Q1 2026 Avis Budget Group Inc Earnings Call

April 29, 2026

Operator 2: Greetings. Welcome to the Avis Budget Group Q1 2026 earnings call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I will now turn the conference over to David Calabria, Treasurer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance. Thank you, David. You may begin.

Operator: Greetings. Welcome to the Avis Budget Group Q1 2026 earnings call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I will now turn the conference over to David Calabria, Treasurer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance. Thank you, David. You may begin.

Speaker #1: If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. Please note that this conference is being recorded.

Speaker #1: I will now turn the conference over to David Calabria, Treasurer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance. Thank you, David. You may begin.

Speaker #2: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. On the call with me are Brian Choi, our Chief Executive Officer, and Daniel Cunha, our Chief Financial Officer.

David Calabria: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. On the call with me are Brian Choi, our Chief Executive Officer, and Daniel Cunha, our Chief Financial Officer. Before we begin, I would like to remind everyone that we will be discussing forward-looking information, including potential future financial performance, which is subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements and information. Such risks and assumptions, uncertainties, and other factors are identified in our earnings release and other periodic filings with the SEC, as well as the investor relations section of our website. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results, and any or all of our forward-looking statements may prove to be inaccurate, and we can make no guarantees about our future performance. We undertake no obligation to update or revise our forward-looking statements.

Speaker #2: Before we begin, I would like to remind everyone that we will be discussing forward-looking information, including potential future financial performance, which is subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements and information.

Speaker #2: Such risks and assumptions uncertainties and other factors are identified in our earnings release and other periodic filings with the SEC, as well as the investor relations section of our website.

Speaker #2: Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as prediction of actual results and any or all of our forward-looking statements may prove to be inaccurate, and we can make no guarantees about our future performance.

Speaker #2: We undertake no obligation to update or revise our forward-looking statements. On this call, we will discuss certain non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to our earnings press release, which is available on our website for how we define these measures and reconciliations to the closest comparable GAAP measures.

David Calabria: On this call, we will discuss certain non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to our earnings press release, which is available on our website for how we define these measures and reconciliations to the closest comparable GAAP measures. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to Brian.

Speaker #2: With that, I'd like to turn the call over to Brian.

Speaker #3: Thanks, David. And thank you to everyone joining us today for our first quarter earnings call. There's a lot to cover this morning, and as you've seen in our earnings release and financial supplement, we've begun executing on the changes we outlined last quarter.

Brian Choi: Thanks, David, thank you to everyone joining us today for our Q1 earnings call. There's a lot to cover this morning. As you've seen in our earnings release and financial supplement, we've begun executing on the changes we outlined last quarter. In particular, the actions we've taken around fleet reduction and supply discipline are starting to show up in both our operational performance and our financial results. We believe these changes do much to strengthen Avis. Daniel and I will walk you through the details of the business. Before we do that, I want to address what I know is top of mind for many of you, the recent volatility we've seen in our stock price. We've received a number of questions. I think it's worth taking a moment to walk through the facts as we understand them based on disclosure from public filings.

Speaker #3: In particular, the actions we've taken around fleet reduction and supply discipline are starting to show up in both our operational performance and our financial results.

Speaker #3: We believe these changes do much to strengthen Avis. Daniel and I will walk you through the details of the business, but before we do that, I want to address what I know is top of mind for many of you.

Speaker #3: The recent volatility we've seen in our stock price. We've received a number of questions, so I think it's worth taking a moment to walk through the facts as we understand them based on disclosure from public filings.

Speaker #3: Let's start with what's well understood. Our second largest shareholder, Pentwater Capital, who filed as a 9% owner of our company as of December 31, 2025, crossed the 10% ownership threshold on February 20 and became a Section 16 insider.

Brian Choi: Let's start with what's well understood. Our second-largest shareholder, Pentwater Capital, who filed as a 9% owner of our company as of 31 December 2025, crossed the 10% ownership threshold on 20 February 2026 and became a Section 16 insider. On that day, Pentwater disclosed they held an economic interest of 39% of our company through stock and cash-settled swaps. By March, they disclosed that economic interest increased to 51%. In the span of a month, Pentwater's public filings showed their economic interest increased substantially. We believe that this significant increase in ownership, combined with the high short interest in our name, resulted in a short squeeze. That much is well understood. Here's what we're absorbing just now.

Brian Choi: Let's start with what's well understood. Our second-largest shareholder, Pentwater Capital, who filed as a 9% owner of our company as of 31 December 2025, crossed the 10% ownership threshold on 20 February and became a Section 16 insider. On that day, Pentwater disclosed they held an economic interest of 39% of our company through stock and cash-settled swaps. By March, they disclosed that economic interest increased to 51%. In the span of a month, Pentwater's public filings showed their economic interest increased substantially. We believe that this significant increase in ownership, combined with the high short interest in our name, resulted in a short squeeze. That much is well understood. Here's what we're absorbing just now.

Speaker #3: On that day, Pentwater disclosed they held an economic interest of 39% of our company through stock and cash settled swaps. By March, they disclosed that economic interest increased to 51%.

Speaker #3: So in the span of a month, Pentwater's public filings showed their economic interest increased substantially. We believe that this significant increase in ownership, combined with the high short interest in our name, resulted in a short squeeze.

Speaker #3: That much is well understood. Here's what we're absorbing just now. After market close yesterday, Pentwater disclosed the sale of $4.3 million shares for gross proceeds of $1.75 billion on April 22nd and April 23rd.

Brian Choi: After market closed yesterday, Pentwater disclosed the sale of 4.3 million shares for gross proceeds of $1.75 billion on 22 April and 23 April. Given the quantum of shares sold in such a short span of time, our stock price experienced a significant decline. It is important to note that Avis has not bought or sold a share since 2024. Our largest shareholder, SRS, has not bought or sold a share since 2023. It seems the only insider active during this period of excess volatility was Pentwater Capital. Pentwater has acknowledged that its sale of Avis stock, at least in part, was violative of the SEC Section 16 short-swing profit rule. Avis has requested Pentwater furnish it all relevant information concerning the trades, and Avis will aggressively pursue all rights on behalf of our stockholders.

Speaker #3: Given the quantum of shares sold in such a short span of time, our stock price experienced a significant decline. It is important to note that Avis has not bought or sold a share since 2024.

Speaker #3: Our largest shareholder, SRS, has not bought or sold a share since 2023. So it seems the only insider active during this period of excess volatility was Pentwater Capital.

Speaker #3: Pentwater has acknowledged that its sale of Avis stock, at least in part, was violative of the SEC Section 16 short swing profit rules. Avis has requested Pentwater furnish it all relevant information concerning the trades and Avis will aggressively pursue all rights on behalf of our stockholders.

Speaker #3: From the company's perspective, nothing about how we operate the business has changed, and our focus remains squarely on execution and long-term value creation. With that context, let's turn back to the fundamentals of the business.

Brian Choi: From the company's perspective, nothing about how we operate the business has changed, and our focus remains squarely on execution and long-term value creation. With that context, let's turn back to the fundamentals of the business. On our last earnings call, we laid out the difficult but necessary decisions required to put this business on a stronger footing. We executed on that plan in Q1, and the early results reflect that progress. Overall, we're pleased with our Q1 performance, which delivered adjusted EBITDA above plan. Before I turn it over to Daniel to walk through the details, I want to highlight a few proof points that demonstrate how the business is responding. Starting with revenue, this was the Q1 in 10 where we delivered growth in the Americas, driven by strong RPD performance.

Speaker #3: On our last earnings call, we laid out the difficult but necessary decisions required to put this business on a stronger footing. We executed on that plan in the first quarter, and the early results reflect that progress.

Speaker #3: Overall, we're pleased with our first quarter performance, which delivered adjusted EBITDA above plan. Before I turn it over to Daniel to walk through the details, I want to highlight a few proof points that demonstrate how the business is responding.

