Five Months Later: Analyzing the Pros, Cons, and Risks of Hertz's Partnership with Amazon
Hertz's Stock Performance: Hertz Global Holdings has seen a significant decline in its stock value, with shares down over 79% in the past five years, including a nearly 43% loss since reaching a one-year high in April 2025.
Partnership with Amazon: The company has entered a strategic partnership with Amazon to sell used cars online, aiming to improve sales and provide customers with a more convenient purchasing experience.
Financial Challenges: Hertz has faced substantial financial difficulties, including a massive net loss in 2024 and increasing depreciation costs, which have raised concerns among investors regarding the company's long-term viability.
Analyst Ratings: While Amazon has received a favorable "Buy" rating from analysts, Hertz has been assigned a "Reduce" rating, reflecting a lack of confidence in its recovery and growth potential compared to its competitors.
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- Investor Conference Schedule: Carvana's Founder and CEO Ernie Garcia will present at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on March 2, 2026, showcasing the company's future strategies, which is expected to attract investor interest.
- Webcast Availability: The presentation will be accessible via a live webcast on Carvana's Investor Relations website, allowing investors to engage with the company and view a recorded replay post-event, enhancing transparency and communication.
- Customer Base Growth: Since its inception in 2013, Carvana has attracted over 4 million customers to its online car trading platform, demonstrating strong growth momentum in the automotive e-commerce sector and further solidifying its market position.
- Technology-Driven Business Model: Carvana leverages its unique technology and national infrastructure to provide a convenient online car buying experience, enabling customers to complete delivery or pickup on the same day, which enhances customer satisfaction and competitive edge.
- Investor Conference Schedule: Carvana's Founder and CEO Ernie Garcia will present at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on March 2, 2026, at 12:20 PM PT, showcasing the company's future growth strategies to attract investor interest.
- Webcast Availability: The presentation will be accessible via live webcast on Carvana's Investor Relations website, allowing global investors to watch in real-time, with an archived replay available post-presentation to ensure widespread information dissemination.
- Company Mission and Vision: Since its inception in 2013, Carvana has attracted over 4 million customers, aiming to transform the way people buy and sell cars through its leading automotive e-commerce platform, enhancing user experience and driving industry innovation.
- Technology-Driven Business Model: Carvana leverages its unique technology and national infrastructure to offer convenient online vehicle purchasing, selling, financing, and trading services, with same-day delivery or local pickup options, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Disappointing Earnings: Carvana's gross profit per retail unit fell from $6,916 to $6,562 in Q4 2024, with adjusted EBITDA at $511 million missing analyst expectations, contributing to a more than 30% drop in stock price since late January.
- Unclear Guidance: The company did not provide specific expectations for 2026, stating only that it anticipates significant growth in retail units sold and adjusted EBITDA, which has left investors feeling uneasy about future performance.
- Market Potential: Despite controlling just over 2% of the used car market, Carvana's sales of 596,641 retail units and 297,643 wholesale cars indicate strong ongoing demand, suggesting ample room for growth ahead.
- Growth Momentum: Carvana's Q4 revenue increased by 58% year-over-year with a 43% rise in retail units sold, and analysts expect this growth trend to continue through 2027, indicating that a renewed focus on its growth potential could lead to a stock recovery.
- Disappointing Financials: Carvana's gross profit per retail unit fell from $6,916 to $6,562 in Q4 2024, reflecting declining profitability that has shaken investor confidence, resulting in a stock price drop of over 30% since January.
- EBITDA Misses Expectations: The company's adjusted EBITDA of $511 million fell short of analyst expectations, exacerbating market concerns regarding its future performance amid a challenging economic environment.
- Market Potential Remains: Despite challenges, Carvana sold 596,641 retail units and 297,643 wholesale units in 2023, maintaining a market penetration of just over 2%, which provides room for future growth, especially as the demand for reliable vehicles persists.
- Unclear Future Guidance: Carvana failed to provide specific guidance for 2026, although it anticipates significant growth in retail units and EBITDA, the lack of concrete data has led investors to adopt a cautious stance regarding its future trajectory.
- Securities Fraud Investigation: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Carvana and its executives have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, which could undermine investor confidence and lead to stock price volatility.
- Earnings Overstatement Allegations: On January 28, 2026, Gotham City Research LLC issued a report claiming that Carvana's earnings for 2023-2024 are overstated by over $1 billion, revealing the company's significant dependence on related parties, which may lead to legal repercussions.
- Stock Price Plunge: Following the report's release, Carvana's stock price fell by $67.68, a decline of 14.17%, closing at $410.04 per share, indicating market concerns regarding the company's financial health.
- Potential Legal Consequences: Pomerantz LLP, recognized for its expertise in securities litigation, may provide legal support to affected investors, further exacerbating Carvana's legal and financial risks.
- Tariff Impact Intensifies: Sonic Automotive President Jeff Dyke warns that unsustainable tariff costs will lead automakers to either raise prices or cut features, indicating a pressing urgency within the industry and potential future price pressures.
- Limited Price Fluctuations: Despite only a 1% increase in vehicle prices since the Trump administration's tariffs, analyst Jessica Caldwell notes a surge in used vehicle demand as consumers anticipate new car price hikes, highlighting market sensitivity to pricing changes.
- Toyota's Financial Strain: Toyota reported a 25% drop in net income for the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, with tariffs costing approximately 1.2 trillion yen (around $8 billion), underscoring the significant impact of tariffs on major automakers and their profitability.
- Future Production Adjustments: Toyota may consider relocating some production back to the U.S. based on the outcomes of U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade negotiations, particularly for its Tacoma pickup made in Mexico, reflecting the company's strategic flexibility in addressing tariff challenges.









