Hertz narrows loss, shares surge after debt-funding move and used-car market warning

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. reported a second-quarter adjusted loss of 11 cents per share on August 6, 2026, beating analyst expectations of a 24-cent loss and topping Ebitda estimates. The rental-car giant posted adjusted corporate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $81 million, exceeding forecasts. Revenue per day climbed 9%, while depreciation per unit per month surged 18%. The results provided investors with relief after a turbulent period marked by heavy depreciation costs, volatile finances, and a 70% stock plunge in 2026 through August 5. Hertz’s turnaround effort received a boost despite a June debt-and-stock fundraising maneuver that included issuing $100 million in shares designed to be shorted. The company also warned in a regulatory filing of “unexpected softness in the used car market,” which it said was inflating costs. Hertz had previously projected adjusted Ebitda would not exceed $80 million, the low end of its expectations. Shares jumped 11% in premarket trading following the earnings release.