Speaker #3: Starting with revenue, this was the first quarter in 10 where we delivered growth in the Americas, driven by strong RPD performance. That was a direct result of our decision to better align supply with demand, allowing us to be more selective in the business we accepted and improve pricing discipline.

Brian Choi: That was a direct result of our decision to better align supply with demand, allowing us to be more selective in the business we accepted and improve pricing discipline. International continued to execute well on its mix strategy, also delivering strong RPD growth. On the fleet side, we were able to take advantage of a stronger than expected Q1 used car demand. The Manheim Index tracked above prior years at this point in the seasonal curve. Our teams moved quickly, disposing a record number of vehicles in the Americas, where we did not expect residual values to hold. Operationally, utilization was the highest we've seen in over 15 years for the Q1 in the Americas, despite continued recall-related constraints. We effectively managed our assets through a volatile environment, including weather disruptions early in the quarter, TSA-related impacts, and broader geopolitical uncertainty.

Speaker #3: International continued to execute well on its mix strategy, also delivering strong RPD growth. On the fleet side, we were able to take advantage of a stronger-than-expected first-quarter used car demand.

Speaker #3: The Mannheim Index tracked above prior years at this point in the seasonal curve and our teams moved quickly disposing of record number of vehicles in the Americas where we did not expect residual values to hold.

Speaker #3: Operationally, utilization was the highest we've seen in over 15 years for the first quarter in the Americas. Despite continued recall-related constraints. We effectively managed our assets through a volatile environment, including weather disruptions early in the quarter, TSA-related impacts, and broader geopolitical uncertainty.

Speaker #3: Beyond day-to-day execution, we continue to invest in key areas of our longer-term strategy. Avis First is now in 36 locations, including 9 international airports, and we continue to see strong customer satisfaction metrics.

Brian Choi: Beyond day-to-day execution, we continue to invest in key areas of our longer-term strategy. Avis First is now in 36 locations, including 9 international airports. We continue to see strong customer satisfaction metrics. While still early, we're seeing encouraging adoption and believe the product has significant long-term potential. On the Waymo front, we remain on track for our Dallas launch in Q3 and are nearing public rider availability. As we've said previously, we expect to expand into additional cities over time and remain in active discussions with our partner. With that, I'll turn it over to Daniel to walk through the quarter in more detail.

Speaker #3: While still early, we're seeing encouraging adoption and believe the product has significant long-term potential. On the Waymo front, we remain on track for our Dallas launch in the third quarter and are nearing public rider availability.

Speaker #3: As we've said previously, we expect to expand into additional cities over time and remain in active discussion with our partner. With that, I'll turn it over to Daniel to walk through the quarter in more detail.

Speaker #2: Let me start with the America segment, where we saw several clear signs of progress this quarter. Revenue grew 2.9% year over year, the first surge increase in America's in 10 quarters.

Daniel Cunha: Let me start with the America segment, where we saw several clear signs of progress this quarter. Revenue grew 2.9% year over year, the first such increase in Americas in 10 quarters. Just as important as the growth itself is how it was constructed. Rental days were essentially flat, while RPD increased 2.8%. This marks the first quarter of positive pricing in the Americas since Q4 2022, and we view that as a meaningful inflection point. RPD was modestly positive in January and exited the quarter up nearly 4% year over year. We also saw improved ancillary performance, which grew 1.9% year over year and continued to support a shift toward higher quality revenue. Leisure share of revenue increased by 1.1 percentage points in the quarter.

Speaker #2: Just as important as the growth itself is how it was constructed. Rental days were essentially flat, where RPD increased 2.8%. This marks the first quarter of positive pricing in the Americas since the fourth quarter of 2022.

Speaker #2: And we view that as a meaningful inflection point. RPD was modestly positive in January and exited the quarter up nearly 4% year over year.

Speaker #2: We also saw improved ancillary performance, which grew 1.9% year over year, and continued to support a shift toward higher quality revenue. These are share of revenue increased by 1.1 points in the quarter.

Speaker #2: The key driver of this performance was the shift in fleet strategy we aligned last quarter. TSA volumes grew 1.6 in the quarter, while we reduced fleet by 0.6%.

Daniel Cunha: The key driver of this performance was the shift in fleet strategy we outlined last quarter. TSA volumes grew 1.6% in the quarter, while we reduced fleet by 0.6%, a deliberate decision to better align supply with demand. Despite a smaller fleet and continued recall-related constraints, we maintained rental days to improve the operational execution and higher utilization. We also took advantage of Q1 strength in the used car market to further right-size the fleet. In doing so, we prioritized speed over yield, which helped accelerate normalization of depreciation. Monthly depreciation in the Americas averaged approximately $380 for a quarter, starting above $500 in January and improving into the mid $300s by March. As noted in our supplemental financials, we expect depreciation to decline meaningfully in Q2.

Speaker #2: A deliberate decision to better align supply with demand. Despite a smaller fleet and continued recall-related constraints, we maintained rental days to improve the operational execution and higher utilization.

Speaker #2: We also took advantage of first-quarter strength in the used car market to further right-size the fleet. In doing so, we prioritized speed over yield, which helped accelerate normalization of depreciation.

Speaker #2: Monthly depreciation in the Americas averaged approximately $380 four quarters, starting above $500 in January and improving into the mid-300s by March. As noted in our supplemental financials, we expect depreciation to decline meaningfully in the second quarter.

Speaker #2: We exited the quarter with the healthiest fleet position we've had since the pandemic and a fleet that is approximately 20% younger, positioning as well for the balance of the year.

Daniel Cunha: We exit the quarter with the healthiest fleet position we've had since the pandemic and a fleet that is approximately 20% younger, positioning us well for the balance of the year. Our international segment continues to execute on a strategy of shifting revenue mix towards higher return segments. As a result, rental days were down 3.8% year-over-year, while RPD increased 3% on a constant currency basis. This transition began in Q2 last year, we're in the process of aligning our staffing, real estate footprint, and go-to-market to support that new mix. That has created some temporary cost inefficiencies, we view those as transitional, while the improved revenue mix is structural. From a demand standpoint, the international environment remains uneven and difficult to predict. We're seeing variability across regions influenced by geopolitical developments and higher travel costs.

Speaker #2: Our international segment continues to execute on this strategy of shifting revenue mix towards higher return segments. As a result, rental days were down 3.8% year over year, while RPD increased 3% on a custom currency basis.

Speaker #2: This transition began in the second quarter last year, and we're in the process of aligning our staffing, real estate footprint, and go-to-market to support that new mix.

Speaker #2: That has created some temporary cost inefficiencies, but we view those as transitional, while the improved revenue mix is structural. From a demand standpoint, the international environment remains uneven and difficult to predict.

Speaker #2: We're seeing variability across regions, influenced by geopolitical developments and higher travel costs. That said, we're positioned to benefit from shifts in travel behavior particularly toward intraregional travel within Europe, where rental can be a more attractive alternative.

Daniel Cunha: That said, we are positioned to benefit from shifts in travel behavior, particularly toward intraregional travel within Europe, where rental can be a more attractive alternative. With that, I'll turn to our leverage, liquidity, and outlook. As of 31 March, we had over $900 million of available liquidity, along with approximately $2.9 billion of additional capacity across our ABS facilities. Our net corporate leverage ratio was 7.6x. We expect to reduce that to below 6 by year-end through earnings growth and continued debt repayments. We remain focused on returning to more normalized leverage levels. Importantly, we have no corporate debt maturities until 2027. During Q1, we executed a number of refinancing transactions that reinforce our access to capital. In February, we renewed our European securitization facility for approximately EUR 2.4 billion, extending its maturity by 2 years.

