Road Trip Revival: 64% of Americans Plan to Travel This Summer
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 12 2026
0mins
Should l Buy HTZ?
Source: Newsfilter
- Road Trip Surge: A Hertz survey reveals that 64% of Americans plan to embark on road trips this summer, reflecting a growing desire for the freedom and flexibility that driving offers, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
- Rental Demand Spike: Hertz's data indicates that rental demand is expected to peak during Memorial Day weekend, particularly on May 21 and 22, signaling a robust summer travel season ahead.
- Top Destinations: Popular rental cities for Memorial Day weekend include Orlando, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, showcasing a strong interest in theme parks and historic cities, with some destinations seeing over a 40% year-over-year increase in bookings.
- Iconic Routes Comeback: As the U.S. nears its 250th anniversary, Hertz data shows an 8% year-over-year increase in trips along Route 66, while bookings related to Boston and New England routes have surged by 14%, indicating a rising interest in heritage travel.
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Analyst Views on HTZ
Wall Street analysts forecast HTZ stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 4.930
Low
3.00
Averages
4.83
High
6.00
Current: 4.930
Low
3.00
Averages
4.83
High
6.00
About HTZ
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. is a car rental and mobility solutions provider. The Company's subsidiaries and licensees operate the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly vehicle rental brands with more than 11,000 rental locations in 160 countries around the globe, as well as the Hertz Car Sales brand, which offers a range of used cars for sale online and at locations across the United States, and the Hertz 24/7 car sharing business in Europe. The Company's segments include Americas RAC and International RAC. Its Americas RAC segment includes rental of vehicles, as well as sales of vehicles and value-added services, in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Company's International RAC segment includes rental of vehicles, as well as sales of vehicles and value-added services, in locations other than the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Company has franchisees and partners that operate rental locations under its brands.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Road Trip Revival: 64% of Americans Plan to Travel This Summer
- Road Trip Surge: A Hertz survey reveals that 64% of Americans plan to embark on road trips this summer, reflecting a growing desire for the freedom and flexibility that driving offers, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
- Rental Demand Spike: Hertz's data indicates that rental demand is expected to peak during Memorial Day weekend, particularly on May 21 and 22, signaling a robust summer travel season ahead.
- Top Destinations: Popular rental cities for Memorial Day weekend include Orlando, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, showcasing a strong interest in theme parks and historic cities, with some destinations seeing over a 40% year-over-year increase in bookings.
- Iconic Routes Comeback: As the U.S. nears its 250th anniversary, Hertz data shows an 8% year-over-year increase in trips along Route 66, while bookings related to Boston and New England routes have surged by 14%, indicating a rising interest in heritage travel.
See More
Hertz Global Holdings Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Significant Revenue Growth: Hertz reported $2 billion in revenue for Q1 2026, an 11% year-over-year increase driven by strong pricing with RPD up approximately 5.5% and transaction days up around 3%, demonstrating the company's competitive strength and pricing power in the market.
- Launch of Oro Platform: Hertz announced the launch of its mobility business, Oro, in partnership with Uber, designed to bridge the gap between autonomous technology and demand platforms, currently active in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with drivers logging over 4 million miles, showcasing its market potential and future growth opportunities.
- Improved Financial Performance: Despite a GAAP net loss of $333 million, the adjusted net loss was $224 million, reflecting an improvement of approximately $105 million year-over-year, indicating progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Management expects the EBITDA margin for the full year 2026 to be in the range of 3% to 6%, and despite challenges from recall activities, they maintain confidence in achieving the $1 billion EBITDA target for 2027, demonstrating a commitment to long-term growth.
See More
Hertz Reports Strong Q1 Revenue Growth Amidst Challenges
- Revenue Growth: Hertz reported Q1 revenue of $2 billion, marking a 10.5% year-over-year increase that exceeded market expectations by $100 million, indicating sustained progress in its commercial strategies and representing the strongest revenue growth in three years.
- Improved Revenue Metrics: Year-over-year Revenue per Unit (RPU) and Revenue Per Day (RPD) metrics continued to improve, with RPD showing a 5.5% increase, reflecting Hertz's success in enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience.
- Non-GAAP EPS: The company reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of -$0.72, in line with market expectations, indicating stability in financial management despite still being in a loss position.
