EasyCompare

Relative Intelligence · Equipment Rental

How United Rentals (URI) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on URI alone. It places URI (United Rentals, Inc.) against 13 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where URI stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: URI's full trading record, from December 1997 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against URI →Chart URI vs. 13 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in URI have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in URI over the past 28 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of URI over the same span and URI's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of September 1998 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 176 of the 1,106 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of URI; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$10,000$100,000$1M199820032008201320182023$10,000$100,000$1M19982005201220192026
  • ESLT$2M+17,634% total · +20.3% a year
  • PWR$797,952+7,880% total · +16.9% a year
  • DE$761,450+7,515% total · +16.7% a year
  • PH$755,262+7,453% total · +16.7% a year
  • CAT$731,715+7,217% total · +16.6% a year
  • URI$434,165+4,242% total · +14.4% a year
  • MGRC$288,936+2,789% total · +12.8% a year
  • R$183,325+1,733% total · +10.9% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$121,630+1,116% total · +9.3% a year
  • GATX$114,410+1,044% total · +9.1% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 355 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of URI; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$10,000$20,000$50,000$100,000202120222023202420252026$10,000$20,000$50,000$100,000202120222023202420252026
  • FTAI$89,418+794% total · +55.0% a year
  • PWR$56,870+469% total · +41.6% a year
  • ESLT$49,131+391% total · +37.5% a year
  • CAT$46,130+361% total · +35.8% a year
  • PH$36,392+264% total · +29.5% a year
  • WAB$34,242+242% total · +27.9% a year
  • R$31,061+211% total · +25.4% a year
  • URI$29,622+196% total · +24.3% a year
  • DE$21,391+114% total · +16.4% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

URI at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$65B
Industry
Rental & Leasing Services
Price history from
December 1997

Returns

Past 1 year
+5.2%total return
Past 3 years
+164%+38.2% a year
Past 5 years
+196%+24.3% a year
Past 10 years
+1,270%+29.9% a year
Best calendar year
+132%2010
Worst calendar year
−52.6%2002
Losing years
8 of 28full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
39.1%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.75return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−93.7%Jul 1998 to Mar 2009
From its all-time high
−10.4%below the peak

URI against the whole market

Where URI ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does URI rank among all stocks?

This section ranks URI on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how URI stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureURIRankStanding
1-year return+5.2%1,770 of 3,287bottom 47%
3-year return+164%521 of 3,017top 17%
5-year return+196%326 of 2,893top 11%
10-year return+1,270%73 of 2,202top 3%
Volatility, 5 years39.1%1,395 of 2,893top 48%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.75360 of 2,893top 12%
Worst decline, past 10 years−63.3%1,010 of 2,187top 46%

