Bullish indicating open at $55-$60, IPO prices at $37
Investing.com - Hertz Global (NASDAQ:HTZ) shares climbed 8% following management’s commentary on its outlook, according to Jefferies, which maintained its Hold rating and $6.00 price target on the stock. The rental car company, currently valued at $1.73 billion, has shown remarkable resilience with a 51.9% year-to-date return despite volatile trading conditions. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock appears slightly undervalued at current levels.
The rental car company reported net daily profit per unit (DPU) of $251, with gross DPU improving to $280 due to an accelerated fleet refresh and gains on vehicle sales. Management now expects gross DPU to reach approximately $300 in each quarter of the second half, an improvement from earlier guidance that projected $300 by year-end. However, InvestingPro data reveals challenging fundamentals, with a weak gross profit margin of 6.52% and short-term obligations exceeding liquid assets, as indicated by a current ratio of 0.55.
Hertz provided a stable demand outlook, noting that domestic air travel returned to positive year-over-year growth in July, while U.S. forward bookings from August through the fourth quarter are narrowing the gap to last year’s revenue per day (RPD) trends. The company has adjusted its vehicle fleet composition to better match consumer demand, which may pressure RPD but should improve utilization, which reached 83% in the second quarter.
Management anticipates positive operating cash flow by the end of the year, with Jefferies estimating fourth-quarter free cash flow of $10 million. The improved age and composition of Hertz’s fleet—now with 80% of vehicles less than a year old—reduces the need to inject cash into the funding structure.
Jefferies believes Hertz is taking appropriate steps toward achieving its target of $1 billion in EBITDA by 2027, with the firm currently projecting $905 million.
In other recent news, Hertz Global Holdings (OTC:HTZGQ) reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings, which exceeded expectations. The company posted an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.34, better than the anticipated -$0.40, and reported revenue of $2.18 billion, slightly above the forecasted $2.17 billion. Despite these positive results, Goldman Sachs reiterated a Sell rating on Hertz Global stock, maintaining a price target of $3.00. The firm highlighted that while the stock performed well following the earnings report, the longer-term outlook remains unchanged. Meanwhile, Susquehanna raised its price target for Hertz to $6.00 from $5.00, citing solid progress in the company’s daily profit per unit metrics. However, they maintained a Neutral rating, noting that pricing challenges persist, with revenue per day declining year-over-year for most of the past nine quarters. These developments provide investors with a mixed view of Hertz Global’s current position and future prospects.
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