- Market Reaction: Despite the strong revenue performance, Hertz's shares fell 4% in after-hours trading, reflecting market concerns about the disconnect between the company's fundamentals and stock price fluctuations.
See More
Hertz Global Holdings Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Hertz Global Holdings is set to announce its Q1 earnings on May 7th before market open, with investors keenly awaiting performance insights in the post-pandemic recovery context.
- Earnings Forecast Analysis: The consensus EPS estimate stands at -$0.72, reflecting a 35.7% year-over-year decline, indicating challenges in profitability recovery, while revenue is projected at $1.9 billion, marking a 5.0% year-over-year increase.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Hertz has only beaten EPS estimates 25% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, highlighting significant volatility in its performance and necessitating cautious evaluation by investors.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, there have been no upward revisions to EPS estimates, with two downward adjustments, while revenue estimates saw one upward revision, reflecting a cautious market sentiment regarding Hertz's future performance.
See More
Hertz Launches Digital Showroom on eBay to Boost Sales Strategy
- Digital Showroom Launch: Hertz has launched a dedicated digital car sales showroom on eBay, featuring over 8,000 vehicle listings, aimed at enhancing retail channels and expanding market reach through this reputable e-commerce platform.
- Hertz Certified Guarantee: All listed vehicles undergo a 115-point inspection and come with a “Hertz Certified” guarantee, while eBay’s “Secure Purchase” option offers financing, registration, and up to $100,000 in purchase protection, enhancing consumer trust.
- Strategic Partnership Expansion: This collaboration with eBay is another strategic move by Hertz to unlock growth opportunities, following its partnership with Uber to launch the new entity “Oro Mobility,” which will manage both driverless and driver-led car fleets, further broadening its business scope.
- Positive Market Reaction: While eBay's stock dipped slightly, Hertz's stock rose by 1.5%, indicating investor confidence in Hertz's growth potential, with both stocks outperforming the S&P 500 index over the past year, reflecting market approval of their strategies.
See More
Hertz Car Sales Expands Digital Retail with eBay Partnership
- Digital Retail Expansion: Hertz Car Sales has launched a dedicated digital showroom on eBay, offering over 8,000 Hertz Certified near-new vehicles, significantly enhancing consumer shopping confidence and convenience while bolstering brand value.
- Retail Channel Strategy: This partnership represents a strategic extension of Hertz's initiative to make retail its primary sales channel, allowing access to a broader customer base through eBay's extensive user network, thereby reducing reliance on wholesale channels.
- Vehicle Certification Assurance: All Hertz vehicles listed on eBay undergo a rigorous 115-point inspection, ensuring reliability, and come with a 12-month/12,000-mile limited warranty and a 7-day buy-back guarantee, further enhancing consumer purchase confidence.
- Market Opportunity Capture: By partnering with eBay, Hertz not only expands the reach of its nationwide inventory but also increases retail conversion rates through high-quality entry points into the purchase funnel, showcasing strategic agility in a competitive automotive market.
See More
Road Trip Revival: 64% of Americans Plan to Travel This Summer
- Road Trip Surge: A Hertz survey reveals that 64% of Americans plan to embark on road trips this summer, reflecting a growing desire for the freedom and flexibility that driving offers, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
- Rental Demand Spike: Hertz's data indicates that rental demand is expected to peak during Memorial Day weekend, particularly on May 21 and 22, signaling a robust summer travel season ahead.
- Top Destinations: Popular rental cities for Memorial Day weekend include Orlando, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, showcasing a strong interest in theme parks and historic cities, with some destinations seeing over a 40% year-over-year increase in bookings.
- Iconic Routes Comeback: As the U.S. nears its 250th anniversary, Hertz data shows an 8% year-over-year increase in trips along Route 66, while bookings related to Boston and New England routes have surged by 14%, indicating a rising interest in heritage travel.
See More
Hertz Global Holdings Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Significant Revenue Growth: Hertz reported $2 billion in revenue for Q1 2026, an 11% year-over-year increase driven by strong pricing with RPD up approximately 5.5% and transaction days up around 3%, demonstrating the company's competitive strength and pricing power in the market.