What has beaten URI on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). URI sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than URI with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to URI; faint dots are 64 more of the 76 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%50.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than URIVCTR: +28.1% a year, volatility 35.0%NHC: +32.0% a year, volatility 28.5%VLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%TRGP: +41.8% a year, volatility 31.7%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%WPM: +27.5% a year, volatility 36.9%KB: +25.3% a year, volatility 34.4%IBKR: +35.4% a year, volatility 35.4%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SBS: +39.1% a year, volatility 37.1%CIB: +32.9% a year, volatility 32.9%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%WF: +26.3% a year, volatility 31.6%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%SMH: +33.4% a year, volatility 36.9%EME: +43.0% a year, volatility 35.3%LAUR: +37.5% a year, volatility 32.8%CASY: +29.9% a year, volatility 29.3%RL: +28.6% a year, volatility 36.9%WT: +31.4% a year, volatility 32.8%MLI: +38.9% a year, volatility 33.4%AAMI: +29.0% a year, volatility 35.6%ALSN: +27.3% a year, volatility 29.9%MUSA: +26.1% a year, volatility 31.2%USLM: +35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%HWKN: +29.1% a year, volatility 36.5%ESQ: +31.7% a year, volatility 31.7%IGIC: +30.8% a year, volatility 30.9%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ODC: +35.9% a year, volatility 36.9%NWPX: +32.5% a year, volatility 36.2%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%SAN: +31.7% a year, volatility 33.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%UBS: +25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%SU: +33.1% a year, volatility 32.5%CNQ: +26.5% a year, volatility 32.5%ITUB: +26.3% a year, volatility 33.8%IMO: +34.3% a year, volatility 32.0%BAP: +30.8% a year, volatility 30.3%NWG: +27.7% a year, volatility 34.1%GE: +36.0% a year, volatility 31.0%PAA: +27.0% a year, volatility 25.6%UNM: +30.6% a year, volatility 29.3%AIT: +28.5% a year, volatility 30.3%TKO: +26.3% a year, volatility 32.7%IDCC: +39.0% a year, volatility 36.9%PAGP: +26.8% a year, volatility 26.1%AROC: +33.1% a year, volatility 36.4%MOG-A: +36.6% a year, volatility 32.0%CAAP: +35.1% a year, volatility 35.9%ARLP: +29.4% a year, volatility 31.6%BLX: +31.4% a year, volatility 25.9%DCO: +27.5% a year, volatility 34.5%NPO: +28.1% a year, volatility 36.0%EZPW: +33.2% a year, volatility 35.4%NRP: +37.4% a year, volatility 33.9%PRDO: +27.6% a year, volatility 36.1%GLP: +25.3% a year, volatility 35.5%NBN: +28.8% a year, volatility 33.3%URI: +24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%PWR: +39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%ESLT: +39.8% a year, volatility 34.6%CW: +30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%HWM: +47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%EMBJ: +32.8% a year, volatility 45.0%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%EPU: +29.5% a year, volatility 24.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%URISPY (S&P 500)CATPWRWABPHESLTCWHWMEMBJLLYCAHAPHTSMPANWEPUDXJCORMPC10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than URIVCTR: +28.1% a year, volatility 35.0%NHC: +32.0% a year, volatility 28.5%VLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%TRGP: +41.8% a year, volatility 31.7%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%WPM: +27.5% a year, volatility 36.9%KB: +25.3% a year, volatility 34.4%IBKR: +35.4% a year, volatility 35.4%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SBS: +39.1% a year, volatility 37.1%CIB: +32.9% a year, volatility 32.9%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%WF: +26.3% a year, volatility 31.6%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%SMH: +33.4% a year, volatility 36.9%EME: +43.0% a year, volatility 35.3%LAUR: +37.5% a year, volatility 32.8%CASY: +29.9% a year, volatility 29.3%RL: +28.6% a year, volatility 36.9%WT: +31.4% a year, volatility 32.8%MLI: +38.9% a year, volatility 33.4%AAMI: +29.0% a year, volatility 35.6%ALSN: +27.3% a year, volatility 29.9%MUSA: +26.1% a year, volatility 31.2%USLM: +35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%HWKN: +29.1% a year, volatility 36.5%ESQ: +31.7% a year, volatility 31.7%IGIC: +30.8% a year, volatility 30.9%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ODC: +35.9% a year, volatility 36.9%NWPX: +32.5% a year, volatility 36.2%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%SAN: +31.7% a year, volatility 33.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%UBS: +25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%SU: +33.1% a year, volatility 32.5%CNQ: +26.5% a year, volatility 32.5%ITUB: +26.3% a year, volatility 33.8%IMO: +34.3% a year, volatility 32.0%BAP: +30.8% a year, volatility 30.3%NWG: +27.7% a year, volatility 34.1%GE: +36.0% a year, volatility 31.0%PAA: +27.0% a year, volatility 25.6%UNM: +30.6% a year, volatility 29.3%AIT: +28.5% a year, volatility 30.3%TKO: +26.3% a year, volatility 32.7%IDCC: +39.0% a year, volatility 36.9%PAGP: +26.8% a year, volatility 26.1%AROC: +33.1% a year, volatility 36.4%MOG-A: +36.6% a year, volatility 32.0%CAAP: +35.1% a year, volatility 35.9%ARLP: +29.4% a year, volatility 31.6%BLX: +31.4% a year, volatility 25.9%DCO: +27.5% a year, volatility 34.5%NPO: +28.1% a year, volatility 36.0%EZPW: +33.2% a year, volatility 35.4%NRP: +37.4% a year, volatility 33.9%PRDO: +27.6% a year, volatility 36.1%GLP: +25.3% a year, volatility 35.5%NBN: +28.8% a year, volatility 33.3%URI: +24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%PWR: +39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%ESLT: +39.8% a year, volatility 34.6%CW: +30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%HWM: +47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%EMBJ: +32.8% a year, volatility 45.0%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%EPU: +29.5% a year, volatility 24.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%URISPY (S&P 500)CATPWRWABESLTCWHWMEMBJLLYCAHAPHTSMEPUDXJCORMPC
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than URI?

Investments that beat URI over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat URI over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks URI's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than URI follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than URI's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× URI's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than URI's.

