Cozad Asset Management Inc. Reduces Holdings in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

Cozad Asset Management Inc. lessened its position in shares of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) by 2.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 20,724 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 474 shares during the period. United Rentals accounts for 1.4% of Cozad Asset Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. Cozad Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in United Rentals were worth $14,599,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in URI. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals during the 4th quarter valued at $171,733,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Rentals during the 4th quarter valued at $164,493,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of United Rentals by 15.4% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 787,877 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $637,968,000 after buying an additional 105,287 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of United Rentals by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,416,568 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,956,768,000 after buying an additional 85,325 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service lifted its position in shares of United Rentals by 79.8% during the 4th quarter. National Pension Service now owns 167,813 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $118,214,000 after buying an additional 74,479 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.26% of the company’s stock.

United Rentals Stock Performance

NYSE:URI opened at $623.35 on Monday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $701.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $760.67. United Rentals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $585.27 and a twelve month high of $896.98. The stock has a market cap of $40.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.09, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

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

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th were given a dividend of $1.79 per share. The ex-dividend date was 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 1.15%. United Rentals’s dividend payout ratio is 18.48%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

URI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on United Rentals from $940.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Baird R W raised United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Argus increased their price objective on United Rentals from $840.00 to $880.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Robert W. Baird raised United Rentals from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $658.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Truist Financial reissued a “buy” rating and set a $956.00 price objective (down previously from $963.00) on shares of United Rentals in a report on Friday, January 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Rentals has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $829.00.

Insider Activity

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

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.