Bill Ackman's Hertz Stake Is Starting To Look Like His Next Chipotle Moment
Benzinga·2025-11-04 18:43

Core Insights - Bill Ackman has taken a $104 million position in Hertz Global Holdings Inc, which represents 0.76% of Pershing Square Capital's portfolio, drawing parallels to his previous investment in Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc [1][2] - Hertz recently reported its first profit in nearly two years, posting earnings of 12 cents per share on $2.48 billion in revenue, leading to a 40% surge in stock price [4][6] Investment Strategy - Ackman's investment strategy involves identifying undervalued companies that appear unsalvageable but possess strong fundamentals, similar to his approach with Chipotle [3][5] - Hertz, once viewed as a pandemic-era bankruptcy case, is now under new CEO Gil West, who is implementing a "back-to-basics" strategy focused on cost-cutting and operational efficiency [4][6] Market Perception - The market currently perceives Hertz as a meme stock, while Ackman views it as a cash-flow machine undergoing rehabilitation, indicating a potential for significant returns if the company's turnaround continues [7]