United Rentals (NYSE:URI) Faces Antitrust Lawsuit Alleging Price-Fixing in Construction Rentals

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) faced a challenging month with its share price declining by 1.6% in April. The antitrust lawsuit filed on April 1, alleging cartel behavior with other major construction equipment rental companies, likely weighed on investor sentiment. This legal development, accusing the company of participating in price-fixing practices, could have unfavorably impacted its share price. Additionally, the fluctuations in broader markets, amidst anticipation of new tariffs announced by President Trump, added to the volatility. Meanwhile, the larger market rose slightly, but this was overshadowed by the lingering uncertainty in United Rentals' legal and business operations.

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The last five years have seen United Rentals achieve a very large total return of 500.66%, reflecting a significant increase in shareholder value. This impressive performance has been bolstered by strategic moves such as the acquisition of H&E, finalized to enhance capacity and meet long-term customer demand. The company has seen robust growth in its specialty rental segment, further supported by increased capital expenditure on fleet expansion.

Shareholder value was also driven by consistent dividend increases, with the latest announced hike to $1.79 per share. Furthermore, notable share buybacks, totaling US$374.33 million in early 2025, have also played a role in bolstering returns. Despite the impressive five-year performance, United Rentals underperformed both the US market, which returned 6.1%, and the US Trade Distributors industry, which had a return rate of 6.8%, over the last year, indicating variability in shorter-term performance.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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