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Avis Budget Group, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and net income declined: Revenues were $3,436 million, down 2% from $3,519 million. Net income was $199 million against $360 million, and net income attributable to Avis Budget Group was $183 million against $359 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $513 million against $559 million, down 8%. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $686 million against $743 million, also down 8%. Source
  • Americas Adjusted EBITDA fell 8%: Americas revenue was $2,552 million, down 3%. Americas Adjusted EBITDA was $365 million against $398 million, down 8%. Source
  • Total utilization up two points: Total company utilization was 74.0%, up 2 points. Americas utilization was 74.1%, up 2.8 points, and both marked third-quarter record highs. Source
  • Per-unit fleet costs rose 4%: Total per-unit fleet costs were $316 per month excluding exchange rate effects, up 4%. Americas rose 7% to $330, while International fell 2% to $279. Source
  • Softer travel demand noted: Management described the quarter as having a softer travel demand environment, while Americas utilization was the best it has had in twenty years. Source
  • Liquidity was $866 million: Liquidity at quarter end was $866 million, with an additional $2.5 billion of fleet funding capacity. Source

“The third quarter demonstrated continued progress in how we manage our fleet, with third-quarter Americas utilization being the best we have had in twenty years despite a softer travel demand environment,”

Brian Choi, Avis Budget Group CEO

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company received $650 million on October 5 under the previously reported Pentwater settlement, and it will be recognized in Q4. Source

Quarter results and profit

  • Revenue and net income declined: Revenues were $3,436 million, down 2% from $3,519 million. Net income was $199 million against $360 million, and net income attributable to Avis Budget Group was $183 million against $359 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $513 million against $559 million, down 8%. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $686 million against $743 million, also down 8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS was $5.15: Diluted earnings per share were $5.15 against $10.11 a year earlier. The nine-month result was a diluted loss of $1.83 per share against a loss of $4.02. Source
  • Pre-tax income fell 35%: Income before income taxes was $309 million against $473 million, down 35%. Nine-month pre-tax income was $42 million against a loss of $189 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas Adjusted EBITDA fell 8%: Americas revenue was $2,552 million, down 3%. Americas Adjusted EBITDA was $365 million against $398 million, down 8%. Source
  • International revenue and EBITDA fell: International revenue was $884 million, down 2% from $898 million. International Adjusted EBITDA was $180 million against $190 million, down 5%. Source
  • Americas rental days and fleet fell: Americas rental days fell 3% to 34,822 thousand. The Americas average rental fleet fell 6% to 510,817 vehicles, against 546,293 a year earlier. Source

“We are building on the improvements we've made in fleet management and field operations with the objective of improving transaction economics, strengthening profitability, and delivering more consistent financial performance over time.”

Brian Choi, Avis Budget Group CEO

Utilization and revenue per day

  • Total utilization up two points: Total company utilization was 74.0%, up 2 points. Americas utilization was 74.1%, up 2.8 points, and both marked third-quarter record highs. Source
  • International revenue per day rose: International revenue per day was $66.49 against $66.03, up 1%. Excluding exchange rate effects, it was $66.71, flat year over year. Source
  • Americas revenue per day flat: Americas revenue per day was $73.30 against $73.19, flat. Excluding exchange rate effects, it was $73.38, also flat. Source

Fleet costs and operating expenses

  • Per-unit fleet costs rose 4%: Total per-unit fleet costs were $316 per month excluding exchange rate effects, up 4%. Americas rose 7% to $330, while International fell 2% to $279. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 7%: Operating expenses were $1,621 million against $1,513 million. Vehicle depreciation and lease charges, net, fell to $668 million from $678 million. Source
  • Overhead and restructuring charges lower: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $398 million against $422 million. Restructuring and other related charges were $5 million against $13 million. Source
  • Vehicle and corporate interest stable: Vehicle interest, net, was $247 million against $248 million. Interest expense related to corporate debt was $108 million against $109 million. Source
  • Legal matters swung to expense: Legal matters, net, was $1 million of expense in the quarter against $109 million of income a year earlier. The reconciliation excludes this item from Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Demand and fleet size

  • Softer travel demand noted: Management described the quarter as having a softer travel demand environment, while Americas utilization was the best it has had in twenty years. Source
  • Average rental fleet shrank: The total average rental fleet was 706,717 vehicles, down 5% from 746,161. Nine-month average fleet was 663,674, down 4%. Source
  • International rental days eased: International rental days were 13,290 thousand, down 2%. The International average rental fleet was 195,900 vehicles, down 2%. Source

Cash, liquidity and debt

  • Liquidity was $866 million: Liquidity at quarter end was $866 million, with an additional $2.5 billion of fleet funding capacity. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow reported: Nine-month net cash provided by operating activities was $2,259 million. Investing activities excluding vehicle programs used $196 million. Source
  • Corporate debt and equity deficit: Corporate debt was $6,011 million at September 30, against $6,073 million at December 31, 2025. Stockholders' equity attributable to Avis Budget Group was negative $3,210 million. Source
  • Vehicle debt and fleet values: Vehicles, net, were $18,325 million against $18,720 million at December 31, 2025. Debt under vehicle programs was $18,920 million against $19,188 million. Source
  • Share repurchases and borrowings small: In the nine months, repurchases of common stock were $9 million, and borrowings net of debt repayments were an $18 million outflow. Source

Strategy and management view

  • Focus on transaction economics: Management said it is building on fleet management and field operations improvements, with the objective of improving transaction economics. Source
  • Fleet management progress credited: Management said the quarter showed continued progress in how the company manages its fleet. Source
  • Profitability and consistency sought: Management listed strengthening profitability and more consistent financial performance over time among its objectives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Repay remaining 2027 notes: Management delivered a redemption notice to repay the remaining $350 million of 5.750% Senior Notes due 2027 before year end. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total rental days (thousands) Source48,112
Average rental fleet (vehicles) Source706,717
Total vehicle utilization Source74.0%
Americas vehicle utilization Source74.1%
Total revenue per day, excluding exchange rate effects Source$71.54
Total per-unit fleet costs per month, excluding exchange rate effects Source$316
International rental days (thousands) Source13,290

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited a softer travel demand environment as a factor in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: Per-unit fleet costs rose 4% in the quarter, which management described as within its expectations. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Per-unit fleet costs rose 4%, and management said the increase was within its expectations. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.