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In the last reported quarter, the company’s adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and total revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.3% and 4.1%, respectively. Year over year, the metrics also grew 21.9% and 11.8%, respectively.
URI’s earnings surpassed estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on the other two occasions, with an average surprise of 1%.
How are Estimates Placed for URI Stock?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter EPS has moved upward to $13.75 from $13.64 over the past 30 days. However, the estimated figure indicates a 17.5% increase from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of $11.70 per share.
The consensus estimate for total revenues is pegged at $4.67 billion, indicating growth of 10.4% from the prior-year quarter’s level.
The top-line performance of United Rentals is expected to have improved year over year from favorable secular trends in non-residential construction, infrastructure modernization, power, manufacturing, mining and data center development. These are likely to have resulted in healthy equipment rental demand, thus boosting the contributions from the General Rentals business segment (which contributed 54.8% to second-quarter 2026 total revenues) and the Specialty business segment (which contributed 32.4% to second-quarter 2026 total revenues).
Specialty rentals, which offer higher margins and remain central to United Rentals’ expansion strategy, are expected to have supported revenue growth both organically and through cold starts that added capacity in new markets. Moreover, URI’s extensive and diverse fleet allows it to manage its rental fleet through a life-cycle approach that focuses on satisfying customer demand and optimizing utilization levels. This business approach is expected to have enabled the company to serve large customers that require a wide range of equipment. Also, acquisitions and joint ventures are likely to have catalyzed the growth trends in the to-be-reported quarter.
For the third quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from General Rentals and Specialty business segments is pegged at $3.02 billion and $1.69 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 6.9% and 20.4%, respectively. The consensus mark for revenues from equipment rentals is $4.07 billion, up from $3.67 billion reported a year ago.
Earnings & Margins
United Rentals is expected to report year-over-year earnings growth in the third quarter, attributable to higher fleet productivity and disciplined rate management. These factors, along with continued cost control, are likely to have contributed to improved profitability and earnings performance.
Although inflationary pressures and elevated delivery costs are likely to have partly offset these gains, the ongoing in-house initiatives by URI and elevated top-line leverage are expected to have more than overpowered the headwinds.
The consensus estimate for equipment rentals gross profit under the General Rentals and Specialty business segments is pegged at $957 million and $640 million, indicating year-over-year growth from $881 million and $570 million, respectively.
What the Zacks Model Indicates for URI
Our proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for United Rentals this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat.
URI’s Earnings ESP: URI has an Earnings ESP of +1.79%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Here are some other companies in the Zacks Construction sector, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat.
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.80% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
Sterling’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 27.2%. The company’s earnings for the third quarter of 2026 are expected to grow 74.4% year over year.
AAON, Inc. (AAON - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.66% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
AAON’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 21.6%. The company’s earnings for the third quarter of 2026 are expected to increase 54.1% year over year.
Argan, Inc. (AGX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.79% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
Argan’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 44.2%. The company’s earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2027 are expected to increase 53.9% year over year.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
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United Rentals to Report Q3 Earnings: Here's What to Expect
Key Takeaways
United Rentals, Inc. (URI - Free Report) is scheduled to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 21, after market close.
In the last reported quarter, the company’s adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and total revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.3% and 4.1%, respectively. Year over year, the metrics also grew 21.9% and 11.8%, respectively.
URI’s earnings surpassed estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on the other two occasions, with an average surprise of 1%.
How are Estimates Placed for URI Stock?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter EPS has moved upward to $13.75 from $13.64 over the past 30 days. However, the estimated figure indicates a 17.5% increase from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of $11.70 per share.
The consensus estimate for total revenues is pegged at $4.67 billion, indicating growth of 10.4% from the prior-year quarter’s level.
United Rentals, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
United Rentals, Inc. price-eps-surprise | United Rentals, Inc. Quote
Factors at Play for United Rentals’ Q3 Results
Revenues
The top-line performance of United Rentals is expected to have improved year over year from favorable secular trends in non-residential construction, infrastructure modernization, power, manufacturing, mining and data center development. These are likely to have resulted in healthy equipment rental demand, thus boosting the contributions from the General Rentals business segment (which contributed 54.8% to second-quarter 2026 total revenues) and the Specialty business segment (which contributed 32.4% to second-quarter 2026 total revenues).
Specialty rentals, which offer higher margins and remain central to United Rentals’ expansion strategy, are expected to have supported revenue growth both organically and through cold starts that added capacity in new markets. Moreover, URI’s extensive and diverse fleet allows it to manage its rental fleet through a life-cycle approach that focuses on satisfying customer demand and optimizing utilization levels. This business approach is expected to have enabled the company to serve large customers that require a wide range of equipment. Also, acquisitions and joint ventures are likely to have catalyzed the growth trends in the to-be-reported quarter.
For the third quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from General Rentals and Specialty business segments is pegged at $3.02 billion and $1.69 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 6.9% and 20.4%, respectively. The consensus mark for revenues from equipment rentals is $4.07 billion, up from $3.67 billion reported a year ago.
Earnings & Margins
United Rentals is expected to report year-over-year earnings growth in the third quarter, attributable to higher fleet productivity and disciplined rate management. These factors, along with continued cost control, are likely to have contributed to improved profitability and earnings performance.
Although inflationary pressures and elevated delivery costs are likely to have partly offset these gains, the ongoing in-house initiatives by URI and elevated top-line leverage are expected to have more than overpowered the headwinds.
The consensus estimate for equipment rentals gross profit under the General Rentals and Specialty business segments is pegged at $957 million and $640 million, indicating year-over-year growth from $881 million and $570 million, respectively.
What the Zacks Model Indicates for URI
Our proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for United Rentals this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat.
URI’s Earnings ESP: URI has an Earnings ESP of +1.79%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank of URI: The stock currently has a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Other Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings
Here are some other companies in the Zacks Construction sector, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat.
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.80% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
Sterling’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 27.2%. The company’s earnings for the third quarter of 2026 are expected to grow 74.4% year over year.
AAON, Inc. (AAON - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.66% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
AAON’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 21.6%. The company’s earnings for the third quarter of 2026 are expected to increase 54.1% year over year.
Argan, Inc. (AGX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.79% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
Argan’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 44.2%. The company’s earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2027 are expected to increase 53.9% year over year.