Screen the whole market against URI for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 17 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with URI?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
URIUnited Rentals, Inc. · this page
+24.3%39.1%0.75−63.3%+1,270%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.680.09%
Popular alternativesbest 2 shownThe investments people most often weigh against URI. 2 of 13 passed at least one test.
CATCaterpillar Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+31.1%31.9%1.01−43.4%+936%0.70—
PWRQuanta Services, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+39.3%37.2%1.08−45.5%+2,045%0.58—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Equipment Rental and the categories next to it (Industrial Machinery, Freight & Logistics, Railroads, Aerospace & Defense), plus URI's specific themes. 10 of 95 passed at least one test.
WABWestinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+25.6%26.2%1.00−64.1%+264%0.67—
PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+27.4%28.8%0.99−54.7%+789%0.74—
ESLTElbit Systems Ltd. · Aerospace & Defense
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+39.8%34.6%1.15−35.4%+765%0.00—
CWCurtiss-Wright Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+30.8%28.7%1.08−48.7%+512%0.47—
HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. · Aerospace & Defense
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatility+47.3%32.5%1.36−68.9%+1,028%0.53—
EMBJEmbraer S.A. · Aerospace & Defense
Higher return in most periods+32.8%45.0%0.86−85.2%+283%0.28—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 173 of 3,525 passed at least one test.
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%-0.06—
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.20—
APHAmphenol Corporation · Electronic Components
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+33.8%32.2%1.07−37.5%+965%0.60—
TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited · Semiconductors
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+31.5%38.5%0.91−56.6%+1,505%0.40—
PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc. · Cybersecurity
Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+31.9%43.4%0.86−48.0%+1,274%0.19—
EPUiShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF · International
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+29.5%24.9%1.17−51.0%+275%0.370.59%
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.410.48%
CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+24.2%22.8%1.07−32.4%+406%0.31—
What these numbers mean for URI
Annual return
URI returned 24.3% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $29,600. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
URI's volatility over the past 5 years was 39.1%, 2.3 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, URI's return lands within 39.1% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
URI's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.75, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so URI earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
URI's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 63.3%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 63.3% fall takes a 172% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, URI's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.68 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against URI instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a URI holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 76 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than URI with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. Best first; funds that hold the same thing are listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with URIExpense
1
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%-0.06—
2
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.20—
3
APHAmphenol Corporation · Electronic Components
Whole market+33.8%32.2%1.07−37.5%+965%0.60—
4
MPCMarathon Petroleum Corporation · Oil & Gas
Whole market+51.2%33.4%1.41−79.7%+1,387%0.24—
5
VCTRVictory Capital Holdings, Inc. · Asset Management
Whole market+28.1%35.0%0.89−45.2%—0.52—
6
NHCNational HealthCare Corporation · Medical - Care Facilities
Whole market+32.0%28.5%1.12−35.3%+394%0.35—
7
EPUiShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF · International
Whole market+29.5%24.9%1.17−51.0%+275%0.370.59%
8
VLOValero Energy Corporation · Oil & Gas
Whole market+44.2%36.9%1.18−71.9%+1,061%0.27—
9
PSXPhillips 66 · Oil & Gas
Whole market+33.2%32.9%1.04−64.2%+430%0.23—
10
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%0.14—
11
TRGPTarga Resources Corp. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+41.8%31.7%1.27−90.8%+829%0.41—
12
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
Whole market+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.410.48%
13
MUFGMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.2%29.4%1.13−54.9%+483%0.43—
14
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.07—
15
WPMWheaton Precious Metals Corp. · Metals & Mining
Whole market+27.5%36.9%0.85−46.7%+510%0.11—
16
KBKB Financial Group Inc. · Banks
Whole market+25.3%34.4%0.83−64.1%+390%0.49—
17
IBKRInteractive Brokers Group, Inc. · Investment Banking & Brokerage
Whole market+35.4%35.4%1.04−55.1%+935%0.49—
18
MFGMizuho Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.6%30.6%1.10−45.7%+345%0.41—
19
SBSCompanhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP · Water Utilities
Whole market+39.1%37.1%1.08−62.0%+293%0.36—
20
CIBGrupo Cibest S.A. · Banks
Whole market+32.9%32.9%1.03−70.4%+345%0.21—
