Modest 2Q26 Beat & Raise, But Nuanced Bridge Leaves Something For Bears/Bulls To Point To

Research evidence excerpt

Modest 2Q26 Beat & Raise, But Nuanced Bridge Leaves Something For Bears/Bulls To Point To

UpdateMpredisposed to increased supply into the market, a factor that could

ultimately weigh on shares' performance on the day.

• (=) Investor Positioning: Following last quarter's short squeeze and decent

outperformance versus peers over the last couple of months, our sense is

investor positioning was certainly leaning more positive on URI.

• (=) Maintained FY26 FCF guide (ex. restructuring related payments)

unchanged at $2.15-2.45B.

• (-) 2H26 EBITDA Margin guidance came in a tad light: As we indicated in

our preview, margins remain the primary risk to an otherwise improving

backdrop and thus a key focus for investors. Accordingly, we suspect that

bears will hone in on the fact that excluding the gain on the sale, full year

margin outlook was raised by ~14bps at the midpoint while the 2H implied

Adj. EBITDA margin guidance of 45.76% came in ~10bps short of consensus

of 45.9%, though modestly ahead of MSe of 45.6%. Immaterial at the end of

the day, but perhaps enough to push some to fade any initial aftermarket

pop.

• Outstanding Questions / Conference call focus:

° How much of a benefit were cost management actions in the quarter

and has the full year expectation for expected savings changed?

° Any shift in demand trends, customer confidence, or mix from 2Q to 3Q?

° How is rental rate discipline progressing quarter-to-date and is there any

evidence of stepped up competition?

° How much of a drag was ancillary to margins in the quarter and what

URI does expect the impact to be in the 2H given guidance assumes

45.8% 2H26 margins vs. 45.6% in 1H26 and 45.5% in 2H25?

° What drove the meaningful raise in capex for the year and what are the