Exploring Valuation After Launch of Premium Avis First Service in Europe

Avis Budget Group (CAR) has introduced Avis First, a premium concierge-style car rental service now available at select European airports. The announcement highlights an effort to elevate customer experience and reposition the brand within the competitive premium travel segment.

See our latest analysis for Avis Budget Group.

Avis Budget Group’s rollout of Avis First comes at a dynamic time for the stock. After a volatile nine months, the share price has rebounded sharply with a year-to-date return of 95.2% and a one-year total shareholder return of 90.6%. Momentum is clearly building again, even as the company navigates broader market shifts and pushes for growth through premium services like this.

If premium offerings like Avis First have you curious about what else is trending in the travel and mobility sector, it could be the perfect opportunity to explore See the full list for free.

With shares trading above some analyst targets, the big question emerges: is Avis Budget Group’s recent rally justified by fundamentals, or are we simply seeing future growth already priced in? Is there still value to be found for buyers, or have markets already factored in all the upside?

With last close at $157.01 and the most widely followed narrative setting fair value at $148, sentiment is heated. The stock’s current price bakes in optimistic growth. Are bold business shifts justified, or is the narrative ahead of reality?

The launch and rapid scaling of Avis First, a premium rental offering, could be fueling expectations of significant revenue and margin expansion, as investors anticipate a sustained uplift in average revenue per day (RPD) and market share capture from price-insensitive travelers; this optimism may not fully account for competitive responses or changing customer preferences, increasing the risk that future revenue and net margin improvements fall short of current valuations.

Read the complete narrative.

What are the hidden drivers behind such a premium price tag? The projections fueling this narrative rely on future profitability metrics that are not typical for this sector. Want to find out if aggressive revenue growth, margin leaps, or declining share counts drive this narrative’s math? The dramatic inflection points behind the fair value are more surprising than you might expect. See for yourself how the pieces fit together.

Result: Fair Value of $148 (OVERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

However, if premium demand falters or competition intensifies, the company’s anticipated revenue growth and improving margins could quickly come under pressure.

Find out about the key risks to this Avis Budget Group narrative.

Looking beyond fair value calculations, Avis Budget Group’s price-to-sales ratio stands at just 0.5x. This is well below the peer average of 2.6x and the US Transportation industry average of 1.3x. This wide gap raises questions: is the market missing an opportunity, or does it signal underlying risks?

See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown.

NasdaqGS:CAR PS Ratio as at Oct 2025

If the numbers or stories above don’t quite fit your perspective, you can explore the details and form your own opinion in just minutes. Do it your way.

A great starting point for your Avis Budget Group research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include CAR.

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