Rental-car company reports record rental volume and wider-than-expected loss

  • Avis Budget Group Inc. reports first-quarter revenue that beats expectations
  • Loss of $40 million due to record number of cars sold
  • Strong travel demand and improved pricing trends contribute to revenue beat
  • Stock price of Avis soars 22.6% after the earnings report
  • Rival Hertz Global Holdings Inc.’s stock rises 12.3% following Avis’s upbeat results
  • Rental volume up 5% to a record for the quarter
  • Net loss of $113 million for the quarter
  • Depreciation per car increases by 8%, resulting in a negative impact of $80 million
  • 6% decline in pricing from a year ago
  • Avis’s stock has tumbled 34.5% year to date

Shares of Avis Budget Group Inc. surged after the car-rental company reported first-quarter revenue that beat expectations. Despite a wider-than-expected loss for the quarter, Avis attributed it to the increase in the depreciation of its fleet and losses booked on a record number of cars sold. The company highlighted continued robust travel demand and improved pricing trends as factors contributing to the revenue beat. Avis’s stock price jumped 22.6% following the earnings report, while rival Hertz Global Holdings Inc.’s stock also rose 12.3% on the positive news. Rental volume reached a record high for the quarter, but the company experienced a net loss of $113 million. Depreciation per car increased by 8%, resulting in a negative impact of $80 million. Additionally, there was a 6% decline in pricing from a year ago. Despite the challenges, Avis remains optimistic about second-quarter pricing and expects it to be similar to last year. However, Avis’s stock has seen a significant decline year to date, falling by 34.5%.

Factuality Level: 3
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about Avis Budget Group Inc.’s first-quarter revenue and financial performance. However, it includes unnecessary details about stock price movements and comparisons with rival companies that are tangential to the main topic. The article also lacks depth in analyzing the reasons behind the company’s wider-than-expected loss and focuses more on stock price fluctuations rather than providing a comprehensive understanding of the financial situation.
Noise Level: 2
Noise Justification: The article provides a detailed analysis of Avis Budget Group Inc.’s first-quarter performance, including revenue, losses, and factors contributing to the results. It also compares Avis’s performance with its rival, Hertz Global Holdings Inc. The article stays on topic and supports its claims with data and quotes from company executives. However, the article could benefit from exploring the broader implications of the car rental industry’s performance and the potential long-term effects of the trends mentioned.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Shares of Avis Budget Group Inc.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: The article pertains to the financial performance of Avis Budget Group Inc., a car-rental company. It discusses the company’s first-quarter revenue, which beat expectations, but also reports a wider-than-expected loss. There is no mention of any extreme event or its impact.
Public Companies: Avis Budget Group Inc. (CAR), Hertz Global Holdings Inc. (HTZ)
Key People: Joe Ferraro (Chief Executive), Izzy Martins (Executive Vice President for the Americas)


Reported publicly: www.marketwatch.com