Avis Budget Group's stock experienced a significant pre-market plunge of 12.41% on Thursday, following the release of its disappointing fourth-quarter financial results after the previous trading day's close.
The car rental company reported a quarterly loss of $21.25 per diluted share, dramatically missing the FactSet consensus estimate for a loss of $0.22 per share. Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.66 billion, below the expected $2.74 billion, while adjusted EBITDA was just $5 million compared to the anticipated $145.8 million.
The results were significantly impacted by $518 million in impairment and related charges tied to a change in the company's fleet strategy, which shortened the useful life of certain electric vehicle rental cars in the U.S. market. This substantial non-cash charge reflects the company's strategic shift away from parts of its EV rental fleet and contributed to the quarter's substantial net loss.