21
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.7%29.4%1.14−47.6%+474%0.34—
22
WFWoori Financial Group Inc. · Banks
Whole market+26.3%31.6%0.90−67.2%+282%0.41—
23
GWWW.W. Grainger, Inc. · Industrial Distribution
Whole market+26.3%24.9%1.07−41.6%+654%0.66—
24
SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETF · Semiconductors
Whole market+33.4%36.9%0.97−45.3%+1,665%0.520.35%
25
EMEEMCOR Group, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Whole market+43.0%35.3%1.20−48.0%+1,202%0.54—
26
WABWestinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Same or nearby category+25.6%26.2%1.00−64.1%+264%0.67—
27
LAURLaureate Education, Inc. · Education Services
Whole market+37.5%32.8%1.14−64.5%—0.12—
28
CASYCasey's General Stores, Inc. · Convenience Stores
Whole market+29.9%29.3%1.04−36.1%+537%0.29—
29
RLRalph Lauren Corporation · Apparel & Footwear
Whole market+28.6%36.9%0.87−55.1%+370%0.53—
30
WTWisdomTree, Inc. · Asset Management
Whole market+31.4%32.8%1.00−84.0%+174%0.42—
31
MLIMueller Industries, Inc. · Metal Fabrication
Whole market+38.9%33.4%1.16−53.0%+800%0.54—
32
AAMIAcadian Asset Management · Asset Management
Whole market+29.0%35.6%0.90−78.1%+652%0.58—
33
PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Same or nearby category+27.4%28.8%0.99−54.7%+789%0.74—
34
ALSNAllison Transmission Holdings, Inc. · Auto Parts
Whole market+27.3%29.9%0.96−48.7%+367%0.56—
35
MUSAMurphy USA Inc. · Convenience Stores
Whole market+26.1%31.2%0.90−35.5%+706%0.16—
36
CATCaterpillar Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Popular alternative+31.1%31.9%1.01−43.4%+936%0.70—
37
ESLTElbit Systems Ltd. · Aerospace & Defense
Same or nearby category+39.8%34.6%1.15−35.4%+765%0.00—
38
CWCurtiss-Wright Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Same or nearby category+30.8%28.7%1.08−48.7%+512%0.47—
39
USLMUnited States Lime & Minerals, Inc. · Construction Materials
Whole market+35.6%36.1%1.03−45.9%+803%0.26—
40
HWKNHawkins, Inc. · Chemicals - Specialty
Whole market+29.1%36.5%0.89−44.8%+627%0.31—
41
ESQEsquire Financial Holdings, Inc. · Banks - Regional
Whole market+31.7%31.7%1.03−56.5%—0.39—
42
IGICInternational General Insurance Holdings Ltd. · Insurance - Diversified
Whole market+30.8%30.9%1.03−50.6%—0.10—
43
XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+27.1%26.5%1.04−61.0%+214%0.13—
44
ODCOil-Dri Corporation of America · Chemicals - Specialty
Whole market+35.9%36.9%1.02−48.9%+460%0.34—
45
NWPXNWPX Infrastructure, Inc. · Construction Materials
Whole market+32.5%36.2%0.96−46.5%+682%0.47—
46
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks
Whole market+33.1%25.9%1.24−62.3%+319%0.27—
47
HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. · Aerospace & Defense
Same or nearby category+47.3%32.5%1.36−68.9%+1,028%0.53—
48
WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+26.0%23.8%1.09−63.3%+379%0.43—
49
SANBanco Santander, S.A. · Banks
Whole market+31.7%33.9%0.99−73.8%+332%0.38—
50
BBVABanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. · Banks
Whole market+38.7%33.3%1.16−69.6%+542%0.43—
51
UBSUBS Group AG · Banks
Whole market+25.4%30.4%0.90−59.8%+374%0.54—
52
SUSuncor Energy Inc. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+33.1%32.5%1.05−73.5%+295%0.15—
53
CNQCanadian Natural Resources Limited · Oil & Gas
Whole market+26.5%32.5%0.89−77.5%+433%0.21—
54
ITUBItaú Unibanco Holding S.A. · Banks
Whole market+26.3%33.8%0.86−62.1%+190%0.29—
55
IMOImperial Oil Limited · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+34.3%32.0%1.09−77.1%+430%0.29—
56
BAPCredicorp Ltd. · Banks
Whole market+30.8%30.3%1.04−59.2%+298%0.42—
57
NWGNatWest Group plc · Banks
Whole market+27.7%34.1%0.89−67.4%+495%0.41—
58
GEGE Aerospace · Aerospace & Defense
Same or nearby category+36.0%31.0%1.15−80.9%+139%0.59—
59
PAAPlains All American Pipeline, L.P. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+27.0%25.6%1.06−87.9%+64.0%0.36—
60
UNMUnum Group · Life Insurance
Whole market+30.6%29.3%1.06−81.0%+256%0.20—
61
AITApplied Industrial Technologies, Inc. · Industrial Distribution
Whole market+28.5%30.3%0.98−59.3%+742%0.70—
62
TKOTKO Group Holdings, Inc. · Entertainment
Whole market+26.3%32.7%0.88−69.1%+941%0.25—
63
IDCCInterDigital, Inc. · Intellectual Property Licensing
Whole market+39.0%36.9%1.08−64.9%+395%0.40—
64
PAGPPlains GP Holdings LP · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+26.8%26.1%1.05−88.0%+56.3%0.35—
65
AROCArchrock, Inc. · Oilfield Services
Whole market+33.1%36.4%0.97−84.9%+288%0.54—
66
MOG-AMoog Inc. · Aerospace & Defense
Same or nearby category+36.6%32.0%1.14−63.7%+595%0.50—
67
CAAPCorporacion America Airports S.A. · Infrastructure
Whole market+35.1%35.9%1.02−89.9%—0.22—
68
ARLPAlliance Resource Partners, L.P. · Coal
Whole market+29.4%31.6%0.98−85.3%+173%0.17—
69
BLXBladex, Inc. · Banks - Regional
Whole market+31.4%25.9%1.19−68.5%+290%0.44—
70
DCODucommun Incorporated · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+27.5%34.5%0.88−70.8%+706%0.56—
71
NPOEnPro Industries, Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Same or nearby category+28.1%36.0%0.87−65.8%+481%0.67—
72
EZPWEZCORP, Inc. · Financial - Credit Services
Whole market+33.2%35.4%0.99−76.6%+202%0.28—
73
NRPNatural Resource Partners L.P. · Coal
Whole market+37.4%33.9%1.11−78.8%+632%0.26—
74
PRDOPerdoceo Education Corporation · Education & Training Services
Whole market+27.6%36.1%0.85−64.3%+403%0.28—
75
GLPGlobal Partners LP · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+25.3%35.5%0.82−62.5%+662%0.47—
76
NBNNortheast Bank · Banks - Regional
Whole market+28.8%33.3%0.93−70.2%+1,064%0.48—

