Mario Gabelli Stays Bullish on Herc Holdings (HRI) Despite Near-Term Headwinds

Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI) is one of the best stocks to buy according to billionaire Mario Gabelli.

Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI) accounted for 1.52% of GAMCO Investors’ 13F portfolio value, as of the end of Q4 2025, and with a $158.3 million position, it is its fifth-largest holding. According to Insider Monkey’s 13F database, GAMCO Investors has held shares of Herc Holdings since at least Q3 2016, when it owned 2.48 million shares. The hedge fund reduced its shareholding in the stock by around 4% in Q4, owning about 1.07 million shares, down from 1.10 million in Q3.

Despite the cut, GAMCO Investors remained positive on the company’s outlook. In its Q4 2025 shareholder commentary, they said:

Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI) delivered another strong quarter, supported by resilient rental demand, pricing discipline, and robust free cash flow generation. The company remains well-positioned to benefit from infrastructure-related spending and fleet optimization.

Mario Gabelli Stays Bullish on Herc Holdings (HRI) Despite Near-Term Headwinds

Photo by Ewan Buck on Unsplash

However, the stock’s performance has been weak throughout recent quarters. In 2025, the stock lost around 22% value, and the trend continued in 2026, with a year-to-date decline of over 18%. The primary reason appears to be the recent quarterly results, which hinted at revenue growth and margin pressures, as well as execution concerns over its recent $5.5 billion acquisition of H&E Equipment Services Inc. (the largest acquisition in the rental industry).

That said, Herc Holdings Inc.’s (NYSE:HRI) stock is a strong Buy based on the Buy ratings from 70% of analysts covering the stock, as of March 10. Its consensus 1-year median price target stands at $189, implying a 65% upside from the current levels.

Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI) is an equipment rental supplier serving construction, industrial, and infrastructure markets across North America. The company provides a wide range of rental equipment, including aerial lifts, earthmoving machinery, material-handling equipment, and power-generation systems.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of HRI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than HRI and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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