EV Reserve Shock Overcome with 6% Surge… Rental Car Stock CAR's Turnaround

Avis Budget Group Inc (NYSE: CAR) closed at $148.45 on the New York Stock Exchange on the 27th, up 6.35%. Its market capitalization rose by over $350 million (roughly KRW 480 billion) in a single day to about $5.2 billion (approximately KRW 7.1 trillion), and trading volume reached 1.42 million shares.

In its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report on February 18, the company recorded a net loss of $856 million (about KRW 1.2 trillion), reflecting a $518 million impairment on its electric-vehicle rental fleet. Following the announcement, its share price plummeted more than 21% in one day. During this period, Morgan Stanley disclosed a 5.6% passive stake via a 13G filing on February 11, and analysts interpret the recent price rebound as driven by inflows from major institutions, bargain-hunting, and short-covering demand.

Headquartered in New Jersey, Avis Budget Group is a global car-rental holding company operating under brands including Avis, Budget, and Zipcar, offering vehicle-rental services at airports and in urban centers worldwide. The company’s performance is sensitive to travel and leisure demand, airline operations, used-car and electric-vehicle prices, and interest-rate fluctuations. Recently, it has begun restructuring its fleet composition and financial framework in response to losses from its EV fleet.