Value
4.9/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| P/E | 4.6 |
| P/S | 7.5 |
| EV/EBITDA | 1.5 |
| Fwd P/E | 6.3 |
| PEG | 5.3 |
| Analyst target | 4.0 |
- ▸Forward P/E: 20.4x
- ▸PEG: 1.42
URI · Why this verdict
Why United Rentals (URI) is rated SELL
Updated
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results. How we score · Editorial policy
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VerdictSELL
Overall score6.1/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis
Engine thesis — one sentence
United Rentals holds superior quality metrics versus peers — with a 28% return on equity, 15% operating margins, and a Piotroski score of 7 out of 9 — but 3 consecutive earnings misses and a deeply negative risk/reward ratio at the current price near the 52-week high make near-term entry unfavorable.
Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.
Thesis pillars
| Pillar | Expectation | Trend |
|---|---|---|
United Rentals earns a 28% return on equity and 15% operating margins, ranking it among the top-quality names in its peer group with a Piotroski financial strength score of 7 out of 9. Quality breakdown | Return on equity should remain above 20% and operating margins above 12% over the next 12 months, sustaining the quality premium. | ↑Improving |
| CounterFree cash flow quality at 75% of net income, while not catastrophic, is below the 100% level expected from a top-tier capital-light equipment rental business, suggesting some accrual inflation. | ||
United Rentals missed earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters with an average negative surprise of 0.7%, indicating that management guidance or analyst models are systematically optimistic relative to actual business performance. Earnings | The company should return to positive earnings surprises in at least 2 of the next 4 quarters as estimate revisions become more realistic. | ↓Deteriorating |
| CounterThe single beat in Q1 2026 showed a positive surprise of 8.6%, suggesting the miss trend may be reversing as analysts recalibrate expectations to a more challenging macro environment. | ||
With the stock 9.4% above the analyst price target and within 2.1% of its 52-week high, the current price offers effectively zero upside with 15% downside to the stop-loss level, creating an asymmetric risk that disfavors new positions. Warnings | A meaningful pullback below $1,000 would be required to restore an acceptable reward-to-risk setup over the next 12 months. | ↓Deteriorating |
| CounterStocks near 52-week highs in strong uptrends can continue to outperform if earnings revisions turn positive, and the strong technical momentum (RSI 76, rising OBV) suggests institutional buying remains active. | ||
A put-to-call ratio of 3.41 is one of the highest in the universe screened, signaling that options market participants are heavily hedging against downside — a warning sign when the stock is already at a stretched valuation. Options | The put-to-call ratio should decline below 1.5 over the next 12 months as either the price corrects or the fundamental picture improves enough to reduce hedging demand. | ↓Deteriorating |
| CounterElevated put-to-call ratios in liquid large-cap industrials sometimes reflect institutional hedging of long positions rather than outright bearish bets, and can be a contrary indicator of near-term bottoms. | ||
United Rentals earns a 28% return on equity and 15% operating margins, ranking it among the top-quality names in its peer group with a Piotroski financial strength score of 7 out of 9.
↑ImprovingQuality breakdown
- Expectation
- Return on equity should remain above 20% and operating margins above 12% over the next 12 months, sustaining the quality premium.
CounterFree cash flow quality at 75% of net income, while not catastrophic, is below the 100% level expected from a top-tier capital-light equipment rental business, suggesting some accrual inflation.
United Rentals missed earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters with an average negative surprise of 0.7%, indicating that management guidance or analyst models are systematically optimistic relative to actual business performance.
↓DeterioratingEarnings
- Expectation
- The company should return to positive earnings surprises in at least 2 of the next 4 quarters as estimate revisions become more realistic.
CounterThe single beat in Q1 2026 showed a positive surprise of 8.6%, suggesting the miss trend may be reversing as analysts recalibrate expectations to a more challenging macro environment.
With the stock 9.4% above the analyst price target and within 2.1% of its 52-week high, the current price offers effectively zero upside with 15% downside to the stop-loss level, creating an asymmetric risk that disfavors new positions.
↓DeterioratingWarnings
- Expectation
- A meaningful pullback below $1,000 would be required to restore an acceptable reward-to-risk setup over the next 12 months.