URI against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against URI, compared period by period and year by year.

How do URI's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at URI, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than URI with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityURI: 24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%PWR: 39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%CAT: 31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%R: 25.1% a year, volatility 32.6%HRI: −6.0% a year, volatility 52.4%TEX: 4.0% a year, volatility 44.3%WSC: −13.2% a year, volatility 42.0%FTAI: 52.1% a year, volatility 57.2%DE: 14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%MGRC: 10.0% a year, volatility 26.2%GATX: 12.4% a year, volatility 25.1%OSK: 6.4% a year, volatility 34.7%TRN: 0.5% a year, volatility 35.7%UHAL: −5.0% a year, volatility 30.3%URISPY (S&P 500)PWRCATRHRITEXWSCFTAIDEMGRCOSKTRNUHAL10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityURI: 24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%PWR: 39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%CAT: 31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%R: 25.1% a year, volatility 32.6%HRI: −6.0% a year, volatility 52.4%TEX: 4.0% a year, volatility 44.3%WSC: −13.2% a year, volatility 42.0%FTAI: 52.1% a year, volatility 57.2%DE: 14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%MGRC: 10.0% a year, volatility 26.2%GATX: 12.4% a year, volatility 25.1%OSK: 6.4% a year, volatility 34.7%TRN: 0.5% a year, volatility 35.7%UHAL: −5.0% a year, volatility 30.3%URISPY (S&P 500)PWRCATRHRITEXWSCFTAIOSKTRNUHAL
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
FTAI FTAI Aviation Ltd.+52.1%57.2%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.+39.3%37.2%
CAT Caterpillar Inc.+31.1%31.9%
R Ryder System, Inc.+25.1%32.6%
URI This pageUnited Rentals, Inc.+24.3%39.1%
DE Deere & Company+14.4%29.9%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
GATX GATX Corporation+12.4%25.1%
MGRC McGrath RentCorp+10.0%26.2%
OSK Oshkosh Corp+6.4%34.7%
TEX Terex Corporation+4.0%44.3%
TRN Trinity Industries, Inc.+0.5%35.7%
UHAL U-Haul Holding Company−5.0%30.3%
HRI Herc Holdings Inc.−6.0%52.4%
WSC WillScot Holdings Corporation−13.2%42.0%
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Has URI consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares URI with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than URI helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than URI over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
URI United Rentals, Inc. (this page)—+1.4%+3.3%+29.0%+24.3%+5.2%+164%+196%+1,270%39.1%0.75−63.3%—$65B—
PWR Engineering & ConstructionQuanta Services, Inc.2/5 short3/3 long−7.2%−5.8%−1.5%+35.6%+35.3%+263%+425%+2,045%37.2%1.08−45.5%—$90B—
FTAI Aerospace & DefenseFTAI Aviation Ltd.0/5 short3/3 long−18.1%−20.7%−38.4%−24.5%−10.0%+389%+713%+2,614%57.2%1.02−72.8%—$16B—
CAT Agricultural - MachineryCaterpillar Inc.1/5 short2/3 long−11.2%−15.9%−8.8%+22.2%+37.7%+203%+288%+936%31.9%1.01−43.4%—$333B—
R Rental & Leasing ServicesRyder System, Inc.1/5 short1/3 long+0.1%−11.0%+4.0%+23.8%+31.6%+149%+206%+407%32.6%0.85−72.3%—$9.1B—
DE Agricultural - MachineryDeere & Company3/5 short0/3 long−7.5%+8.1%+6.9%+36.5%+38.3%+75.4%+96.1%+755%29.9%0.60−37.9%—$170B—
HRI Rental & Leasing ServicesHerc Holdings Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−10.9%−14.5%+13.9%−16.5%−0.4%+23.5%−26.7%+365%52.4%0.14−82.2%—$4.2B—
MGRC Rental & Leasing ServicesMcGrath RentCorp0/5 short0/3 long+0.7%−4.2%−0.8%+8.3%−5.0%+20.2%+61.4%+357%26.2%0.50−44.0%—$2.7B—
GATX Rental & Leasing ServicesGATX Corporation0/5 short0/3 long−10.4%−8.9%−18.9%−4.3%−5.1%+59.5%+79.2%+329%25.1%0.59−38.3%—$5.7B—
OSK Agricultural - MachineryOshkosh Corp0/5 short0/3 long−7.3%−6.1%−11.7%+1.7%+0.1%+57.3%+36.2%+192%34.7%0.35−48.7%—$8.2B—