- Launch of Oro Platform: Hertz announced the launch of its mobility business, Oro, in partnership with Uber, designed to bridge the gap between autonomous technology and demand platforms, currently active in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with drivers logging over 4 million miles, showcasing its market potential and future growth opportunities.
- Improved Financial Performance: Despite a GAAP net loss of $333 million, the adjusted net loss was $224 million, reflecting an improvement of approximately $105 million year-over-year, indicating progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Management expects the EBITDA margin for the full year 2026 to be in the range of 3% to 6%, and despite challenges from recall activities, they maintain confidence in achieving the $1 billion EBITDA target for 2027, demonstrating a commitment to long-term growth.
See More
Hertz Reports Strong Q1 Revenue Growth Amidst Challenges
- Revenue Growth: Hertz reported Q1 revenue of $2 billion, marking a 10.5% year-over-year increase that exceeded market expectations by $100 million, indicating sustained progress in its commercial strategies and representing the strongest revenue growth in three years.
- Improved Revenue Metrics: Year-over-year Revenue per Unit (RPU) and Revenue Per Day (RPD) metrics continued to improve, with RPD showing a 5.5% increase, reflecting Hertz's success in enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience.
- Non-GAAP EPS: The company reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of -$0.72, in line with market expectations, indicating stability in financial management despite still being in a loss position.
- Market Reaction: Despite the strong revenue performance, Hertz's shares fell 4% in after-hours trading, reflecting market concerns about the disconnect between the company's fundamentals and stock price fluctuations.
See More
Hertz Global Holdings Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Hertz Global Holdings is set to announce its Q1 earnings on May 7th before market open, with investors keenly awaiting performance insights in the post-pandemic recovery context.
- Earnings Forecast Analysis: The consensus EPS estimate stands at -$0.72, reflecting a 35.7% year-over-year decline, indicating challenges in profitability recovery, while revenue is projected at $1.9 billion, marking a 5.0% year-over-year increase.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Hertz has only beaten EPS estimates 25% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, highlighting significant volatility in its performance and necessitating cautious evaluation by investors.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, there have been no upward revisions to EPS estimates, with two downward adjustments, while revenue estimates saw one upward revision, reflecting a cautious market sentiment regarding Hertz's future performance.
See More
Hertz Launches Digital Showroom on eBay to Boost Sales Strategy
- Digital Showroom Launch: Hertz has launched a dedicated digital car sales showroom on eBay, featuring over 8,000 vehicle listings, aimed at enhancing retail channels and expanding market reach through this reputable e-commerce platform.
- Hertz Certified Guarantee: All listed vehicles undergo a 115-point inspection and come with a “Hertz Certified” guarantee, while eBay’s “Secure Purchase” option offers financing, registration, and up to $100,000 in purchase protection, enhancing consumer trust.
- Strategic Partnership Expansion: This collaboration with eBay is another strategic move by Hertz to unlock growth opportunities, following its partnership with Uber to launch the new entity “Oro Mobility,” which will manage both driverless and driver-led car fleets, further broadening its business scope.
- Positive Market Reaction: While eBay's stock dipped slightly, Hertz's stock rose by 1.5%, indicating investor confidence in Hertz's growth potential, with both stocks outperforming the S&P 500 index over the past year, reflecting market approval of their strategies.
See More
Hertz Car Sales Expands Digital Retail with eBay Partnership
- Digital Retail Expansion: Hertz Car Sales has launched a dedicated digital showroom on eBay, offering over 8,000 Hertz Certified near-new vehicles, significantly enhancing consumer shopping confidence and convenience while bolstering brand value.
- Retail Channel Strategy: This partnership represents a strategic extension of Hertz's initiative to make retail its primary sales channel, allowing access to a broader customer base through eBay's extensive user network, thereby reducing reliance on wholesale channels.
- Vehicle Certification Assurance: All Hertz vehicles listed on eBay undergo a rigorous 115-point inspection, ensuring reliability, and come with a 12-month/12,000-mile limited warranty and a 7-day buy-back guarantee, further enhancing consumer purchase confidence.
- Market Opportunity Capture: By partnering with eBay, Hertz not only expands the reach of its nationwide inventory but also increases retail conversion rates through high-quality entry points into the purchase funnel, showcasing strategic agility in a competitive automotive market.
See More
