Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Hertz Revenue, Earnings Decline

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. has reported revenue of $2.5 billion for its third quarter 2016, a 1% decline compared to last year, due to higher vehicle depreciation and a decline in rate per day.

by Staff
November 8, 2016
Hertz Revenue, Earnings Decline

Photo courtesy of The Hertz Corp.

3 min to read


Photo courtesy of The Hertz Corp.

For the third quarter 2016, Hertz Global Holdings Inc. has reported its total revenues as $2.5 billion, a 1% decline versus third quarter 2015.

Adjusted earnings for Q3 were $329 million versus $430 million in the same period last year, a decline of $101 million, according to Hertz.

Ad Loading...

For third quarter, Hertz reported a net income (from continuing operations) of $44 million compared to a net income of $217 during the same period last year. On an adjusted basis for Q3, Hertz’s net income was $134 million compared to a net income of $182 million in Q3 2015.

For the U.S., Hertz’s total RAC revenues were $1.7 billion in Q3, a decrease of 2% from last year — due to a 3% decline in rate per day and a 1% increase in volume. According to Hertz, transaction days increased by 1% while pricing (total revenue per transaction day) decreased by 3% year-over-year. Adjusted earnings for Q3 were $199 million, an $85 million decline from last year.

"We are making progress in foundational aspects of our long-term business improvement plan, implementing new systems, improving customer service levels, and launching new products," said John Tague, Hertz’s president and CEO. "However, our near-term financial performance continues to be uneven. A customary vehicle depreciation rate review near the close of the third quarter resulted in a substantial depreciation adjustment, particularly on compact and mid-sized vehicles, that together with rental volume at the low end of our expectations as well as higher net operating and administrative expenses impacted our performance.”

U.S. vehicle utilization was 82% for the third quarter, a decrease of 60 basis points from last year, according to Hertz. This decrease is due to a higher number of vehicles out of service from manufacturer recalls.

In Q3, Hertz’s total international RAC revenues were $683 million, a decrease of 1% from third quarter 2015, according to the company. Excluding a $13 million unfavorable foreign currency impact, revenues increased 1% — driven by a 2% growth in transaction days and a 1% decrease in total revenue per day.

Ad Loading...

Worldwide customer satisfaction improved year-over-year for the Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty brands by more than seven points for the third quarter. This is the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvements for all three brands, says the company.

Hertz achieved cost savings of approximately $90 million in the third quarter; the company is on pace to hit its previously announced target of $350 million of full-year 2016 cost savings.

"While we remain on pace to deliver $350 million of cost reduction in 2016, we fell short from a timing perspective on our internal stretch target for cost reduction,” added Tague. “Considering this and the potential for an additional depreciation rate adjustment in the fourth quarter, we are updating our 2016 outlook and taking incremental actions to reduce costs and drive revenue."

For the full-year 2016, Hertz has updated its estimates of adjusted earnings; it expects that fourth quarter 2016 results will be affected by factors such as higher vehicle depreciation due to lower residual values. Now the company expects that its full-year revenue for the U.S. will increase 2% to 3%. The U.S. RAC net depreciation per unit is predicted to be $295 to $300 per month.

More Rental Operations

Richard Lowden gesturing on stage in front of a red curtain at the Gaylord Texan Resort near Dallas.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 12, 2026

Rethink The Future To Avert A Race To The Bottom

Rental car operators heard a sobering industry message and a stern challenge at the close of the International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
John Possumato holding microphone while asking a question during a live conference session at the ICRS Show.

DriveItAway, Free2move Plan Shared Fleet Program for Independent Rental Fleet Operators

Vehicles would be placed with participating rental operations to support car renter demand and provide additional fleet capacity.

Read More →
Close-up of a Jeep Wrangler front grille and headlight with text noting Stellantis’ recall of 1.3 million Jeep vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk tied to power steering wiring.
Fleet Acquisitionby StaffJune 10, 2026

Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk

Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Franchisee standing with yellow U-Save branded sign in front of the rental car outlet.

Green Motion And U-Save Open Rental Operations In Guatemala

The brands will open their first rental car outlets in the country at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.

Read More →
An airplane parked at a gate next to large headline and bullet points about study highlights.

U.S. Business Travel Drives $623 Billion+ in Economic Impact as Spending Reaches $538 Billion

The data also underscores the industry’s strong multiplier effect across the U.S. economy, revealing that each dollar invested in business travel in 2024 generated $1.16 in GDP.

Read More →
Green and black bar graphs show May 2025 v. 2026 fleet vehicle sales into commercial, rental, and government fleet sectors.
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJune 3, 2026

Rental Fleet Sales Skating Just Above 2025 Levels

The U.S. economy's continued growth and positive business investment are creating a favorable environment for fleet vehicle demand.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Interviewer Martin Romjue and guest Ryan Kerzner on both sides of a title page with large lettering.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 3, 2026

Grow Your Rental Business Beyond Cars

Rental fleet operations are facing numerous evolving challenges and opportunities from AI technology to rate and revenue management, to customer service and business growth.

Read More →
An AI-imaging tunnel instantly scans a car for damages at Wenn's location in Lithuania.
Rental OperationsJune 2, 2026

Using AI to Create Clarity, Not Conflict, in Rental Car Damage

Rental companies still need people, policy, judgment, and thoughtful implementation, with operators remaining in control of the customer experience.

Read More →
Close up of a high-tech vehicle console with a remote key.
Rental OperationsJune 1, 2026

Get Ready To Roll: No Stopping Self-Driving Rental Cars

The autonomous mobility technology revolution will move at its own pace, but sooner rather than later.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Ad Loading...