URI vs. WAB: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at URI and WAB, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | URI | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | United Rentals, Inc. | Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Trading Companies & Distributors | Machinery |
| Market Capitalization | 63.11 billion USD | 34.20 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 18, 1997 | June 16, 1995 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of URI and WAB by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | URI | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 3.91% | 1.27% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 23.76% | -6.67% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 56.50% | 10.33% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 23.21% | 10.41% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 2.74% | -0.19% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 39.23% | 5.53% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.42M | 1.17M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.53M | 1.08M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 30.57% | 23.27% |
| Beta | 1.70 | 1.01 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
URI
28.97%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 32.99%
- Q3
- 19.66%
- Median
- 13.72%
- Q1
- 9.74%
- Min
- -0.34%
In the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, URI’s Return on Equity of 28.97% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
WAB
11.11%
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 33.68%
- Q3
- 20.05%
- Median
- 12.37%
- Q1
- 8.67%
- Min
- -7.69%
WAB’s Return on Equity of 11.11% is on par with the norm for the Machinery industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
URI
16.11%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 16.11%
- Q3
- 9.48%
- Median
- 5.89%
- Q1
- 3.68%
- Min
- -1.09%
A Net Profit Margin of 16.11% places URI in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
WAB
10.92%
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 19.72%
- Q3
- 11.07%
- Median
- 7.62%
- Q1
- 5.05%
- Min
- -1.52%
WAB’s Net Profit Margin of 10.92% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Machinery industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
URI
25.50%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 26.26%
- Q3
- 14.59%
- Median
- 7.05%
- Q1
- 4.94%
- Min
- -8.06%
An Operating Profit Margin of 25.50% places URI in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
WAB
16.22%
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 15.99%
- Median
- 11.27%
- Q1
- 7.72%
- Min
- -0.51%
An Operating Profit Margin of 16.22% places WAB in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | URI | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 28.97% | 11.11% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 8.91% | 6.00% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 16.11% | 10.92% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 25.50% | 16.22% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 39.21% | 33.57% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
URI
0.86
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 3.32
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.41
- Min
- 0.26
URI’s Current Ratio of 0.86 falls into the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
WAB
1.76
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 3.13
- Q3
- 2.12
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.34
- Min
- 0.77
WAB’s Current Ratio of 1.76 aligns with the median group of the Machinery industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
URI
1.48
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.93
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.01
URI’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.48. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
WAB
0.44
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 1.56
- Q3
- 0.79
- Median
- 0.44
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.00
WAB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.44 is typical for the Machinery industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
URI
5.90
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 15.13
- Q3
- 7.93
- Median
- 5.67
- Q1
- 2.04
- Min
- -1.67
URI’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.90 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
WAB
7.65
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 81.58
- Q3
- 37.68
- Median
- 13.76
- Q1
- 7.97
- Min
- -1.43
In the lower quartile for the Machinery industry, WAB’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.65 indicates a tighter cushion for servicing debt, suggesting less financial flexibility than many of its competitors.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | URI | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 1.76 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.71 | 1.05 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.48 | 0.44 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 5.90 | 7.65 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
URI
0.71%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 5.25%
- Q3
- 2.95%
- Median
- 2.06%
- Q1
- 1.11%
- Min
- 0.00%
URI’s Dividend Yield of 0.71% is in the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
WAB
0.46%
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 4.55%
- Q3
- 2.66%
- Median
- 1.90%
- Q1
- 1.23%
- Min
- 0.00%
WAB’s Dividend Yield of 0.46% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
URI
17.74%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 136.12%
- Q3
- 71.34%
- Median
- 47.49%
- Q1
- 22.56%
- Min
- 0.00%
URI’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 17.74% is in the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
WAB
13.53%
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 198.34%
- Q3
- 101.42%
- Median
- 62.79%
- Q1
- 29.85%
- Min
- 0.00%
WAB’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 13.53% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | URI | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.71% | 0.46% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 17.74% | 13.53% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
URI
25.03
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 42.69
- Q3
- 25.21
- Median
- 16.99
- Q1
- 13.13
- Min
- 5.35
URI’s P/E Ratio of 25.03 is within the middle range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
WAB
29.66
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 47.95
- Q3
- 30.11
- Median
- 22.35
- Q1
- 16.56
- Min
- 6.48
WAB’s P/E Ratio of 29.66 is within the middle range for the Machinery industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
URI
4.03
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 4.90
- Q3
- 2.71
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.30
URI’s P/S Ratio of 4.03 is in the upper echelon for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
WAB
3.24
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 4.97
- Q3
- 2.76
- Median
- 1.65
- Q1
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.04
WAB’s P/S Ratio of 3.24 is in the upper echelon for the Machinery industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
URI
5.42
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 7.55
- Q3
- 4.63
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.31
URI’s P/B Ratio of 5.42 is in the upper tier for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
WAB
3.32
Machinery Industry
- Max
- 7.29
- Q3
- 4.06
- Median
- 2.67
- Q1
- 1.54
- Min
- 0.52
WAB’s P/B Ratio of 3.32 is within the conventional range for the Machinery industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | URI | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 25.03 | 29.66 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.03 | 3.24 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.42 | 3.32 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 60.78 | 23.55 |