TEX Industrial - MachineryTerex Corporation0/5 short0/3 long−10.7%−16.1%−14.8%−3.6%−3.4%+14.8%+21.6%+141%44.3%0.31−74.1%—$6.0B—
TRN RailroadsTrinity Industries, Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−9.9%−31.1%−20.6%−4.1%−8.8%+29.7%+2.5%+107%35.7%0.19−45.2%—$2.0B—
UHAL Rental & Leasing ServicesU-Haul Holding Company0/5 short0/3 long−11.1%−20.5%+5.6%+11.5%+1.3%+9.3%−22.5%+75.7%30.3%-0.02−46.2%—$9.9B—
WSC Rental & Leasing ServicesWillScot Holdings Corporation0/5 short0/3 long−10.2%−37.5%−23.2%−15.7%−24.1%−56.7%−50.7%+68.7%42.0%-0.13−71.5%—$2.9B—
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How did URI do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1998, along with where URI ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with URI and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of URI; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places URI among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of URI2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998
URI This pageUnited Rentals, Inc.—+15.9%+24.0%+63.6%+7.0%+43.3%+39.1%+62.6%−40.4%+62.8%+45.6%−28.9%+30.9%+71.3%+54.0%+29.9%+132%+7.5%−50.3%−27.8%+8.7%+23.8%−1.9%+79.0%−52.6%+68.9%−21.5%−48.3%+71.5%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 11 of 287 of 148 of 142 of 146 of 145 of 143 of 143 of 1411 of 142 of 146 of 149 of 121 of 123 of 122 of 121 of 121 of 1210 of 128 of 1212 of 1210 of 118 of 1111 of 115 of 119 of 112 of 118 of 1111 of 112 of 10
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF12 of 28+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.15 of 27+33.7%+46.6%+51.7%+24.6%+59.5%+77.8%+35.8%−22.9%+12.2%+72.1%−28.7%−10.1%+15.7%+26.7%+8.1%−4.4%+5.3%−24.6%+33.5%+49.3%+64.7%+9.5%+109%−77.3%−52.1%+71.0%+28.0%—
FTAI FTAI Aviation Ltd.4 of 10+38.0%+215%+182%−25.8%+29.3%+33.2%+48.0%−22.0%+62.4%+33.1%——————————————————
CAT Caterpillar Inc.13 of 28+60.3%+24.7%+25.9%+18.6%+16.0%+27.0%+19.5%−17.6%+75.0%+42.1%−23.0%+3.5%+3.4%+1.6%−1.5%+68.5%+33.2%−36.8%+20.5%+7.8%+20.7%+19.7%+86.1%−9.8%+13.7%+4.1%+4.7%−3.0%
R Ryder System, Inc.9 of 28+24.5%+39.5%+41.6%+4.4%+37.6%+20.2%+17.4%−41.0%+15.9%+34.4%−37.6%+28.0%+50.9%−3.5%+3.2%+31.2%+9.3%−16.1%−6.4%+26.3%−12.7%+41.9%+55.6%+3.5%+37.0%−29.7%−3.6%−19.0%
DE Deere & Company11 of 28+11.4%+7.6%−5.5%+26.6%+28.9%+58.0%+18.3%−2.9%+54.8%+39.0%−11.3%−0.5%+8.2%+14.3%−5.0%+56.3%+44.8%−58.1%+98.6%+42.3%−6.6%+16.3%+44.4%+7.1%−2.6%+8.1%+34.8%−42.3%
HRI Herc Holdings Inc.6 of 19−20.1%+29.4%+15.5%−14.4%+136%+35.7%+88.3%−58.5%+55.9%−5.9%−42.9%−12.9%+75.9%+38.9%−19.1%+21.6%+135%−68.1%−8.6%—————————
MGRC McGrath RentCorp14 of 28−4.6%−4.9%+23.5%+25.8%+22.3%−10.0%+52.4%+12.2%+23.3%+61.6%−27.4%−7.4%+40.9%+3.8%+14.5%+21.7%+9.4%−14.2%−14.1%+12.6%+30.4%+64.2%+21.4%−36.7%+99.2%+14.3%−18.5%−8.4%
GATX GATX Corporation12 of 28+11.1%+31.1%+15.2%+4.2%+27.9%+3.2%+19.7%+16.6%+3.8%+49.8%−23.8%+12.7%+23.6%+2.0%+27.7%+27.4%−3.0%−13.1%−13.4%+22.7%+24.9%+8.9%+31.0%−26.5%−32.6%+52.6%−8.1%+7.3%
OSK Oshkosh Corp13 of 28+34.5%−10.8%+25.2%−20.5%+32.5%−7.5%+56.6%−31.6%+42.3%+68.4%−18.5%−2.2%+70.4%+38.7%−39.3%−4.8%+321%−80.7%−1.7%+9.5%+31.3%+34.6%+66.7%+27.5%+11.7%+51.7%+34.2%+88.0%
TEX Terex Corporation11 of 28+17.2%−18.6%+36.1%−1.5%+27.2%+17.8%+9.7%−42.2%+54.3%+72.8%−33.0%−33.2%+49.6%+108%−56.5%+56.7%+14.4%−73.6%+1.5%+118%+24.7%+67.3%+155%−36.4%+8.4%−41.7%−2.8%+21.6%
TRN Trinity Industries, Inc.12 of 28−21.5%+37.2%−6.2%+1.5%+17.9%+23.8%+11.1%−22.4%+37.1%+18.0%−12.9%+3.7%+54.1%+20.9%+14.2%+55.1%+13.3%−42.6%−20.6%+20.6%+30.2%+11.5%+64.6%−29.0%+12.2%−9.0%−24.7%−12.2%
UHAL U-Haul Holding Company12 of 28−27.0%−3.8%+19.3%−17.0%+60.4%+21.5%+15.0%−12.7%+2.9%−4.6%+39.0%+20.0%+87.6%+49.7%−6.8%+93.3%+43.7%−47.4%−24.5%+20.8%+58.4%+114%+386%−76.5%−4.0%−21.6%−10.5%+8.8%
WSC WillScot Holdings Corporation4 of 10−43.1%−24.8%−1.5%+10.6%+76.3%+25.3%+96.2%−25.8%+27.7%+4.1%——————————————————
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Risk and diversification

