United Rentals, Inc. (URI)
United Rentals is the world's largest equipment rental company, providing everything from excavators to generators for construction and industrial projects.
Is United Rentals, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: United Rentals is the world's largest equipment rental company, providing everything from excavators to generators for construction and industrial projects.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Successful expansion into new industrial markets and increased market share dominance.
A prolonged economic downturn leading to a significant drop in industrial and commercial construction.
What does United Rentals, Inc. do?
Think of United Rentals as the ultimate tool shed for big business; instead of buying expensive machinery, construction firms and factories rent what they need from them. Keeping a massive fleet of equipment busy across thousands of job sites is what generates the takings. Their fortunes are tied to the health of the construction industry, so watch how much building and infrastructure work is actually happening.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and income, and weakest on value.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.7% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 12% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 16% of sales into profit
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 1.7x its equity
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 29%)
- Momentum screens high (74/100)
- Dominant market position as the largest player in the industry
- Strong ability to turn shareholder money into profit
- Diverse customer base across construction and industrial sectors
- A downturn in the construction industry would directly hit rental demand
- Rising costs for new equipment and maintenance could squeeze profit margins
- High reliance on debt to fund the purchase of new machinery
What do United Rentals, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does United Rentals, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does United Rentals, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - United Rentals, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 0.7% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does United Rentals, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
United Rentals, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-21 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-22 | $11.59 | $12.76 | Beat +10% |
| 2026-04-22 | $8.94 | $9.71 | Beat +9% |
| 2026-01-28 | $11.80 | $11.09 | Missed -6% |
| 2025-10-22 | $12.29 | $11.70 | Missed -5% |
| 2025-07-23 | $10.54 | $10.47 | In line |
| 2025-04-23 | $8.81 | $8.86 | In line |
Across the last 6 quarters here, United Rentals, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 2 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Masco CorporationWhat are the scenarios for United Rentals, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of United Rentals, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Dominant market position as the largest player in the industry
- Strong ability to turn shareholder money into profit
- Diverse customer base across construction and industrial sectors
- High sensitivity to economic cycles and construction activity
- Share price tends to be more volatile than the broader market
- Significant capital required to maintain and update a massive equipment fleet
- A downturn in the construction industry would directly hit rental demand
- Rising costs for new equipment and maintenance could squeeze profit margins
- High reliance on debt to fund the purchase of new machinery
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained decline in national infrastructure spending
- A shift in the industry where companies prefer to own rather than rent equipment
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.