Greenwich construction-equipment rental giant United Rentals Inc., pending with the $4.2 billion takeover of a rival, restored its fourth-quarter and full-year profits to black.
For three months ended Dec. 31, United netted $29 million, or 39 cents a share fully diluted, compared to a loss of $21 million, or 35 cents a share, a year earlier.
Fourth-quarter revenues — the largest chunk from equipment rentals — rose to $746 million from $597 million a year ago.
For the year, United netted $101 million, or $1.38 a share fully diluted, vs. a net loss of $26 million, or 44 cents a share, in 2010.
United Rentals announced in mid-December plans to pay $18 a share for equipment-rental rival RSC Holdings. The deal is due to close in the first half of this year.
