Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: HRIAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

HRI AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI) operates as an equipment rental supplier across the United States and internationally. For the trailing twelve months, the company generated $4.86B in revenue with an operating margin of 12.2% and EPS of $1.53. Balance sheet leverage remains significant, with total debt reaching $9.46B against cash of $43.0M as of June 30, 2026.

Market cap
$4.06B
Revenue (TTM)
$4.86B
P/E
79.5x
fwd 12.2x
1Y return
-4.2%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$182.67
50.3% vs last close

Bull case

  • Quarterly revenue grew 20.2% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, contributing to trailing twelve months revenue of $4.86B.
  • The consensus analyst mean price target of $182.67 implies 50.3% upside compared to the October 16, 2026 closing price of $121.57.
  • HRI trades at an EV/EBITDA of 7.6x and a forward P/E of 12.2x, lower than the US-listed Industrials peer medians of 13.9x and 17.2x.

Bear case

  • Net income dropped sharply from $347.0M in FY2023 to $1.0M in FY2025, accompanied by a 79.0% year-over-year decline in quarterly earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • Total debt reached $9.46B against just $43.0M in cash as of June 30, 2026, leading to a high debt-to-equity ratio of 5.01.
  • Free cash flow was negative at -$135.0M in FY2025 due to elevated capital expenditures of $1.25B.

What Herc does

Herc Holdings Inc., headquartered in Bonita Springs, Florida, operates as an equipment rental supplier across the United States and internationally. The company rents equipment including aerial platforms, earthmoving machinery, material handling solutions, trucks, trailers, air compressors, compaction equipment, and lighting systems. It also provides ProSolutions specialty services such as power generation, climate control, remediation, pump solutions, and trench shoring, alongside ProContractor tools. Additionally, Herc Holdings offers repair, maintenance, equipment management, safety training, transport, cleaning, refueling, labor, and sales of used equipment and contractor supplies across diverse non-residential and industrial end markets.

Growth and profitability

Herc Holdings expanded annual revenue from $2.07B in FY2021 to $4.38B in FY2025, recording a 5-year revenue CAGR of 19.7%. However, gross margin compressed from 36.5% in FY2021 to 28.2% in FY2025, while operating margin fell from 21.5% to 15.3%. Annual net income dropped from $224.0M in FY2021 and a peak of $347.0M in FY2023 down to $1.0M in FY2025. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 20.2% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 79.0% year-over-year. TTM revenue reached $4.86B with a profit margin of 1.0% and EPS of $1.53.

HRI income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Herc Holdings held $43.0M in cash and short-term investments against $9.46B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $9.42B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.01. Total assets were $13.72B and shareholders' equity stood at $1.89B, with a current ratio of 1.10. Operating cash flow was $1.12B in FY2025, but capital expenditures of $1.25B led to free cash flow of -$135.0M. During FY2025, the company deployed $87.0M toward dividends and $8.0M toward share buybacks.

HRI balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

HRI closed at $121.57 on October 16, 2026, down 16.8% year-to-date and 4.2% over the past year, compared to a 16.8% 1-year gain for the S&P 500 (SPY). Over five years, the stock fell 25.4% while SPY rose 83.0%. The company carries a trailing P/E of 79.5x, well above the 24.8x median of its US-listed Industrials peers. Conversely, its forward P/E of 12.2x and EV/EBITDA of 7.6x trade below the peer medians of 17.2x and 13.9x, respectively. Herc Holdings has a price-to-sales ratio of 0.8x versus the peer median of 1.5x.

HRI key metrics →

HRI dividend

Herc Holdings pays an annual forward dividend of $2.80 per share, representing a dividend yield of 2.30% with a payout ratio of 47.2%. Dividends are distributed on a quarterly frequency, and the company has maintained consecutive dividend payments for 6 years. The most recent ex-dividend date was September 2, 2026.

HRI dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analyst coverage consists of 6 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, 1 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings. The mean price target is $182.67, representing a 50.3% premium over the last close of $121.57. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $7.10 and revenue of $4.95B. For FY2027, 11 analysts project EPS of $10.90, reflecting 53.5% growth, and revenue of $5.37B. The company beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings date scheduled for October 27, 2026.

HRI forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • The company carries a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.01 with total debt of $9.46B, which may elevate financial strain under high borrowing costs.
  • With a beta of 2.05, the stock exhibits more than twice the volatility of the broader market.
  • Operating margin fell from 24.4% in FY2024 to 15.3% in FY2025, indicating notable margin compression.
  • Short interest stands at 12.5% of float, reflecting elevated negative positioning among investors.

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 HRI AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI). 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: HRI income statement, HRI balance sheet, HRI key metrics, HRI analyst forecast, HRI chart. See the HRI stock overview for the latest quote and news.

HRI AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Herc Holdings' current dividend yield?

Herc Holdings pays a forward annual dividend of $2.80 per share, which equates to a dividend yield of 2.30% with a payout ratio of 47.2%.

How much debt does Herc Holdings carry?

As of June 30, 2026, Herc Holdings reported total debt of $9.46B and cash and short-term investments of $43.0M, resulting in net debt of $9.42B.

When is Herc Holdings' next earnings report?

Herc Holdings is scheduled to report its next financial results on October 27, 2026.

What are analysts forecasting for Herc Holdings' revenue and earnings?

For FY2026, analysts estimate EPS of $7.10 on revenue of $4.95B, followed by FY2027 estimates of $10.90 in EPS and $5.37B in revenue.

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