Speaker #2: With that, I'll turn to our leverage, liquidity, and outlook. As of March 31, we had over $900 million of available liquidity, along with approximately $2.9 billion of additional capacity across our ABS facilities.

Speaker #2: Our net corporate leverage ratio was 7.6 times and we expect to reduce that to below 6 by year-end through earnings growth and continued debt repayment.

Speaker #2: We remain focused on returning to more normalized leverage levels and, importantly, we have no corporate debt maturities until 2027. During the first quarter, we executed a number of refinancing transactions that reinforced our access to capital.

Speaker #2: In February, we renewed our European securitization facility for approximately $2.4 billion extending its maturity by two years. In March, we issued $668 million of ASOP term debt across three and five-year tenors to refinance maturing obligations.

Daniel Cunha: In March, we issued $668 million of AESOP term debt across 3 and 5-year tenors to refinance maturing obligations. The transaction was well received, oversubscribed, and priced on favorable terms, reflecting continued demand for our credit. We also expect to renew our $2.4 billion AESOP VFN facility at the end of the month, along with an additional $480 million of seasonal capacity through October 2026. Overall, the Q1 represents a strong start to the year. We exceeded our adjusted EBITDA plan by approximately $50 million, supported by improved pricing and disciplined fleet execution. As a result, we are raising our full year guidance to a range of $850 million to $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA. With that, I'll turn it back to Brian.

Speaker #2: The transaction was well received over-subscribed and priced on favorable terms, reflecting continued demand for our credit. We also expect to renew our $2.4 billion ASOP VFN facility at the end of the month, along with an additional $480 million of seasonal capacity through October 2026.

Speaker #2: Overall, the first quarter represents a strong start to the year. We exceeded our adjusted EBITDA plan by approximately $50 million, supported by improved pricing and disciplined fleet execution.

Speaker #2: As a result, we're raising our three-year guidance to a range of $850 million to $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA. With that, I'll turn it back to Brian.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Daniel. As we look ahead, there are a few key areas that we are monitoring closely. First, the geopolitical environment, particularly in the Middle East, has already begun to impact energy prices and remains an important variable for the balance of the year.

Brian Choi: Thanks, Daniel. As we look ahead, there are a few key areas that we are monitoring closely. First, the geopolitical environment, particularly in the Middle East, has already begun to impact energy prices and remains an important variable for the balance of the year. Higher fuel costs can influence consumer behavior, including vehicle preference and overall demand. We are beginning to see early signs of a mix shift and are actively managing our fleet composition and disposition strategy in response. From a demand perspective, we are seeing a healthy buildup into the summer season. Rental days in the Americas are trending mid-single digit growth, with RPD holding. The Easter shift will impact Q2 comparisons, but underlying demand remains constructive. We are also seeing strong demand in key markets, including World Cup host cities, where both rental days and pricing are performing well.

Speaker #3: Higher fuel costs can influence consumer behavior, including vehicle preference and overall demand. We are beginning to see early signs of a mix shift and are actively managing our fleet composition and disposition strategy in response.

Speaker #3: From a demand perspective, we are seeing a healthy buildup into the summer season. Rental days in the Americas are trending mid-single-digit growth, with RPD holding.

Speaker #3: The Easter shift will impact second quarter comparisons, but underlying demand remains constructive. We are also seeing strong demand in key markets, including World Cup host cities, where both rental days and pricing are performing well.

Speaker #3: For our Avis team listening today, our priorities remain clear and unchanged. We will continue to manage fleet with discipline, drive utilization across the network, and execute consistently.

Brian Choi: For our Avis team listening today, our priorities remain clear and unchanged. We will continue to manage fleet with discipline, drive utilization across the network, and execute consistently. These are the fundamentals of how we run the business, and they position us to serve customers well, protect profitability, and create long-term value. With that, operator, we would be happy to take questions.

Speaker #3: These are the fundamentals of how we run the business and they position us to serve customers well, protect profitability, and create long-term value.

Speaker #3: With that, Operator, we'd be happy to take questions.

Speaker #2: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad.

Operator 2: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star two if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up question. One moment, please, while we poll for your questions. Our first questions come from the line of Dan Levy with Barclays. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star two if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up question. One moment, please, while we poll for your questions. Our first questions come from the line of Dan Levy with Barclays. Please proceed with your questions.

Speaker #2: A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star 2 if you would like to remove your question from the queue.

Speaker #2: For participants using speaker equipment and may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up question.

Speaker #2: One moment, please, while we pull for your questions. Our first questions come from the line of Dan Levy with Barclays. Please proceed with your questions.

Dan Levy: Hi, good morning. Thanks for taking the questions. Can you please just address the pricing trends? Listen, this is the first positive quarter of pricing in Americas in, you know, several years now. What slipped in the quarter? I know you gave some commentary on how things are looking into Q2 so far. What's the confidence that this can hold for the balance of the year? Maybe you could just give a sense of how the trends have changed and why this has flipped.

Daniel Levy: Hi, good morning. Thanks for taking the questions. Can you please just address the pricing trends? Listen, this is the first positive quarter of pricing in Americas in, you know, several years now. What slipped in the quarter? I know you gave some commentary on how things are looking into Q2 so far. What's the confidence that this can hold for the balance of the year? Maybe you could just give a sense of how the trends have changed and why this has flipped.

Speaker #4: Hi. Good morning. Thanks for taking the questions. Can you please just address the pricing trends? And this is the first positive quarter of pricing in America is in several years now.

Speaker #4: What flipped in the quarter? And I know you gave some commentary on how things are looking into the second quarter so far. What's the confidence that this can hold for the balance of the year?

Speaker #4: Maybe you could just give a sense of how the trends have changed and why this has flipped.

Speaker #2: Yeah, sure. Dan, I'll start and then Daniel can add. But you're right. This is the single biggest fundamental change that we've seen in years in our business.

Brian Choi: Yeah, sure. Dan, I'll start. Daniel can add. You're right, this is the single biggest fundamental change that we've seen in years in our business. I think the biggest shift that we've seen at least is, like I said on our Q4 earnings call, is us taking a pretty different philosophical approach with how we view supply and demand in the industry. We're not there to take every last rental. We're fleeting to account for that. I think the lower supply, and this was shown by kind of the number of cars that we disposed of in the quarter, did a lot to help this. Pricing was constructive in the Q1, like we said in our prepared remarks. It got better in February.

Speaker #2: And I think the biggest shift that we've seen, at least, is, like I said on our fourth quarter earnings call, is us taking a pretty different philosophical approach with how we view supply and demand in the industry.

Speaker #2: We're not there to take every last rental and we're fleeting to account for that. I think the lower supply and this was shown by kind of the number of cars that we disposed of in the quarter did a lot to help this.

Speaker #2: So pricing was constructive in the first quarter, like we said in our prepared remarks. It got better in February. March benefited from a little bit of an Easter shift mix.

Brian Choi: March benefited from a little bit of an Easter shift mix. As we look out, we do believe that things have normalized. As we're looking at April, again, that benefit that we saw from the Easter mix is impacting a little bit. Looking further towards May and June, we see things stabilizing. We're pretty constructive on where we see pricing today.

Speaker #2: But as we look out, we do believe that things have normalized. As we're looking at April, again, that benefit that we saw from the Easter mix is impacting a little bit.

Speaker #2: But looking further towards May and June, we see things stabilizing. So we're pretty constructive on where we see pricing today.

Speaker #4: I would just add, Brian, that this is the first positive price since the fourth quarter of 2022, right? And since then, we have experienced, especially in the Americas, quite a bit of inflation.

Daniel Cunha: I'll just add, Brian, that this is first positive pricing since Q4 2022, right? Since then, we have experienced, especially the Americas, you know, quite a bit of inflation, you know, labor, vehicle costs, and we believe those are pressures that the entire industry experienced. At some point, you know, to sustain the economics of a asset-heavy business, you know, pricing has to sustain and, you know, stop declining. We do think that this is a bit of an inflection point. As far as we can influence it by, you know, maintaining supply and demand aligned, we will, we'll be contributing. Yeah.