How URI has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were URI's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents URI's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1997, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means URI fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringURI fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
Dot-com bust−93.7%−31.9%Jul 1998Mar 200910.7 yearsJan 20133.8 years
2015 China and oil sell-off−63.6%−9.4%Nov 2014Feb 201615 monthsJan 201711 months
Late-2018 sell-off−63.3%−10.7%Mar 2018Mar 20202 yearsOct 20207 months
2022 bear market−40.0%−18.5%Nov 2021Jun 20227 monthsJan 20237 months
No named crash−37.0%−15.5%Nov 2024Apr 20255 monthsJul 20253 months

How did URI do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far URI, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than URI.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
URI This pageUnited Rentals, Inc.—−14.5%−35.4%−55.3%−43.3%−6.7%−45.7%−50.5%−3.6%−91.2%−77.3%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF9 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.8 of 10−4.0%−21.7%−40.8%−22.1%−7.1%−35.4%−21.6%−1.7%−69.6%−97.1%
FTAI FTAI Aviation Ltd.4 of 6−7.7%−40.3%−72.8%−29.9%−4.3%−40.7%————
CAT Caterpillar Inc.9 of 10−9.7%−30.1%−33.1%−28.5%−7.3%−26.0%−33.2%−2.2%−73.3%−42.5%
R Ryder System, Inc.8 of 10−9.7%−25.3%−38.9%−38.4%−5.2%−47.4%−39.2%−6.1%−74.0%−36.9%
DE Deere & Company9 of 10−6.7%−33.8%−37.4%−17.5%−6.9%−24.9%−24.2%0.0%−73.3%−37.3%
HRI Herc Holdings Inc.2 of 9−21.3%−49.9%−71.3%−52.0%−12.2%−64.2%−48.3%−3.0%−93.8%—
MGRC McGrath RentCorp9 of 10−6.1%−18.1%−43.1%−16.0%−3.5%−24.8%−19.7%−4.3%−64.8%−49.4%
GATX GATX Corporation10 of 10−5.8%−31.9%−31.7%−22.7%−5.1%−29.1%−24.0%−2.3%−72.1%−64.7%
OSK Oshkosh Corp7 of 10−9.1%−42.9%−42.4%−30.5%−4.8%−30.4%−52.5%−2.2%−93.5%−34.6%
TEX Terex Corporation4 of 10−13.7%−41.1%−50.2%−38.7%−8.3%−45.9%−60.4%−8.6%−91.6%−45.3%
TRN Trinity Industries, Inc.8 of 10−11.7%−38.5%−34.4%−30.8%−5.4%−32.8%−43.3%−4.6%−83.9%−45.9%
UHAL U-Haul Holding Company8 of 10−7.8%−37.7%−30.0%−10.6%−2.3%−28.8%−35.6%−7.5%−72.0%−74.5%
WSC WillScot Holdings Corporation4 of 6−9.4%−24.5%−60.0%−51.8%−3.2%−2.7%————
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How closely does URI move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares URI with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than URI's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
URI This pageUnited Rentals, Inc.177%165%1.071.90
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.141%61%2.311.22
DE Deere & Company110%66%1.670.98
MGRC McGrath RentCorp75%46%1.620.70
FTAI FTAI Aviation Ltd.190%142%1.341.72
CAT Caterpillar Inc.148%122%1.211.27
GATX GATX Corporation109%107%1.011.08
R Ryder System, Inc.120%129%0.931.47
HRI Herc Holdings Inc.196%272%0.722.46
OSK Oshkosh Corp127%178%0.711.41
UHAL U-Haul Holding Company85%124%0.690.99
TEX Terex Corporation133%199%0.671.60
TRN Trinity Industries, Inc.110%165%0.671.38
WSC WillScot Holdings Corporation107%168%0.641.54
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What diversifies URI?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with URI's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing URI with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which URI lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% URI and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2018201520082007200420022000199980/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
URI United Rentals, Inc. (this page)1.00+196%0.75−40.4%−28.9%−50.3%−27.8%−1.9%−52.6%−21.5%−48.3%41.8%+24.3%
LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF0.44+119%1.48−5.2%———————34.3%+24.0%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.41+225%1.34−19.8%+7.7%−20.8%−7.4%————34.6%+26.1%
HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF0.44+83.3%1.00−3.0%−0.3%——————34.8%+22.9%
EWP Broad MarketiShares MSCI Spain ETF0.46+140%0.97−15.3%−15.6%−36.8%+20.9%+30.2%−13.6%−11.8%−1.5%35.4%+24.8%
MLPX EnergyGlobal X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF0.47+135%0.97−15.5%−35.3%——————35.4%+24.6%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares-0.02+126%0.96−1.9%−10.7%+4.9%+30.4%————33.6%+24.9%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF0.24+177%0.93−18.2%−21.5%−39.0%+36.8%+33.8%−14.8%+24.4%+18.1%35.1%+25.7%
EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF0.44+153%0.89−9.9%−12.9%−45.3%+6.4%+8.0%−24.4%——36.0%+25.1%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2018201520082007200420022000199980/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
URI United Rentals, Inc. (this page)1.00+196%0.75−40.4%−28.9%−50.3%−27.8%−1.9%−52.6%−21.5%−48.3%41.8%+24.3%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.20+479%1.55−24.5%+12.6%−39.6%−9.8%−4.7%−8.3%+108%−36.8%34.9%+28.7%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.39+3,143%1.47−16.3%−6.0%−20.5%−25.7%−6.4%−65.1%−2.3%+350%39.5%+41.3%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.07+413%1.44−28.4%−4.5%−40.4%+29.7%−1.4%−27.2%+61.2%−71.3%34.2%+28.3%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.24+690%1.41−8.2%+17.4%——————35.6%+30.7%
ATI Manufacturing - Metal FabricationATI Inc.0.42+1,008%1.34−9.8%−66.7%−70.0%−4.2%+66.5%−60.8%−26.5%—38.5%+33.3%
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Common questions

