United Rentals, Inc. (URI), headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, functions as an equipment rental company. Valued at $45.5 billion by market cap, the company offers a wide range of construction and industrial equipment for rent, sale, and servicing, including general and specialized machinery, tools, safety gear, storage solutions, power and climate control systems, and repair and maintenance services.

Shares of this rental giant have underperformed the broader market over the past year. URI has gained 6.5% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 11.6%. However, in 2025, URI stock is up 1.9%, surpassing the SPX’s marginal rise on a YTD basis.

Narrowing the focus, URI’s underperformance is also apparent compared to the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 15.2% over the past year. Moreover, the ETF’s 8.8% returns on a YTD basis outshine the stock’s single-digit gains over the same time frame.

On Apr. 23, URI reported its Q1 results, and its shares closed up more than 9% in the following trading session. Its adjusted EPS of $8.86 beat Wall Street expectations of $8.84. The company’s revenue was $3.7 billion, topping Wall Street forecasts of $3.6 billion. URI expects full-year revenue in the range of $15.6 billion to $16.1 billion.

For the current fiscal year, ending in December, analysts expect URI’s EPS to grow 1.3% to $43.71 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimates in two of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on two other occasions.

Among the 20 analysts covering URI stock, the consensus is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on 11 “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy,” six “Holds,” and two “Strong Sells.”

This configuration is more bullish than a month ago, with 10 analysts suggesting a “Strong Buy,” and three recommending a “Strong Sell.” 

On May 22, KeyBanc upgraded URI to an “Overweight” rating with an $865 price target, implying a potential upside of 20.5% from current levels.

The mean price target of $758.39 represents a 5.7% premium to URI’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $960 suggests a notable upside potential of 33.8%.