United Rentals (NYSE:URI) Announces Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.77 EPS

30 Jan 2026, 12:32 by Scott Moore · The Cerbat Gem

United Rentals (NYSE:URI – Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The construction company reported $11.09 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $11.86 by ($0.77), FiscalAI reports. United Rentals had a return on equity of 30.38% and a net margin of 15.49%.The business had revenue of $4.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.24 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $11.59 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis.

United Rentals Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE URI traded down $2.21 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $784.84. 438,019 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 704,098. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $850.02 and a 200 day moving average of $887.49. United Rentals has a 1 year low of $525.91 and a 1 year high of $1,021.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.69.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 11th will be paid a $1.97 dividend. This is an increase from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.79. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 11th. This represents a $7.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.42%.

United Rentals declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, January 28th that permits the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the construction company to repurchase up to 8.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Key Headlines Impacting United Rentals

Here are the key news stories impacting United Rentals this week:

Positive Sentiment: Board-authorized $5.0 billion share buyback (about 8.7% of outstanding shares) and a plan to return roughly $2 billion to shareholders in 2026 — a strong capital-return signal that can support the stock and EPS over time. Article Title
Positive Sentiment: Quarterly dividend raised 10% to $1.97 per share (payable Feb 25), increasing cash return and signaling board confidence in cash flow. Article Title
Neutral Sentiment: Company set FY2026 revenue guidance of $16.8B–$17.3B (consensus ~ $17.1B). The range roughly brackets street expectations but leaves execution risk within the midpoint. Article Title
Neutral Sentiment: Company reported record full‑year 2025 results overall and provided an updated 2026 outlook — useful context for long-term investors but not enough to offset near-term concerns for some traders. Article Title
Negative Sentiment: Q4 EPS and revenue missed estimates: EPS $11.09 vs. consensus $11.86 (miss of $0.77); revenue $4.21B vs $4.24B expected — the direct catalyst for the stock decline as investors reprice near-term earnings and margins. Article Title
Negative Sentiment: Analysts and commentary highlight margin pressure and a year‑over‑year EPS decline (11.59 last year to 11.09), raising questions about cost and pricing dynamics despite steady demand. Article Title
Negative Sentiment: New risk disclosure around increased AI reliance flags strategic and regulatory risks as the company integrates AI into products/services — a potential longer-term concern for compliance, cybersecurity and costs. Article Title

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of United Rentals in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. KeyCorp set a $950.00 target price on United Rentals in a report on Friday. Robert W. Baird set a $970.00 price target on United Rentals in a report on Friday. Barclays lowered their price target on United Rentals from $620.00 to $600.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of United Rentals from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $1,025.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Sunday, January 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $944.41.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on URI

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Rentals

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Voleon Capital Management LP bought a new stake in United Rentals during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $379,000. Wexford Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals in the third quarter valued at $303,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its holdings in shares of United Rentals by 130.9% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 314 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $300,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. increased its stake in United Rentals by 2.9% during the second quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 387 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $292,000 after acquiring an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Seven Mile Advisory bought a new position in shares of United Rentals during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $281,000. 96.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Rentals Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

United Rentals, Inc (NYSE: URI) is a leading equipment rental company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The firm provides rental solutions and related services to construction, industrial, commercial, and municipal customers. Its business model centers on providing access to a broad fleet of equipment on a short-term or long-term basis, enabling customers to avoid the capital expenditure of ownership and to scale equipment use to match project needs.

The company’s product and service offerings span general construction equipment and a range of specialty categories, including aerial work platforms, earthmoving and excavation machines, material handling equipment, pumps, power and HVAC systems, trench and shoring solutions, and tools.