Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Takes Position in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 33,032 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $23,269,000. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned about 0.05% of United Rentals at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rialto Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in United Rentals in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Rentals during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp bought a new position in shares of United Rentals in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in United Rentals by 241.7% during the fourth quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 41 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hanson & Doremus Investment Management purchased a new stake in United Rentals during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other United Rentals news, CFO William E. Grace sold 1,100 shares of United Rentals stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $638.10, for a total value of $701,910.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 6,880 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,390,128. The trade was a 13.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.53% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on URI. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded United Rentals from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $705.00 to $666.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. Baird R W upgraded shares of United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Citigroup dropped their target price on United Rentals from $720.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. UBS Group downgraded United Rentals from a “buy” rating to a “sell” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $910.00 to $485.00 in a report on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on United Rentals from $850.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, United Rentals has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $729.79.

United Rentals Trading Up 1.0 %

NYSE:URI opened at $590.80 on Friday. 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 firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $628.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $733.18. United Rentals, Inc. has a one year low of $525.91 and a one year high of $896.98. The firm has a market cap of $38.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.72.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $11.59 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $11.65 by ($0.06). United Rentals had a return on equity of 34.21% and a net margin of 16.78%. Equities analysts anticipate that United Rentals, Inc. will post 44.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th were given a dividend of $1.79 per share. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.21%. This is a positive change from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 12th. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio is presently 18.48%.

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.