Speaker #4: Labor vehicle costs, and we believe those are pressures that the entire industry experienced. So at some point, to sustain the economics of a asset-heavy business, pricing has to sustain and stop declining.

Speaker #4: So we do think that we there's a bit of an inflection point in as far as we can influence it by maintaining supply and demand aligned.

Speaker #4: We'll be contributing.

Speaker #2: Great, thank you. The second question is on the balance sheet. And I know now you're in this sort of mid-seven-times net debt to EBITDA range.

Dan Levy: Great. Thank you. The second question is on the balance sheet. I know now you're in this sort of mid 7x net debt to EBITDA range. You know, pre-COVID you were in the sort of 3x to 4x range. What's the right leverage ratio for you, and what steps can you take? We know free cash flow generation obviously, but what steps can you take to reduce the leverage ratio if that's something that you want to pursue?

Daniel Levy: Great. Thank you. The second question is on the balance sheet. I know now you're in this sort of mid 7x net debt to EBITDA range. You know, pre-COVID you were in the sort of 3x to 4x range. What's the right leverage ratio for you, and what steps can you take? We know free cash flow generation obviously, but what steps can you take to reduce the leverage ratio if that's something that you want to pursue?

Speaker #2: Pre-COVID, you were in the sort of 3 to 4 range. What's the right leverage ratio for you? And what steps can you take? We know free cash flow generation, obviously, but what steps can you take to reduce the leverage ratio, if that's something that you want to pursue?

Speaker #3: No, I think, Dan, we've been pretty consistent in our messaging saying that the focus in terms of capital allocation is going to be shifting towards debt repayment.

Brian Choi: I think, Dan, we've been pretty consistent in our messaging saying that the focus in terms of capital allocation is gonna be shifting towards debt repayment. We still generate free cash flow in this business, proceeds of that will go down to paying debt. The real thing that has to happen is we need to start growing our EBITDA. We're coming off right now, two years where we've had issues with our fleet, and that's reflected kind of in the income statement. We think that as we get out of this first quarter and as we normalize going forward, you will see EBITDA growth that justifies, you know, kind of meaningful deleveraging.

Speaker #3: We still generate free cash flow in this business. So proceeds of that will go down to paying debt. But the real thing that has to happen is we need to start growing our EBITDA.

Speaker #3: And we're coming off right now two years where we've had issues with our fleet and that's reflected kind of in the income statement. We think that as we get out of this first quarter and as we normalize going forward, you will see EBITDA growth that justifies kind of meaningful deleveraging.

Speaker #3: So we said that a combination of EBITDA growth and debt paydown will already get us down to below 6. Or sorry, in the six-times range.

Brian Choi: We said that a combination of EBITDA growth and debt pay down will already get us down to below 6, or sorry, in the 6 times range this by the end of this year. We're gonna continue that EBITDA growth and debt repayment strategy till we get to our target leverage ratios of 2 to 4 times.

Speaker #3: This by the end of this year. And we're going to continue that EBITDA growth and debt repayment strategy until we get to our target leverage ratios of 3 to 4 times.

Speaker #2: Great. Thank you.

Dan Levy: Great. Thank you.

Daniel Levy: Great. Thank you.

Brian Choi: Mm-hmm.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Chris Ruaca with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator 2: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Chris Woronka with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Chris Woronka with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed with your questions.

Speaker #5: Hey, good morning, guys. Thanks for taking the questions and congratulations on the better-than-expected quarter. I wanted to hope we could maybe talk a little bit about fleet size.

Chris Woronka: Hey, good morning, guys. Thanks for taking the questions and congratulations on the better than expected quarter. Wanted to hope we could maybe talk a little bit about fleet size. You guys have always said you try to fleet a little bit under demand. You've done that in the last couple of quarters now with positive utilization in the Americas. You know, as pricing has gotten nicely better here, do you think you will continue to try to fleet under demand? Do you? You know, are there any indications that the industry will follow that trend? I know that you guys sometimes have to react to what competitors are doing, but is your plan to continue fleeting under demand? Thanks.

Speaker #5: You guys have always said you try to fleet a little bit under demand. You've done that in the last couple of quarters now with positive utilization in the Americas.

Speaker #5: So, as pricing has gotten nicely better here, do you think you will continue to try to fleet under demand? And do you—are there any indications that the industry will follow that trend?

Speaker #5: I know that you guys sometimes have to react to what competitors are doing, but is your plan to continue fleeting under demand? Thanks.

Speaker #2: Yeah. I'll start and Daniel, you can chime in. But we've said consistently that we fleet under demand. Which is true. But when we said that, I think what I was trying to say is at the peak of any given quarter, if it's a Memorial Day or something like that, you're trying to peak under that demand.

Brian Choi: Yeah. you know, I'll start and Daniel you can chime in. We've said consistently that we fleet under demand, which is true. When we said that, I think what I was trying to say is like at the peak of any given quarter, like if it's a Memorial Day or something like that, you're trying to peak under that demand. That leaves you pretty over-fleeted during the shoulder periods.

Speaker #2: But that leaves you pretty overfleeted during the shoulder periods. I think what we're trying to do right now is say, "Hey, we need to, over the course of the quarter and over the course of seasons, understand what the minimum level of fleet that you can maintain to make sure that you aren't overfleeted during those shoulder periods." And then really rely on operational efficiency and utilization to get those days during the peak demand.

Brian Choi: I think what we're trying to do right now is say, hey, we need to over the course of the quarter and over the course of seasons, understand what the minimum level of fleet that you can maintain to make sure that you aren't over-fleeted during those shoulder periods, and then really rely on operational efficiency and utilization to get those days during the peak demand. I think that's the structural difference that we've taken. I think that does have a positive increase on price. Like from our perspective, that's what we can control and that's what we continue to do going forward.

Speaker #2: I think that's the structural difference that we've taken, and I think that does have a positive increase on price. From our perspective, that's what we can control.

Speaker #2: And that's what we continue to do going forward.

Speaker #4: And the only thing I will add, Brian, is that like Chris, like you pointed out, Chris, there is a portion of this that we don't control, right?

Daniel Cunha: The only thing I would add, Brian, is that, like you pointed out, Chris, there is a portion of debt that we don't control, right? The portion that we do control is how we utilize our assets, right? We're asset managers. We need to drive return on assets, right, in each of our operations. We can keep pushing the envelope there by reducing the asset base, right, which we do by increasing, you know, utilization. That's a key focus of ours, and you've seen progress over the last, you know, several quarters. Increase EBITDA, which is the point Brian has been pushing very strongly about growth, improving margins and so on.

Speaker #4: The portion that we do control is how we utilize our assets, right? We're asset managers. We need to drive return on assets, right? At each of our operations.

Speaker #4: And we can keep pushing the envelope there by reducing the asset base, right? Which we do by increasing utilization. That's a key focus of ours.

Speaker #4: And you've seen progress over the last several quarters. And increasing EBITDA, which is the point Brian has been pushing very strongly about growth, improving margins, and so on.

Speaker #4: So those are things that we do that we control that help, I think, both Avis and help in maintaining the industry in a more balanced supply and demand position.

Daniel Cunha: Those are things that we do that we control that help, I think, both Avis and help, you know, maintain the industry in a more balanced supply and demand position.

Speaker #2: Okay. Thanks, guys. And just as a follow-up, Brian, I think you mentioned last year that your Avis First initiative and the initial Waymo contract would certainly not be material to financials last year or even this year.

