buyback program on Wednesday, January 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the construction company to repurchase up to 3.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

United Rentals Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 8th will be paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 7th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.92%. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio is 17.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on URI. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of United Rentals from $325.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of United Rentals in a report on Monday, January 8th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $500.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of United Rentals from $718.00 to $790.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of United Rentals from $720.00 to $750.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of United Rentals from $630.00 to $710.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Rentals currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $600.79.

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.