United Rentals, Inc. (URI) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: URIAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

URI AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

United Rentals, Inc. (URI) is the largest equipment rental company in North America, operating across General Rentals and Specialty segments. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $16.83B in revenue with an operating margin of 26.0% and diluted EPS of $41.59. While URI maintains a solid return on equity of 28.9%, its balance sheet carries significant leverage with total debt of $15.38B against $112.0M in cash.

Market cap
$64.09B
Revenue (TTM)
$16.83B
P/E
24.8x
fwd 18.5x
1Y return
3.2%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$1261.10
22.5% vs last close

Bull case

  • In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue rose 11.8% year-over-year while quarterly earnings accelerated 25.5%.
  • United Rentals trades at an EV/EBITDA of 10.7x, well below the median of its S&P 500 Industrials peers of 17.7x.
  • The company generates strong cash flow, funding $1.97B in share buybacks in FY2025 and driving a 12.8% reduction in share count over 5 years.

Bear case

  • Annual top-line growth decelerated over recent fiscal years, slowing from 23.1% in FY2023 to 4.9% in FY2025.
  • The balance sheet carries $15.38B in total debt with only $112.0M in cash and short-term investments, leading to a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67.
  • Short-term liquidity metrics remain tight, evidenced by a current ratio of 0.76 as of June 30, 2026.

What United Rentals does

United Rentals, Inc. operates in the equipment rental industry through two main segments: General Rentals and Specialty. The General Rentals segment rents equipment for construction and industrial applications, including backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving machinery, material handling equipment, aerial work platforms like boom and scissor lifts, and light tools. The Specialty segment rents specialized infrastructure products, such as trench safety shields and shoring systems, power and HVAC equipment including portable diesel generators, fluid containment and treatment equipment, mobile storage units, and modular office spaces. The company primarily serves construction firms, industrial companies, and municipalities, while also selling used equipment through auctions, brokers, and direct channels.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2020 and FY2025, United Rentals delivered a 5-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 13.5%. Annual revenue increased from $9.72B in FY2021 to $16.10B in FY2025, though annual revenue growth moderated from 23.1% in FY2023 to 7.1% in FY2024 and 4.9% in FY2025. Gross margin contracted slightly from 36.0% in FY2021 to 35.4% in FY2025, while operating margin stood at 24.7% in FY2025 compared to 23.6% in FY2021. Net income reached $2.49B in FY2025, translating to EPS of $42.12. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $16.83B with a net profit margin of 15.7%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue expanded 11.8% year-over-year and quarterly earnings grew 25.5% year-over-year.

URI income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, United Rentals held $112.0M in cash and short-term investments compared to total debt of $15.38B, resulting in net debt of $15.27B. The current ratio stood at 0.76, while debt-to-equity was 1.67 against shareholders' equity of $9.22B. Operating cash flow in FY2025 was $5.19B, generating $662.0M in free cash flow after capital expenditures of $4.53B. The company allocated $1.97B to share buybacks and paid $464.0M in dividends during FY2025, contributing to a 12.8% reduction in share count over 5 years.

URI balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

United Rentals trades at a trailing P/E of 24.8x and a forward P/E of 18.5x, lower than the median of its S&P 500 Industrials peers at 28.5x and 20.7x, respectively. Its EV/EBITDA multiple of 10.7x sits below the peer group median of 17.7x, whereas its price-to-sales of 3.8x is higher than the peer median of 3.1x. Over the past year, URI's stock return of 3.2% trailed the S&P 500 SPY return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year span, however, URI gained 206.2% compared to 83.0% for the benchmark index.

URI key metrics →

URI dividend

United Rentals pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward payout of $7.88 per share, representing a dividend yield of 0.77%. The dividend payout ratio is 17.0%, and the company has paid dividends for 4 consecutive years. The most recent ex-dividend date occurred on August 12, 2026.

URI dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analysts hold 12 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, 5 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings on United Rentals. The mean price target is $1261.10, indicating a potential upside of 22.5% compared to the last closing price of $1029.64. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $49.68 on revenue of $17.76B. The company beat EPS estimates in 2 of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings report scheduled for October 21, 2026.

URI forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • A net debt position of $15.27B leaves the company sensitive to higher borrowing costs or credit market tightening.
  • A relatively high beta of 1.83 indicates the stock has historically been significantly more volatile than the broader market.
  • Capital expenditures of $4.53B in FY2025 absorbed the vast majority of its $5.19B operating cash flow, limiting free cash flow to $662.0M.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this URI AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of United Rentals, Inc. (URI). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: URI income statement, URI balance sheet, URI key metrics, URI analyst forecast, URI chart. See the URI stock overview for the latest quote and news.

URI AI stock analysis FAQ

What is United Rentals' dividend yield and payout ratio?

United Rentals offers an annual forward dividend of $7.88, which equals a dividend yield of 0.77%. Its payout ratio is 17.0%, and dividends are distributed quarterly.

How much debt does United Rentals carry?

As of June 30, 2026, United Rentals reported total debt of $15.38B and cash of $112.0M, resulting in net debt of $15.27B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67.

What are analysts forecasting for United Rentals' FY2026 earnings?

Analysts expect EPS of $49.68 for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, representing an 18.1% growth rate, alongside projected revenue of $17.76B.

How does United Rentals' valuation compare to its peer group?

United Rentals trades at a trailing P/E of 24.8x and EV/EBITDA of 10.7x, both of which are lower than the median of its S&P 500 Industrials peers of 28.5x and 17.7x, respectively.

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