Chris Woronka: Okay. Thanks, guys. Just as a follow-up, you know, Brian, I think you mentioned last year that, you know, your Avis First initiative and the initial Waymo contract, you know, would certainly not be like material to financials, last year or even this year. But I'm curious as we, you know, look out to kind of a exit rate for 2026. I know it's still kind of early in the year, but do you expect one or both of those to, you know, to kind of be noticeable through the financials, either by the end of this year or next? Thanks.

Speaker #2: But I'm curious as we look out to kind of an exit rate for '26. I know it's still kind of early in the year, but do you expect one or both of those to kind of be noticeable through the financials either by the end of this year or next?

Speaker #2: Thanks.

Speaker #3: Yeah. Chris, I think we need to bifurcate that. I think Avis First towards the end of this year you'll see more of an impact on the financials.

Brian Choi: Yeah, Chris, I think, we need to bifurcate that. I think Avis First, towards the end of this year you'll see more of an impact on the financials. At this time, because we're still really positioning our chess pieces, and, you know, negotiating with airports in order to make sure that we can offer the service, it's still pretty early for us to give guidance around where that'll be. In terms of Waymo, I think you'll see the benefits of that more so next year in 2027 as we really start to ramp our Dallas and what we're hoping are our additional cities.

Speaker #3: But at this time, because we're still really positioning our chess pieces, and negotiating with airports in order to make sure that we can offer the service, it's still pretty early for us to give guidance around where that'll be.

Speaker #3: In terms of Waymo, I think you'll see the benefits of that more so next year in 2027 as we really start to ramp our Dallas and what we're hoping are additional cities.

Speaker #4: Okay. Very good. Thanks, guys.

Chris Woronka: Okay. Very good. Thanks, guys.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Lizzie Dove with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator 2: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Lizzie Dove with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Lizzie Dove with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your questions.

Speaker #6: Hi. Good morning. Thanks for taking the question. I just wanted to ask about your EBITDA guidance. Appreciate you kind of flowing through the 1Q beat there.

Lizzie Dove: Hi, good morning. Thanks for taking the question. Just wanted to ask about your EBITDA guidance. Appreciate you kind of flowed through the Q1 beat there. Any way to think about, I guess, firstly a reminder of just what's embedded there in terms of what gets you to the low end versus the high end of the range? Is that $850 to $1 billion the right way to think about kind of, call it normalized EBITDA longer term?

Speaker #6: But any way to think about, I guess, firstly, a reminder of just what's embedded there in terms of what gets you to the low end versus the high end of the range?

Speaker #6: And is that 850 to a billion the right way to think about kind of, call it, normalized EBITDA, longer term?

Speaker #2: Hi, Lizzie. Yeah. Listen, I think what we said in the prepared remarks that we outperformed our expectations in the first quarter. What we would say is that looking forward into Q2, 3, and 4, it's still too early to say kind of where things shake out because the bulk of our earnings come in the summer season.

Brian Choi: Hi, Lizzie. Well, we said in the prepared remarks that we outperformed our expectations in Q1. What we would say is that, looking forward into Q2, Q3, and Q4, it's still too early to say kind of where things shake out because the bulk of our earnings come in the summer season. It looks constructive, like Daniel said. I think right now that $850 to $1 billion range is what we're comfortable with for this fiscal year. Going forward, though, I wouldn't say that that's a normalized level because you're still coming off a pretty tough Q1 of this year.

Speaker #2: It looks constructive. Like Daniel said, but I think right now that 850 to a billion dollar range is what we're comfortable with for 20 for this fiscal year.

Speaker #2: Going forward, though, I wouldn't say that that's a normalized level, because you're still coming off a pretty tough one-quarter of this year. Yes, we outperformed our expectations.

Brian Choi: Yes, we outperformed our expectations. This isn't what normalized should be for us. We shouldn't be in a quarter where we're losing money. The reason why this happened was we had, you know, with the writedown we took, with us, like, we said, prioritizing kind of speed, over capturing every last dollar in terms of vehicle dispositions, we had to rightsize the fleet. That came at a cost, and you saw that in the EBITDA impact this quarter. I don't expect that to continue for 2027. I do think that structurally, EBITDA should be higher than this range that we're giving you right now.

Speaker #2: But this isn't what normalized should be for us. We shouldn't be in a quarter where we're losing money. And the reason why this happened was we had with the write-down we took, with us we said prioritizing kind of speed over capturing every last dollar in terms of vehicle dispositions, we had to right-size the fleet.

Speaker #2: That came at a cost, and you saw that in the EBITDA impact this quarter. I don't expect that to continue for '27, so I do think that, structurally, EBITDA should be higher than this range that we're giving you right now.

Speaker #6: Got it. Thank you. That's helpful. And then I guess just on the fleet cost side of things, I think what's embedded in your guidance for the second half is maybe 300 or so.

Lizzie Dove: Got it. Thank you. That's helpful. I guess just on the fleet cost side of things, I think what's embedded in your guidance for the H2 is maybe $300 or so. I appreciate that's a stat that can be, you know, lumpy. There's always kind of different moving pieces. You know, it's only maybe 15% above where fleet costs were in 2019. I guess just how do you assess longer term, like, comfortability with that kind of $300 or so range and how that can be maintained?

Speaker #6: I appreciate that's a stat that can be lumpy. There's always kind of different moving pieces. But it's only maybe 15% above where fleet costs were in 2019.

Speaker #6: So I guess just how do you assess longer-term comfortability with that kind of 300 or so range? And how that can be maintained?

Speaker #2: Yeah. Listen, I think for us, given the significant increase in the overall cost of new cars, we've had to get better about how we manage these assets, how we dispose of them, how long we hold them.

Brian Choi: Yeah. Listen, I think for us, given the significant increase in the overall cost of new cars, we've had to get better about how we manage these assets, how we dispose of them, how long we hold them. I think a lot of the work that our teams are doing here on the fleet side have contributed to that. We think that longer term in the low three hundreds is possible to achieve. Now, it comes with work, and it comes with us being more nimble than we were before. We can't rely on a static, "Hey, we hold these cars for 18 months and dispose them at 35,000 miles." You are more playing moneyball with these assets. The good news is we've been investing in that capability for a long time.

Speaker #2: And I think a lot of the work that our teams are doing here on the fleet side have contributed to that. So we think that longer-term, in the low 300s, is possible to achieve.

Speaker #2: Now it comes with work. And it comes with us being more nimble than we were before. We can't rely on a static, "Hey, we hold these cars for 18 months and dispose of them." At 35,000 miles, you are more playing moneyball with these assets.

Speaker #2: The good news is we've been investing in that capability for a long time. We think that we're getting better at it. But a lot of this also has to do with just the overall kind of macro trends in the used car market.

Brian Choi: We think that we're getting better at it. A lot of this also has to do with, you know, just the overall kind of macro trends in the used car market. You know, it's tough to say exactly where that'll shake out. We think at a general range in normalized times, that kind of low 300 seems to be a place that's achievable.

Speaker #2: So it's tough to say exactly where that'll shake out. But we think, and in general, range in normalized times, that kind of low 300 seems to be a place that's achievable.

Speaker #6: Got it. Thank you.

Lizzie Dove: Got it. Thank you.

Brian Choi: Mm-hmm.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of John Healy with North Coast Research. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator 2: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of John Healy with Northcoast Research. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of John Healy with Northcoast Research. Please proceed with your questions.

Speaker #5: Thanks for taking the question. I want to continue on the theme of car costs. Brian kind of looked at the last few years. I think there's been disruption on supply, both on new and used.

John Healy: Thanks for taking the question. Wanted to continue on the theme of car costs. You know, Brian, when you kinda look at the last few years, I think that, you know, there's been disruption on supply both on new and used. It seems like on the used side, we're kinda right on the cusp of seeing that shift, with probably going from 2.5 million lease returns a year to maybe 4 million or so lease returns a year. Can you just talk to how you think those cars impact your ability to hit that kinda low 300 number? Because, you know, just at a high level, it would seem like you guys are gonna have a lot more competition in the lane for moving your cars.

