United Rentals (NYSE: URI) experienced a remarkable surge in its stock price, climbing nearly 23% on Thursday following a robust Q1 2026 earnings report. The industrial equipment rental company reported a 7.2% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $4.0 billion, driven primarily by strong rental sales. Adjusted earnings per share rose to $9.71, exceeding analyst expectations of $8.95, highlighting a significant profit surprise.

This earnings performance underscores the ongoing strength in the non-residential construction sector, particularly fueled by data center construction, which has seen substantial investment growth. With technology companies projected to spend $4 trillion on data center construction by 2030, United Rentals is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend. While residential construction remains sluggish, commercial projects and infrastructure upgrades are thriving, further supporting the company’s outlook.

Investors should note that while the stock’s recent gains reflect its growth potential, the current PEG ratio of 1.5 suggests it is fairly valued, indicating a balanced risk-reward scenario for potential buyers.

Source: fool.com