Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: CARAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

CAR AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR) is a global provider of car and truck rentals, car sharing, and related mobility services. The company generated $11.71B in trailing twelve-month revenue, but net income has been pressured, recording -$889.0M in FY2025. With a high debt load of $29.12B and negative shareholders' equity of -$3.39B, Avis trades at a forward P/E of 3.4x.

Market cap
$3.63B
Revenue (TTM)
$11.71B
P/E
—
fwd 3.4x
1Y return
-32.0%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$122.86
19.5% vs last close

Bull case

  • The stock trades at a low forward P/E of 3.4x compared to 17.2x for the median of its US-listed Industrials peers.
  • Analysts project EPS to grow 105.2% in FY2026 to $1.30 and an additional 383.0% to $6.28 in FY2027.
  • Quarterly earnings jumped 880.0% year-over-year in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Bear case

  • Free cash flow registered at -$11.98B in FY2025 due to substantial capital expenditures of $15.27B.
  • The balance sheet carries significant leverage, with total debt of $29.12B and negative shareholders' equity of -$3.39B.
  • The stock fell 32.0% over the past 1 year, underperforming the S&P 500 benchmark return of 16.8%.

What Avis Budget does

Avis Budget Group, Inc. provides vehicle rentals, car sharing, and ancillary services to businesses and consumers. The company operates core brands such as Avis, which delivers mobility solutions for commercial and leisure travel, and Budget Truck, which maintains a fleet of approximately 20,000 vehicles across roughly 465 dealer-operated and 385 company-operated locations in the continental United States. It also operates Zipcar, a car-sharing network, alongside international rental brands like Budget, Payless, Apex, and Maggiore. Additional offerings include insurance coverage options, fuel services, roadside assistance, electronic toll collection, curbside delivery, and portable navigation units.

Growth and profitability

Avis Budget Group achieved a 5-year revenue CAGR of 16.6% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue expanded from $9.31B in FY2021 to $11.99B in FY2022 and peaked at $12.01B in FY2023, before dipping to $11.79B in FY2024 and $11.65B in FY2025. Gross margin contracted from 39.8% in FY2022 to 24.4% in FY2025, while operating margin slipped from 27.4% to 11.0%. Net income moved from profits of $2.76B in FY2022 to losses of -$1.82B in FY2024 and -$889.0M in FY2025. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 1.3% year-over-year, though quarterly earnings grew 880.0%.

CAR income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Avis Budget Group held $558.0M in cash and short-term investments against $29.12B in total debt, yielding net debt of $28.57B. The current ratio stood at 0.81, and shareholders' equity was -$3.39B. Operating cash flow in FY2025 was $3.30B, but capital expenditures of $15.27B resulted in free cash flow of -$11.98B. The company allocated $7.0M toward share buybacks in FY2025, and its share count has decreased 38.8% over the past 5 years.

CAR balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Avis Budget Group trades at an enterprise value of $32.30B and a market capitalization of $3.63B. Its forward P/E of 3.4x is well below the 17.2x median of its US-listed Industrials peers. The company's EV-to-EBITDA stands at 8.4x compared to the peer median of 13.9x, and its price-to-sales multiple is 0.3x versus 1.5x for peers. Over the trailing year, the stock returned -32.0%, trailing the 16.8% gain for the S&P 500.

CAR key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analysts carry 0 Strong Buy, 0 Buy, 6 Hold, 1 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell recommendations on CAR. The mean price target is $122.86, representing a 19.5% premium to the last close of $102.83 on October 16, 2026. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $1.30 on revenue of $11.62B. The company beat EPS estimates in 1 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 3, 2026.

CAR forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • High leverage is reflected in net debt of $28.57B alongside negative shareholders' equity of -$3.39B as of June 30, 2026.
  • Short interest is elevated, with short percent of float standing at 54.1%.
  • The stock exhibits heightened volatility with a beta of 2.11 and trades 33.6% below its 200-day moving average.
  • Liquidity pressures may persist given a current ratio of 0.81 and cash reserves of $558.0M.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this CAR AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: CAR income statement, CAR balance sheet, CAR key metrics, CAR analyst forecast, CAR chart. See the CAR stock overview for the latest quote and news.

CAR AI stock analysis FAQ

Does Avis Budget Group pay a dividend?

Avis Budget Group does not pay a regular dividend.

What is the consensus analyst target price for CAR stock?

The mean analyst price target is $122.86, which represents an upside of 19.5% from the closing price of $102.83 on October 16, 2026.

How much debt does Avis Budget Group have?

As of June 30, 2026, Avis Budget Group held $29.12B in total debt and $558.0M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $28.57B.

When does Avis Budget Group report earnings next?

The company's next earnings date is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

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