Speaker #5: And it seems like on the used side, we're kind of right on the cusp of seeing that shift, with probably going from two and a half million lease returns a year to maybe four million or so lease returns a year.

Speaker #5: Can you just talk to how you think those cars impact your ability to hit that kind of low 300 number? Because just at a high level, it would seem like you guys are going to have a lot more competition in the lanes for moving your cars.

John Healy: I'm just trying to think about how that goes into your calculus. Also, you guys, you know, clearly are doing a lot on the revenue optimization side, but what are you guys doing on the fleet disposition side? Are you looking at any sort of, kind of innovative partners? I know Hertz is doing this thing with Amazon. Are there things like that that we might see you guys dip your toe into, you know, later this year or next year? Thanks.

Speaker #5: So I'm just trying to think about how that goes into your calculus. And then also, you guys clearly are doing a lot on the revenue optimization side.

Speaker #5: But what are you guys doing on the fleet disposition side? Are you looking at any sort of kind of innovative partners? I know Hertz is doing this thing with Amazon.

Speaker #5: Are there things like that that we might see you guys dip your toe into later this year or next year? Thanks.

Speaker #2: Okay. John, let me start with the first part of that question. So yeah, obviously, we monitor the supply of used vehicles coming in very closely as well.

Brian Choi: John, let me start with the first part of that question. Yeah, obviously, we monitor the supply of used vehicles coming in very closely as well. I think kind of to Lizzie's question before, this is why we have to be a lot more nimble about what cars we sell when. You're right. If a 35,000 mile car would compete squarely with a 3-year lease return vehicle, that's not where we wanna be. Obviously, some of our vehicles will be in there, we have to get comfortable kind of with certain vehicle classes selling well before that, then certain vehicles, like, selling after that. Like I said, that's the work that we've been investing into.

Speaker #2: I think kind of to Lizzie's question before, this is why we have to be a lot more nimble about what cars we sell when.

Speaker #2: So you're right. If a 35,000-mile car would compete squarely with a three-year lease return vehicle, and that's not where we want to be. Obviously, some of our vehicles will be in there.

Speaker #2: But we have to get comfortable kind of with certain vehicle classes selling well before that. And then certain vehicles, like selling after that. And like I said, that's the work that we've been investing into.

Brian Choi: After testing these waters, we think that that actually benefits everyone. It benefits us in terms of the overall depreciation costs, but it also skews generally to us recycling our fleet a little younger than we had historically. Which means that it is a younger fleet for our cars, which has downstream effects also, like, in terms of vehicle maintenance and obviously, and most importantly, the customer experience. I think by picking and choosing where we sell cars, we are able to kind of stick to that low 300s number. In terms of the dispositions, you are right. Like, we are looking at more innovative ways to quickly exit our vehicles. We have been doing a lot of work with our partners over at Cox.

Speaker #2: And after testing these waters, we think that that actually benefits everyone. It benefits us in terms of the overall depreciation costs. But it also skews generally to us recycling our fleet a little younger than we had historically, which means that it's a younger fleet for our cars, which has downstream effects also in terms of vehicle maintenance.

Speaker #2: And obviously, and most importantly, the customer experience. So I think by picking and choosing where we sell cars, we're able to kind of stick to that low $300s number.

Speaker #2: In terms of the dispositions, you're right. We are looking at more innovative ways to quickly exit our vehicles. We've been doing a lot of work with our partners over at Cox.

Speaker #2: And we're also doing more kind of internally in terms of our direct-to-consumer sales. So kind of on both fronts, in terms of the mix of vehicle selling and the channels we're going through, we're investing in all of it to make sure that we can offset the rising costs of new cars by being more efficient operators in terms of how and when we dispose of these vehicles.

Brian Choi: We're also doing more kind of internally in terms of our direct-to-consumer sales. You know, kind of on both fronts in terms of the mix of vehicle selling and the channels we're going through, like, we're investing in all of it to make sure that we can offset the rising cost of new cars by being more efficient operators in terms of how and when we dispose these vehicles.

Speaker #5: Got it. Thank you.

John Healy: Got it. Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Ryan Brinkman with JPMorgan. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator 2: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Ryan Brinkman with J.P. Morgan. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Ryan Brinkman with J.P. Morgan. Please proceed with your questions.

Speaker #7: Thanks for taking my call. With regard to your comment at the start of the call, it seemed to me as if there was maybe a missed opportunity here for more of your shareholders to have benefited from the unusual capital markets activities such as the issuance of very low-cost equity to retire higher-cost debt.

Ryan Brinkman: Thanks for taking my call. You know, with regard to your comment at the start of the call, it seemed to me as if there was maybe a missed opportunity here for more of your shareholders to have benefited from the unusual capital markets activity, such as, you know, by the issuance of very low cost equity to retire higher cost debt. I know you're always kind of thinking about the relative cost of different parts of your capital structure even in normal times. Had you contemplated such an action? Can you maybe share, like, what factors might have prevented you from doing so, whether due to, you know, MNPI around earnings or maybe the equity distribution agreement with the seller agent banks?

Speaker #7: I know you're always kind of thinking about the relative cost of different parts of your capital structure, even in normal times. Had you contemplated such an action?

Speaker #7: And can you maybe share what factors might have prevented you from doing so, whether due to MNPI around earnings, or maybe the equity distribution agreement with the seller agent banks?

Speaker #7: Or did you explore trying to overcome some of these obstacles, such as by pre-announcing earnings in order to therefore execute your at-the-market offering?

Ryan Brinkman: Did you explore trying to overcome some of these obstacles, such as by pre-announcing earnings in order to, you know, therefore execute your at the market offering?

Speaker #2: So Ryan, simply put, we were in a quiet period at the time. But I can tell you this much. We have no intention of issuing shares anywhere near these levels.

Brian Choi: Ryan, simply put, we were in a quiet period at the time. I can tell you this much, we have no intention of issuing shares anywhere near these levels. More broadly speaking, listen, I bought my first shares in Avis in 2010, so I've been involved with this company for 16 years now. Back then, and you've covered us for a while, but you know that Avis had 129 million fully diluted shares outstanding. Since then, in my capacity as a large shareholder, a board member, a CFO, I've been very consistent in my belief that our shares are undervalued and have advocated for buying back stock. Our shares outstanding today are 35 million shares. We've retired 94 million or 73% of those original shares outstanding.

Speaker #2: And more broadly speaking, listen, I bought my first shares in Avis in 2010. So I've been involved with this company for 16 years now.

Speaker #2: Back then, and you've covered us for a while, but Avis had 129 million fully diluted shares outstanding. And since then, in my capacity as a large shareholder, a board member, a CFO, I've been very consistent in my belief that our shares are undervalued.

Speaker #2: And I've advocated for buying back stock. So our shares outstanding today are 35 million shares. So we've retired 94 million or 73% of those original shares outstanding.

Speaker #2: I've not seen public companies reduce their share count by anything close to that order of magnitude. So we are true believers of this business.

Brian Choi: I've not seen public companies reduce their share count by anything close to that order of magnitude. We're true believers of this business, and on a fundamental basis, we were repurchasing our shares as high as $300 post-pandemic. The thought of doing the opposite and issuing shares never entered my mind until this situation arose. Now, you're right, we put an ATM in place because it'd be irresponsible not to. We've done this in the past as well, and we haven't issued any shares. I'm not here to create Avis for value extraction. We're gonna put in the hard work and create value by building a better business. Might not be as flashy as making a quick buck, but that's the journey we're on, and we take pride in that.

Speaker #2: And on a fundamental basis, we were repurchasing our shares as high as $300 post-pandemic. So the thought of doing the opposite and issuing shares never entered my mind until this situation arose.

