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Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 10% on pricing: Revenue reached $2.4 billion, up 10%, with RPD up 9% to $61.98. Management described this as the strongest second-quarter RPD on record excluding 2022. Average vehicles fell 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up sharply: Adjusted Corporate EBITDA was $81 million, against $18 million a year earlier. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 3%, against 1%. Source
  • DOE per day up 4%: Adjusted DOE per transaction day rose 4% to $37.49. Management said that, normalized for variable costs, sale leaseback expenses and recall days, the improvement was about 2%. Source
  • RPD-to-DOE spread improved: The spread between RPD and DOE per day improved 17% year over year, the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year spread improvement. Source
  • Utilization up 80 basis points: Total utilization was 79%, up 80 basis points. Excluding elevated recalls, utilization was 81%, up 190 basis points. Source
  • Liquidity seen as growth enabler: Management views liquidity as a growth enabler and says it remains confident in its ability to fund the business and execute its transformation. Source

“This quarter’s results reflect the disciplined execution of our strategy and our consistent commercial strength,”

Gil West, Chief Executive Officer of Hertz

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue per unit (RPU) Sourcefull year 2026trend above the $1,500 North Star target
Net Depreciation per Unit per Month (Net DPU) Sourcefull year 2026at or below $300Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Hertz completed a $350 million issuance of Exchangeable First Lien Notes Due 2030 in June 2026, funded partly by expiring revolving capacity and term loan amortization. Source
  • Guidance kept: The full-year Net DPU target stayed at or below $300, matching the North Star DPU level cited in the Q1 release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 10% on pricing: Revenue reached $2.4 billion, up 10%, with RPD up 9% to $61.98. Management described this as the strongest second-quarter RPD on record excluding 2022. Average vehicles fell 1%. Source
  • GAAP profit, adjusted loss: GAAP net income was $64 million, or $0.05 diluted EPS. Adjusted net loss was $47 million, or $(0.11) adjusted diluted EPS, against $(91) million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up sharply: Adjusted Corporate EBITDA was $81 million, against $18 million a year earlier. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 3%, against 1%. Source
  • Six-month EBITDA loss narrowed: For the first six months, Adjusted Corporate EBITDA was $(80) million, against $(284) million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Warrant revaluation lifted GAAP income: GAAP results include a $98 million gain from the change in fair value of Public Warrants, compared with a $115 million loss a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas RAC profit rose: Americas RAC revenue was $1,918 million, up 10%. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $88 million, against $43 million, a 5% margin. Source
  • International revenue and EBITDA grew: International RAC revenue was $478 million, up 7%. Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose 24% to $47 million, a 10% margin against 9%. Source
  • Americas depreciation per unit rose: Americas depreciation per unit per month was $304, up 22% from $248 a year earlier. Source
  • International unit operating cost eased: International adjusted DOE per transaction day was $34.74, down 1% from $34.92 a year earlier. Source

“Our performance demonstrates the progress we're making in transforming the business and delivering tangible operational improvements across the company.”

Gil West, Chief Executive Officer of Hertz

Products, fleet and mobility

  • Oro active in four markets: Oro's driver-led managed fleet business operates vehicles for drivers supporting rideshare platforms. It is now active in four markets, and its drivers have logged over six million miles. Source
  • Oro sees pathway to AV fleets: Management said the driver-led business shows Oro can deliver turnkey fleet solutions at scale and creates a pathway to operating AV fleets. Source
  • Hertz Car Sales retail growing: Management said Hertz Car Sales grew retail sales volumes, reduced reconditioning costs and reported F&I performance. Source
  • Youngest fleet in a dozen years: About 94% of the U.S. core fleet is model year 2025 or 2026. Management expects these vehicles to produce better economics than prior model years. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • DOE per day up 4%: Adjusted DOE per transaction day rose 4% to $37.49. Management said that, normalized for variable costs, sale leaseback expenses and recall days, the improvement was about 2%. Source
  • RPD-to-DOE spread improved: The spread between RPD and DOE per day improved 17% year over year, the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year spread improvement. Source
  • Pricing drivers named: Management attributed RPD to its commercial playbook, airport supply discipline and a small incremental benefit from the World Cup. Source
  • RPU above expectations and target: RPU rose 8% to $1,542 per month, above management's expectations and its North Star target, despite elevated recalls. Source

“We are applying our commercial, operational, and fleet management capabilities across these areas to drive greater efficiency, establish diverse engines of growth, and create long-term value.”