CounterStocks near 52-week highs in strong uptrends can continue to outperform if earnings revisions turn positive, and the strong technical momentum (RSI 76, rising OBV) suggests institutional buying remains active.
A put-to-call ratio of 3.41 is one of the highest in the universe screened, signaling that options market participants are heavily hedging against downside — a warning sign when the stock is already at a stretched valuation.
↓DeterioratingOptions
- Expectation
- The put-to-call ratio should decline below 1.5 over the next 12 months as either the price corrects or the fundamental picture improves enough to reduce hedging demand.
CounterElevated put-to-call ratios in liquid large-cap industrials sometimes reflect institutional hedging of long positions rather than outright bearish bets, and can be a contrary indicator of near-term bottoms.
Per-dimension breakdown
Quality
6.8/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| ROE | 10.0 |
| ROA | 6.1 |
| Gross margin | 3.8 |
| Op margin | 10.0 |
| Net margin | 8.2 |
| Current ratio | 3.2 |
| FCF quality | 5.6 |
| Moat | 6.8 |
| Piotroski F | 7.8 |
- ▸Excellent ROE: 31%
- ▸Strong margins: 16%
- ▸Earnings quality warning: 74% FCF/NI
- ▸Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9
Growth
7.8/10data confidence 67%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Rev growth | 6.4 |
| EPS growth | 9.1 |
Momentum
7.3/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| RSI | 5.0 |
| MACD | 10.0 |
| OBV | 10.0 |
| MA position | 9.0 |
| Volume | 2.7 |
- ▸Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
- ▸Above 200-day MA
Sentiment
6.4/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Analyst rating | 7.5 |
| Price target | 6.5 |
| erm sentiment | 4.6 |
Insider
5.0/10data confidence 50%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| materiality | 5.0 |
| holder change | 5.0 |
- ▸No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)
Peer rank
5.6/10data confidence 80%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| value rank | 1.8 |
| quality rank | 8.3 |
| growth rank | 7.2 |
- ▸Superior ROE vs peers
Technical
4.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| bollinger | 1.0 |
| support resistance | 1.6 |
| 52w position | 9.5 |
Risk (lower is worse)
4.8/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| short interest | 8.7 |
| days to cover | 7.9 |
| volatility | 3.6 |
| put call | 0.0 |
| implied vol | 6.1 |
| beta | 3.9 |
| debt equity | 3.7 |
- ▸Elevated put/call: 2.03
Catalyst
5.9/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| erm | 5.0 |
| earnings history | 6.7 |
| earnings timing | 5.0 |
| surprise avg | 5.4 |
| dividend safety | 7.5 |
- ▸Strong earnings: 3B/1M
- ▸Dividend aristocrat: 0.7% yield
How the verdict was assembled
Engine trigger
Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.
Engine technical detail
verdict_path:
L4:PATH_F_SELLPassed (7)
- MOMENTUM:7.3>=5.5
- INSIDER:OK
- 8K:CLEAN
- NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
- EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:88d clear
- SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
- MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
- ASYMMETRY:-0.0=NEGATIVE
Warning (0)
none
Reward-to-Risk
-0.04
Upside
-0.6%
Downside
14.1%
Sizing output
AVOID
SetupBreakout — Golden cross, above all MAs, RSI 69, MACD bullish
EdgeNo clear edge — No clear edge identified
SuitabilityAggressive — Beta 1.83>1.3
Investment implication
The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 4.4 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Growth at 7.8) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Co-occurring failed gates ( ASYMMETRY:-0.0=NEGATIVE) reinforce the read. Current asymmetry R:R is -0.04 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.
The strongest dimensions are Growth at 7.8, Momentum at 7.3, and Quality at 6.8; the weakest are Technical at 4.0, Risk (lower is worse) at 4.8, and Value at 4.9. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.04 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.
What would invalidate the thesis
Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.
- P1Superior Returns Quality
Trip ifReturn on equity falls below 20% in any of the next 4 reported quarters.
- P2Earnings Miss Streak
Trip ifEPS surprise falls below -5% in at least 2 of the next 4 quarters.
- P3Negative Risk Reward At Peak
Trip ifPrice drops below $1,018, more than 6% below the current $1,084.
- P4Elevated Put Call Hedging
Trip ifPut-to-call ratio rises above 4.0, exceeding the current 3.41 level.