Speaker #2: Now, you're right. We put an ATM in place. Because it'd be irresponsible not to. We've done this in the past as well. And we haven't issued any shares.

Speaker #2: So I'm not here to trade Avis for value extraction. We're going to put in the hard work and create value by building a better business.

Speaker #2: Might not be as flashy as making a quick buck, but that's the journey we're on. And we take pride in that.

Speaker #7: John, you've done a great job. I'm curious, as an insider, what would I have known about any deliberations of the board or management's part prior to your potential of engaging in any sort of primary share issuance?

Ryan Brinkman: No, you've done a great job. I'm curious, as an insider, would Pentwater have known about any deliberations of the board or management's part prior to your potential of engaging in any sort of primary share issuance? Could they have possibly front-run that information, thereby accruing value for themselves, which had Avis issued those shares into the market, would have therefore accrued more to, like, all the shareholders, them included, albeit to a lesser degree, kind of more pro rata with the other holders?

Speaker #7: And could they have possibly front-run that information thereby accruing value for themselves, which had Avis issued those shares into the market? Would have therefore accrued more to all the shareholders that included albeit a lesser degree kind of more pro rata with the other holders?

Speaker #2: So Ryan, I can't get into the details of that right now. But as I said in the prepared remarks, I strongly believe we have a fiduciary duty to aggressively pursue every dollar our shareholders are entitled to.

Brian Choi: Ryan, I can't get into the details of that right now, but as I said in the prepared remarks, I strongly believe we have a fiduciary duty to aggressively pursue every dollar our shareholders are entitled to. Honestly, Pentwater only disclosed their sales yesterday after market closed. There's a lot of transactions to sift through, and it's not exactly straightforward. The timing of that disclosure wasn't exactly convenient for us. That's unfortunate, but, you know, we have our securities lawyers here. They're combing through this as we speak. There's $1.75 billion of gross proceeds that Pentwater laid out in their Form 4. You have my commitment that we will go after every last dollar that our shareholders are owed.

Speaker #2: And honestly, Pentwater only disclosed their sales yesterday after market closed. So there's a lot of transactions to sift through. And it's not exactly straightforward.

Speaker #2: So the timing of that disclosure wasn't exactly convenient for us. That's unfortunate. But we have our securities lawyers here. They're combing through this as we speak.

Speaker #2: There's 1.75 billion of gross proceeds that Pentwater laid out in their Form 4s. You have my commitment that we will go after every last dollar that our shareholders are owed.

Speaker #7: Very interesting. Last question, I promise. I'll ask one on revenue per day. I haven't gone through all the math extensively either, but it does look like this is an incredible trade.

Ryan Brinkman: Very interesting. Okay, last question. I promise I'll ask one. Revenue per day. You know, I haven't gone through all the math, you know, extensively either. It does look like this is an incredible trade. They may have made, you know, $1 billion of profit or something like that. When I first learned of the short-swing profit rule, including its remedies, you know, it did seem a little extreme and, you know. This circumstance does sort of, you know, illustrate maybe what the regulator's motivation may have been for that rule. What is your understanding of, you know, the remedy relative to disgorging of profits, or what amount of the profits might be subject to disgorgement? I understand maybe you need to go through it in detail, also the legal precedent here.

Speaker #7: They may have made a billion dollars of profit or something like that. When I first learned of the short swing profit rule including its remedies, it did seem a little extreme.

Speaker #7: And but this circumstance does sort of illustrate maybe what the regulators' motivation may have been for that rule. What is your understanding of the remedy relative to discouraging of profits?

Speaker #7: Or what amount of the profits might be subject to discouragement? And I understand maybe you need to go through it in detail. But also the legal precedent here.

Speaker #7: I think it's been challenged in some cases. Maybe that's more for employees than investor large institutional investors. But you said too, I heard that they acknowledged having violated the rule to some degree.

Ryan Brinkman: I think it's been challenged in some cases. Maybe that's more for employees than, you know, investor, you know, large institutional investors. You know, you said too, I heard that they acknowledged having violated the rule to some degree. Does that maybe suggest, you know, conversations or the potential for some sort of, you know, amicable settlement of your claim?

Speaker #7: Does that maybe suggest conversations or the potential for some sort of amicable settlement of your claim?

Speaker #2: Ryan, I think there are like seven questions in that third follow-up question. But generally speaking, I think here's what we can say. What I feel comfortable saying is what we've already laid out thus far.

Brian Choi: Ryan, I think there are, like, seven questions in that third follow-up question. Like, generally speaking, I think here's what we can say. Like, what I feel comfortable saying is what we've already laid out thus far. We're going through it in painstaking detail right now. We're in conversations with our internal counsel, Pentwater, their counsel, just like we said in our prepared remarks. You make a good point. Listen, Section 16 rules exist for a reason. They're there to protect shareholders, and I view it as my fiduciary duty to pursue this to its fullest in the interest of my stakeholders. We'll get to the bottom of it, I have no doubt.

Speaker #2: We're going through it in painstaking detail right now. We are in conversations with our internal counsel, Pentwater, their counsel, just like we said in our prepared remarks.

Speaker #2: But you make a good point. Listen, Section 16 rules exist for a reason. They're there to protect shareholders. And I view it as my fiduciary duty to pursue this to its fullest in the interest of my stakeholders.

Speaker #2: So we'll get to the bottom of it. I have no doubt.

Speaker #7: Okay. Very interesting. Thank you. And then just on RPD, obviously, you leaned into this strategy of emphasizing economics and very efficiently running the fleet.

Ryan Brinkman: Okay. Very interesting. Thank you. Then just on RPD, obviously, you leaned into this strategy of, you know, emphasizing unit economics and very efficiently running the fleet, you know, even more it seemed like than, you know, discussed at the time of Q4 earnings. Obviously, you know, you don't, you know, can't operate your business in isolation, and you've got the competitors out there, and their mindset has changed a lot over the years too. To have had such a good RPD result, I imagine that you're the first report here, but that the others are, you know, headed in a similar direction.

Speaker #7: Even more, it seemed like than discussed at the time of 4Q, earnings. Obviously, you don't can't operate your business in isolation. And you've got the competitors out there.

Speaker #7: And their mindset has changed a lot over the years too. But to have such a good RPD result, I imagine that you're the first report here.

Speaker #7: But that the others are headed in a similar direction. What do you sense in terms of the kind of industry discipline and whether the RPD gains that you've just reported here are sustainable within the context of competitor activity?

Ryan Brinkman: What do you sense in terms of, like, the kind of industry discipline and whether the RPD gains that you've just reported here, you know, are sustainable within the context of, like, competitor activity?

Speaker #2: Ryan, I can't really comment to what I think our competitors are going to report. But from our perspective, given the kind of actions that we've taken to better align our vehicle supply to demand, it seems like the industry is appropriately fleeted right now.

Brian Choi: Ryan, I can't really comment to what I think our competitors are gonna report. From our perspective, given the kind of actions that we've taken to better align our vehicle supply to demand, it seems like the industry is appropriately fleeted right now. This is gonna be a big summer ahead of us. We have World Cup, America 250. I think that travel is gonna be robust. I think from our perspective, like we can control only what we control, but we're gonna remain disciplined in terms of supply and make sure that we, you know, gain our share of days through utilization efficiencies. Great to hear. Thank you.

Speaker #2: This is going to be a big summer ahead of us. We have World Cup, America 250. I think that travel is going to be robust.

Speaker #2: And I think from our perspective, we can control only what we control. But we're going to remain disciplined in terms of supply and make sure that we gain our share of days.

Speaker #2: Through utilization efficiencies.

Ryan Brinkman: Great to hear. Thank you.

Speaker #7: Great to hear. Thank you.

