Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusHold7 ratings
Bullish457.1%
Neutral114.3%
Bearish228.6%
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc · SUNB · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q1 2026
Sunbelt reaffirms FY2026 guidance as margins face pressure
Sunbelt's maintained FY2026 outlook is supported by demand indicators, mega-project wins, specialty expansion and record free cash flow, but the investment case remains balanced by margin pressure, repair costs and restructuring execution.
Reported Before market openNYSEIndustrials
$31.00B market cap
90quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$0.78
Consensus $0.81
EPS surprise
-3.8%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$2.64B
Consensus $2.65B
Revenue surprise
-0.5%
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
-1.9%
Event window
SPY move
-1.5%
Same window
Abnormal move
-0.4%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
1.2×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
-2.4%
Up to 20 sessions
SUNBSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about SUNB FY2026 Q2
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
Why did SUNB fall 1.9% after missing EPS estimates in FY2026 Q2?What changed in SUNB's guidance and outlook in FY2026 Q2?Give me the bull and bear case for SUNB after FY2026 Q2 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
Management introduced a new $1.5 billion buyback program, outlined Engage for Life assessments across branches in 2026, and announced a March 26 Investor Day on Sunbelt 4.0 progress. The company also described a UK restructuring with a $37 million non-recurring charge and expects it to improve margins.
Guidance delta
Management reaffirmed FY2026 guidance for rental revenue, capex and free cash flow; no change was supplied.
Key takeaways
- Rental revenue grew about 2% in the first half, with underlying Q2 growth of 3% despite a quiet hurricane season.
- Record free cash flow of $1.1 billion supported more than $2 billion of shareholder returns and a new buyback program.
- Management cited mega-project wins, specialty growth, utilization and higher rental rates as demand supports.
- A UK restructuring charge and higher repair costs remain important execution and margin considerations.
Management priorities
- Execute the new $1.5 billion share buyback program.
- Advance the Sunbelt 4.0 plan and present progress at Investor Day.
- Pursue further bolt-on acquisitions across specialty and general tool lines.
- Improve margins through technology, service platforms, fleet utilization and UK restructuring.
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Analyst 52W Price Targets
$75.61Previous close
$71Low
$86.5Average
$97High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted previous close from FN2's market snapshot as of Oct 2, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBC Capital | Sector Perform | Sector Perform | Maintain | Sep 17, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | Sep 17, 2026 |
| Keybanc | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Sep 10, 2026 |
| JP Morgan | Underweight | Underweight | Maintain | Sep 10, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Underperform | Underperform | Maintain | Sep 10, 2026 |
| Citigroup | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Barclays | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jun 22, 2026 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted previous close $75.61. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $93 | $72.35 | +23.0% | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Bernstein | Will Kirkness | $97 | $71.89 | +28.3% | Sep 16, 2026 |
| KeyBanc | Analyst unavailable | $90 | $73.42 | +19.0% | Sep 10, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $71 | $73.42 | -6.1% | Sep 10, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $96 | $84.8 | +27.0% | Aug 17, 2026 |
| Bernstein | Will Kirkness | $96 | $69.95 | +27.0% | Jul 21, 2026 |
| KeyBanc | Katie Fleischer | $85 | $73.8 | +12.4% | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Barclays | Adam Seiden | $90 | $86.06 | +19.0% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Karl Green | $80 | $86.06 | +5.8% | Jun 19, 2026 |
| Bernstein | Analyst unavailable | $86 | $71.93 | +13.7% | May 12, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $83 | $75.52 | +9.8% | Mar 9, 2026 |
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Start freeCompany context
Snapshot as of publicationSunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc. operates as a prominent equipment leasing firm, furnishing an extensive array of tools, various machinery, and customized engineering solutions. Its clientele spans diverse sectors including construction, industrial applications, and other specialized industries. The company's operations are divided into three core business units: its general tool services across North America, its specialty services also within North America, and its division in the United Kingdom. Established on February 12, 2025, Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc. has its corporate base located in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Historical context
All SUNB earningsIndustrials peers this season
Latest reports in the same sector| Company | Quarter | EPS surprise | Market move | Headline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTAS Cintas Corporation | FY2027 Q1 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +3.0% | -3.4% | Cintas raises FY2027 guidance as Q1 growth broadens |
| PAYX Paychex, Inc. | FY2027 Q1 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +1.5% | -8.8% | Paychex maintains FY27 outlook as PEO and AI momentum strengthen |
| FPS Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. | FY2026 Q4 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +4.3% | +9.5% | Forgent Power Solutions pairs record results with an aggressive FY27 buildout |
| CPRT Copart, Inc. | FY2026 Q4 · Calendar Q3 2026 | -8.7% | -2.6% | Copart pairs international growth with ACV investment amid higher costs |
| FRO Frontline Plc | FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +8.0% | +1.0% | Frontline posts a record quarter as tanker rates remain elevated |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- ACNFY2026 Q4 · October 1, 2026+3.5% EPS+15.8% move
- MKCFY2026 Q3 · October 1, 2026+13.9% EPS-4.9% move
- NKEFY2027 Q1 · October 1, 2026+10.0% EPS-0.7% move
- CAGFY2027 Q1 · September 30, 2026+44.4% EPS-4.9% move
- FDSFY2026 Q4 · September 30, 2026+3.9% EPS+3.8% move
- JBLFY2026 Q4 · September 30, 2026+8.1% EPS-10.0% move
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Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-05-11T10:29:34.698584+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-07-26T00:37:12.209961+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-10-02T08:46:12.357303+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-10-02T08:46:12.354670+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-10-02. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.