HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC quarterly report, Q2 FY2022

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. — Q2 2022 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Three and six months ended June 30, 2022. Hertz Global is the holding company for The Hertz Corporation, its principal operating subsidiary. The filing combines both companies’ reports; Hertz Global’s results include Hertz’s operations and also reflect Public Warrant accounting. Amounts below are in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise.

Financial results and operating metrics

MetricQ2 2022Q2 2021Six months 2022Six months 2021
Revenue$2.344 billion$1.873 billion$4.154 billion$3.161 billion
Hertz Global net income$940 million$(168) million$1.366 billion$21 million
Hertz net income$480 million$(4) million$856 million$185 million
Hertz Global diluted EPS$1.13$(1.05)$1.93$0.13
Adjusted Corporate EBITDA$764 million$639 million$1.378 billion$642 million

Revenue increased 25% in Q2 and 31% in the first half, primarily from higher travel demand, rental volume and pricing. Adjusted Corporate EBITDA increased 19% in Q2; its approximate margin was 32.6% versus 34.1% a year earlier. First-half EBITDA margin was approximately 33.2% versus 20.3%. These margins are calculated from reported revenue and non-GAAP Adjusted Corporate EBITDA.

Hertz Global’s Q2 and first-half net income included non-cash gains of $461 million and $511 million, respectively, from lower fair value of Public Warrant liabilities. These gains are excluded from Adjusted Corporate EBITDA. Hertz, which does not record this parent-level warrant gain, reported Q2 net income of $480 million. Hertz Global basic/diluted EPS was $2.36/$1.13 for Q2 and $3.29/$1.93 for the first half.

  • Segments: Q2 Americas RAC revenue was $1.973 billion and Adjusted EBITDA $770 million; International RAC revenue was $371 million and Adjusted EBITDA $92 million. International revenue grew 61%, including an unfavorable foreign-exchange impact.
  • Demand and fleet: Q2 transaction days rose 17% in Americas and 28% internationally. Total revenue per transaction day increased 3% in Americas and 39% internationally. Utilization was 80% and 76%, respectively.
  • Costs and depreciation: Q2 direct vehicle and operating expense rose 27%, faster than revenue, reflecting personnel and fleet-related costs. Vehicle depreciation and lease charges, net, were $106 million versus $116 million; strong used-vehicle residual values and disposition gains helped, particularly in Americas. First-half net vehicle depreciation and lease charges were only $47 million versus $359 million, also reflecting substantial disposal gains.
  • Interest and tax: Q2 total net interest expense was $86 million versus $189 million. Hertz Global recorded a $179 million Q2 tax provision (16% effective rate) and a $309 million first-half provision (18%).

Cash flow, balance sheet and capital allocation

  • For the first half, operating cash flow was $1.329 billion; investing cash outflow was $3.251 billion; financing cash inflow was $859 million. Cash and restricted cash totaled $1.563 billion at June 30, down from $2.651 billion at year-end.
  • Vehicle purchases were $6.089 billion and vehicle disposal proceeds were $2.887 billion, producing $3.202 billion of net vehicle investment. The fleet expansion was linked to stronger demand and post-bankruptcy fleet replenishment.
  • At June 30, total debt was $13.392 billion: $10.411 billion vehicle debt and $2.981 billion non-vehicle debt, up from $10.907 billion at year-end. Total assets were $22.066 billion and stockholders’ equity $2.729 billion.
  • Corporate liquidity, excluding unused vehicle-financing commitments, was $2.490 billion: $1.041 billion cash and $1.449 billion available under the First Lien revolving credit facility. Total reported borrowing capacity was $3.184 billion, but vehicle-facility availability under borrowing-base limits was zero. Management said cash, vehicle-sale proceeds and financing access should be sufficient for obligations over the next 12 months.
  • The First Lien RCF commitment was increased to $1.9 billion during the quarter. The company reported compliance with its financial and other covenants at June 30. $701 million of standby letters of credit were outstanding; none had been drawn.
  • Hertz Global completed its $2.0 billion 2021 share-repurchase authorization, repurchasing 97.8 million shares since program inception. It authorized a further $2.0 billion program and repurchased $20 million under it during June. Through July 21, it had repurchased a further $138 million under the new program.

Changes, outlook, risks and contingencies

  • Compared with 2021, results reflect recovering travel demand and pricing, but also higher operating costs and a larger fleet. Prior-year comparisons are affected by Chapter 11 reorganization charges and the 2021 Donlen sale and gain; Donlen is no longer part of continuing operations.
  • Management gave no specific revenue or earnings guidance. It described travel demand as rebounding but noted uncertainty around COVID-19, the semiconductor shortage and other supply constraints. Fleet availability, vehicle acquisition costs, residual values, inflation, labor costs, interest rates, competition and travel demand could materially affect results.
  • Substantially all revenue-earning vehicles and certain related assets are pledged or held in financing structures; those assets generally are not available to unsecured creditors until secured lenders are paid. A substantial portion of debt is vehicle-backed, and some borrowing capacity depends on eligible collateral.
  • The filing identifies the Russia-Ukraine conflict as an added risk to supply chains, vehicle production, costs and demand, particularly in Europe. Other cited risks include residual-value declines when vehicle supply constraints ease, cyber and technology risks, and access to financing.
  • Legal and tax matters: A bankruptcy-court dispute over redemption premiums on certain 2026 and 2028 notes remains; other claims in the trustee’s complaint were dismissed. The company is defending customer claims alleging erroneous arrests after rental cars were reported stolen; management currently does not expect a material adverse effect, and it has sought insurance coverage. Self-insured liabilities were $470 million. The IRS is reviewing the tax character of a European restructuring loss; a favorable decision could release some or all of a valuation allowance on a $141 million U.S. federal tax-effected carryforward.
  • The filing reports effective disclosure controls and no material changes in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter.

Key facts for investors to verify

  • How much reported earnings and EPS depend on non-cash warrant remeasurement and unusually strong vehicle-disposal gains, versus recurring rental operations.
  • Whether elevated pricing, transaction volumes and utilization can persist as vehicle supply recovers, and how inflation and fleet age affect operating costs.
  • Vehicle-funding availability, collateral requirements, debt costs and covenant headroom; distinguish total stated capacity from capacity available under borrowing-base limits.
  • Cash remaining after fleet investment and share repurchases, and the pace and terms of further buybacks under the new authorization.
  • Developments in the noteholder litigation, customer claims and IRS review, and changes in the company’s related reserves or insurance recoveries.