Speaker #5: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Stephanie Moore with Jefferies. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator 2: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Stephanie Moore with Jefferies. Please proceed with your questions.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question has come from the line of Stephanie Moore with Jefferies. Please proceed with your questions.

Speaker #4: Good morning. Thank you. I was hoping to maybe touch on the underlying demand environment. Maybe you could speak to how demand trended as the quarter progressed, specifically as we started to see heightened maybe geopolitical uncertainty and if we saw any pullback on demand activity.

Stephanie Moore: Good morning. Thank you. I was hoping to maybe touch on the underlying demand environment. Maybe you could speak to how demand trended as the quarter progressed, specifically as we started to see heightened maybe geopolitical uncertainty, and if we saw any pullback on demand activity. Same thing as those events started to unfold, if you started to see any changes in forward booking. Just trying to get a sense of out your demand and at the same time, you know, obviously a very large sporting event in the US this year with the World Cup and a lot of cities. Thinking about how that could be an impact to overall travel demand as well as pricing in those cities. Thanks.

Speaker #4: Same thing as those events started to unfold. If you started to see any changes in forward booking, just trying to get a sense of out your demand.

Speaker #4: And at the same time, obviously, a very large sporting event in the US this year with the World Cup and a lot of cities.

Speaker #4: So thinking about how that could be an impact to overall travel demand as well as pricing in those cities. Thanks.

Speaker #2: Hey, Stephanie. I'll start. And then Daniel, feel free to add. But you're right. I think travel demand was kind of mixed in the first quarter.

Brian Choi: Hey, Stephanie. I'll start, and then Daniel, feel free to add. You're right. I think travel demand was kind of mixed in Q1. It feels like forever ago, remember in January, there were a lot of, like, kind of weather disruptions to start off with.

Speaker #2: It feels like forever ago. But remember in January, there were a lot of kind of weather disruptions to start off with. And then, yeah, the TSA shut down.

Daniel Cunha: TSA.

Brian Choi: Yeah, the TSA shut down. That impacted a lot of our commercial travel. It was kinda choppy. I think we said in our prepared remarks that TSA kind of volumes for Q1 were up 1.5%, something like that. That's on the lower side of what we've seen historically. I do think as we look later out, things are strengthening and normalizing. We mentioned that these World Cup cities are booking, like, very strong in terms of early bookings, so we're managing that. We think overall the demand is gonna be just fine for the peak travel season. That's what we're seeing in kind of our booking trends.

Speaker #2: That impacted a lot of our commercial travel. So it was kind of choppy. I think we said in our prepared remarks that TSA kind of volumes for the first quarter were up a percent and a half, something like that.

Speaker #2: That's on the lower side of what we've seen historically. I do think as we look later out, things are strengthening. And normalizing. We mentioned that these World Cup cities are booking very strong in terms of early bookings.

Speaker #2: And so we're managing that. We think overall that the demand is going to be just fine. For the peak travel season, that's what we're seeing in kind of our booking trends.

Speaker #2: So it seems like a normal year in terms of that. Potentially, a little benefit to the upside given the World Cup and the that we have in certain cities in the Americas.

Brian Choi: It seems like a normal year in terms of that. Potentially, a little benefit to the upside given the World Cup and the that we have in certain cities in the Americas. Daniel, anything?

Speaker #2: Daniel, anything?

Speaker #3: Yeah. Just a couple of data points, right? I think we're pretty pleased by Easter, which this year was a little earlier, right? So we were going to be lapping that in Q2.

Daniel Cunha: Yeah, just a couple of data points, right? I think we're pretty pleased by Easter, which this year was a little earlier, right? We're going to be lapping that into two. Put a little bit of pressure on a year over year comparison on RPD. As we get out of that season, and especially as we get into June, July, August, we're pretty encouraged by how the days are building. Yeah.

Speaker #3: Put a little bit of pressure on your comparison on RPD. But as we get out of that season, and especially as we get into June, July, August, we're pretty encouraged by how the days are building.

Speaker #3: Yeah.

Speaker #4: Great. And then just as a follow-up, I think in the past, Ryan, you've talked about several initiatives on the cost and investment side that you're focused on to generally improve overall OPEX.

Stephanie Moore: Great. Just as a follow-up, I think in the past, Brian, you've talked about several initiatives on the cost and investment side that you're focused on to, you know, generally improve overall OpEx. Maybe you could talk a little bit about, you know, how we should think about just some of those cost initiatives coming through in 2026. Thanks.

Speaker #4: So maybe you could talk a little bit about how we should think about just some of those cost initiatives coming through in 2026. Thanks.

Speaker #2: Yeah. Sure. I think in terms of cost discipline, we laid that out, laid out our plan on that in the fourth quarter. And it's something that's foundational to our business.

Brian Choi: Yeah, sure. I think in terms of cost discipline, like, we laid out our plan on that in the Q4. It's something that's foundational to our business. Like, just given the operating leverage that we have and given some of the uncertainties there are around the macro side of our business, that which we can control, we absolutely have to control. We're doing a lot of work internally here to make sure that we are staying lean where we can so that we can take those proceeds and invest it into areas that we really do need. You know, for us, those areas are coming into operational efficiencies by utilizing technology.

Speaker #2: Just given the operating leverage that we have and given some of the uncertainties there are around the macro side of our business, that which we can control, we absolutely have to control.

Speaker #2: So we're doing a lot of work internally here to make sure that we are staying lean where we can. So that we can take those proceeds and invest it into areas that we really do need.

Speaker #2: And for us, those areas are coming into operational efficiencies by utilizing technology. By really the big thing that I want to get into in a little more depth on a future call is how we're redoing our entire operating system.

Brian Choi: Like, the big thing that I wanna get into in a little more depth on a future call is how we're redoing our entire operating system for the company and relying on a brand-new platform for that. We can get into that in a little bit more detail in the future. What we're trying to do is instead of squeezing every last dollar to show on the OpEx or SG&A line, we're being lean where we can so that we can reinvest it into proceeds that are gonna generate returns and revenue growth in the future.

Speaker #2: For the company. And relying on a brand new platform for that. So we can get that into a little bit more detail in the future.

Speaker #2: But what we're trying to do is instead of squeezing every last dollar to show on the OPEX or SG&A line, we're being lean where we can so that we can reinvest it into proceeds that are going to generate returns and revenue growth in the

Speaker #4: Thank you. Appreciate it.

Stephanie Moore: Thank you. Appreciate it.

Speaker #5: Thank you. We have reached the end of our question and answer session. I would now like to turn the floor back over to Chief Executive Officer Brian Choi for closing remarks.

Operator 2: Thank you. We have reached the end of our question and answer session. I would now like to turn the floor back over to Chief Executive Officer, Brian Choi, for closing remarks.

Operator: Thank you. We have reached the end of our question and answer session. I would now like to turn the floor back over to Chief Executive Officer, Brian Choi, for closing remarks.

Speaker #2: All right. Well, thank you to everyone joining us today. We believe the results this quarter reflect the progress we've made executing on the changes we outlined last quarter.

Brian Choi: All right. Well, thank you to everyone joining us today. We believe the results this quarter reflect the progress we've made executing on the changes we outlined last quarter, and we're starting to see the business respond. Our focus now is to build on that momentum and deliver consistent results through disciplined execution. We look forward to updating you on that progress next quarter.

Speaker #2: And we're starting to see the business respond. Our focus now is to build on that momentum and deliver consistent results through disciplined execution. We look forward to updating you on that progress next quarter.

Speaker #5: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your participation. This does conclude today's teleconference. Please disconnect your lines at this time. And enjoy the rest of your day.

Operator 2: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your participation. This does conclude today's teleconference. Please disconnect your lines at this time, and enjoy the rest of your day.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your participation. This does conclude today's teleconference. Please disconnect your lines at this time, and enjoy the rest of your day.

Q1 2026 Avis Budget Group Inc Earnings Call

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