Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAR) Receives Average Recommendation of “Reduce” from Analysts

Shares of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAR) have earned an average rating of “Reduce” from the nine research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $124.7143.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $85.00 target price on shares of Avis Budget Group in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Avis Budget Group from $142.00 to $97.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Zacks Research cut Avis Budget Group from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Avis Budget Group from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, February 21st. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on Avis Budget Group from $120.00 to $95.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 26th.

Key Headlines Impacting Avis Budget Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Avis Budget Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks slightly raised its Q3 2026 EPS view to $7.22 from $7.04, a modest sign that the firm still sees some mid‑cycle strength in Avis’s later‑year results. MarketBeat CAR page
• Neutral Sentiment: Reported short‑interest data for early March is anomalous (shows 0 shares / NaN changes), so it’s unreliable as a signal of positioning or squeeze risk right now.
• Neutral Sentiment: Third‑party analysis that mentions Avis is available for additional context, but it doesn’t contain company‑specific catalysts beyond the analyst estimate activity. Analyzing Avis Budget Group & Freight Technologies
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks heavily cut near‑term estimates: Q1 2026 EPS to ($6.05) from ($2.25) and Q4 2026 to ($0.82) from $0.45 — a sharp deterioration for the upcoming quarters that raises near‑term earnings risk. MarketBeat CAR page
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks also lowered 2027 quarterly estimates across the board (Q1 2027 to $0.78 from $2.14; Q2 to $1.95 from $2.41; Q3 to $2.83 from $3.79; Q4 2027 to $0.99 from $1.31) — the cuts point to a weaker recovery profile than previously modeled. MarketBeat CAR page
• Negative Sentiment: Material downward revisions to full‑year forecasts: FY2026 EPS cut to $3.04 (from $8.12) and FY2027 to $6.55 (from $9.66). Zacks maintains a “Strong Sell” rating — this is the principal negative catalyst pressuring sentiment. MarketBeat CAR page

Avis Budget Group Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of CAR opened at $100.71 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.55 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.97 and a beta of 2.32. Avis Budget Group has a twelve month low of $55.61 and a twelve month high of $212.81. The company has a 50 day moving average of $113.03 and a 200-day moving average of $132.99.

Insider Activity at Avis Budget Group

In related news, Director Lynn Krominga sold 1,950 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.54, for a total value of $178,503.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, major shareholder Pentwater Capital Management L bought 425,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $94.26 per share, for a total transaction of $40,060,500.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider owned 3,987,100 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $375,824,046. The trade was a 11.93% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 52.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Avis Budget Group

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its stake in shares of Avis Budget Group by 1,845.5% during the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 214 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in Avis Budget Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its stake in Avis Budget Group by 102.3% in the 3rd quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 174 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Basepoint Wealth LLC bought a new position in Avis Budget Group during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in Avis Budget Group by 136.4% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 253 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.35% of the company’s stock.

Avis Budget Group Company Profile

Avis Budget Group, Inc operates as a leading global provider of vehicle rental and mobility solutions. Through its two core brands, Avis® and Budget®, the company offers a broad range of rental options including daily, weekly and monthly car rentals for leisure and business travelers. In addition to traditional airport and off-airport car rental services, Avis Budget Group delivers innovative mobility platforms such as car-sharing programs and connected fleet solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of corporate, government and individual customers.

The company’s roots trace back to Avis Rent a Car, founded in 1946, and Budget Rent a Car, established in 1958.