Gil West, Chief Executive Officer of Hertz

Demand, utilization and fleet

  • Utilization up 80 basis points: Total utilization was 79%, up 80 basis points. Excluding elevated recalls, utilization was 81%, up 190 basis points. Source
  • Volume flat on smaller fleet: Transaction days were flat at 38,646 thousand. Average vehicles fell 1% to 539,118. Source
  • Depreciation per unit down: Net depreciation per unit per month was $302, against $256 a year earlier, up 18%. Source
  • Industry supply-demand more balanced: Management linked continued RPU momentum partly to a more balanced industry supply-demand environment. Source

Capital, liquidity and cash flow

  • Liquidity seen as growth enabler: Management views liquidity as a growth enabler and says it remains confident in its ability to fund the business and execute its transformation. Source
  • July notes add-on lifts liquidity: A $30 million notes add-on in July, through exercise of the greenshoe, brought pro forma liquidity post transaction to slightly over $1 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow higher: Net cash provided by operating activities was $381 million in the quarter, against $346 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow lower: Adjusted free cash flow was $162 million in the quarter, against $327 million. For the six months it was $(304) million. Source
  • Net debt increased: Total net debt was $17,962 million at June 30, 2026, against $16,208 million at December 31, 2025. Net corporate leverage is shown as not meaningful. Source

Strategy and platform investment

  • Core rental plus platform growth: Management said the transformation strengthens the core rental business while building a diversified platform across four areas: Rent-a-Car, Service, Fleet and Mobility. Source
  • Rent-a-Car shored up: Management said the company has made progress shoring up its Rent-a-Car business. Source
  • Hertz brand leverage ahead: Management named more effectively leveraging the Hertz brand as one of the greatest remaining items. Source
  • Used car partnerships explored: Management is exploring deeper ties with leading used car companies and new partnerships with retailers, building on Hertz's position as one of the largest dealers. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Oro first AV partnership starts: Oro's first AV partnership, with Uber's robotaxi program using Lucid vehicles with Nuro technology, is expected to begin operations later this year in the San Francisco Bay Area. Source
  • Franchise opportunities under review: Management is evaluating near-term franchise expansion across its global footprint through whitespace expansion and conversion activity. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Transaction Days Source38,646 thousand (Q2 2026); 38,695 thousand (Q2 2025)
Average Vehicles Source539,118 (Q2 2026); 544,962 (Q2 2025)
Average Rentable Vehicles Source517,835 (Q2 2026); 513,671 (Q2 2025)
Total RPD Source$61.98 (Q2 2026); $56.89 (Q2 2025)
Total RPU Per Month Source$1,542 (Q2 2026); $1,429 (Q2 2025)
Depreciation Per Unit Per Month Source$302 (Q2 2026); $256 (Q2 2025)
Total Vehicle Utilization Source79% total (Q2 2026); 82% operational

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Recall activity was about 300% higher year over year, affecting nearly 15,000 vehicles on average. Management estimated a $27 million GAAP net income effect and about $30 million on Adjusted Corporate EBITDA. Source
  • Operational: Adjusted DOE per day was slightly above management's expectations, mainly due to variable costs and sale leaseback expenses. Source
  • Financial: Adjusted Corporate EBITDA for Q3 2026 and fiscal 2026 and 2027 has not been reconciled to GAAP net income, because Public Warrant fair value changes are unpredictable. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Liquidity of about $984 million at quarter end was in line with the prior guidance of just under $1 billion. Source
  • On track: Management said Net DPU of $302 was consistent with its revised guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Management said Adjusted Corporate EBITDA came in above the top end of its revised guidance. 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.