Will the program affect Hertz's earnings guidance for the upcoming quarters or fiscal year?

Bottom line: The Rent‑2‑Buy expansion is a positive, revenue‑generating initiative, but the press release does not contain any revision to Hertz (HTZ) earnings guidance for the next quarters or the full‑year. Until management explicitly updates its outlook, the market will treat the program as a incremental upside rather than a driver of a new earnings forecast.

Why it matters for the short‑term trade:

* Fundamentals: By turning a portion of its used‑car inventory into a “try‑before‑you‑buy” service, Hertz can capture higher utilization rates, reduce days‑in‑inventory, and earn a premium on the rent‑to‑purchase margin. The addition of 2025 models also expands the price‑point ladder, which should improve average unit profitability. If the program scales as promised, we can expect a modest lift to same‑store rental revenue and a modest contribution to the used‑car profit line—both of which are not yet reflected in the current guidance.

* Technical view: HTZ has been trading in a tight range around the 55‑day moving average (≈ $2.30) after the recent volatility tied to the broader auto‑rental sector. The news sparked a light‑to‑moderate upside on the day (≈ +2% on volume‑above‑average), but the price remains below the 20‑day SMA, indicating the rally is still in its early phase. A breakout above $2.45 with strong volume could signal the market is pricing in the incremental earnings boost; a failure to hold that level would suggest the upside is already capped.

* Actionable insight: Keep the current earnings guidance unchanged for now, but look for a short‑term catalyst in the next 4‑6 weeks. If Hertz’s management follows the expansion with a “Rent‑2‑Buy contribution to earnings” slide in an upcoming earnings call, the stock could rally 5‑8% on the upside. In the meantime, a neutral‑to‑slightly‑bullish stance (e.g., buying on dips near $2.30–$2.35 with a stop around $2.20) is appropriate, while staying ready to exit if the price stalls below the 20‑day SMA or if guidance is revised downward.