What was URI's worst drawdown?

URI's deepest decline since it began trading in 1997 was 93.7%, from July 1998 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were URI's best and worst years?

Over 28 full calendar years, URI's best year was 2010, when it returned 132%. Its worst was 2002, with a return of -52.6%.

Is there a better investment than URI?

Among URI's popular alternatives, CAT earned more than URI with less volatility over the past 5 years: 31.1% a year at 31.9% volatility, against 24.3% a year at 39.1%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, WAB (industrial machinery) and PH (industrial machinery) earned more than URI with less volatility over the past 5 years. WAB returned 25.6% a year at 26.2% volatility, against 24.3% a year at 39.1%.

Is URI more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. URI's volatility over the past 5 years was 39.1%, 2.3 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, URI's return lands within 39.1% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is URI's Sharpe ratio?

URI's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.75, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so URI earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is URI with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, URI's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.68 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against URI instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a URI holding.

What are the best alternatives to URI?

None of the 13 popular alternatives we compared outperformed URI in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, which says more about URI's strength than about its alternatives.

Did URI outperform the S&P 500?

URI finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 16 of 28 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +15.9%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did URI do in stock market crashes?

URI fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in none of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in nine. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when URI fell 91.2% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.

What diversifies URI?

These had a low correlation with URI over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.44), DXJ (correlation 0.41) and HDV (correlation 0.44); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.20), CLS (correlation 0.39) and MCK (correlation 0.07). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to URI

Other stocks and ETFs