Hertz So Good! Ackman's Investment Makes Wonder Woman Wonder!

By Hera! An Investment of Olympian Proportions!

Greetings mortals! Wonder Woman here diving into the world of Wall Street – a place almost as labyrinthine as the Amazon rainforest but with fewer hidden jaguars and more hidden fees. News has reached even Themyscira that Bill Ackman's Pershing Square has taken a *significant* stake in Hertz the rental car company that emerged from bankruptcy a mere four years ago. A 4.1% stake to be precise as of the end of 2024 leading to a rather impressive rally! It seems even *they* are deserving of a little bit of hope.

Up Up and Away! Hertz Stock Takes Flight!

Like my invisible jet Hertz shares *surged* – a whole 56%! Apparently a regulatory filing revealed Pershing Square's position and the market responded with the enthusiasm of Ares at a battlefield. Now word on the street (and by street I mean the grapevine I planted outside my D.C. apartment) is that Pershing has upped the ante increasing its position to nearly 20% through shares and swaps. That's enough to make them the second largest shareholder! Even I'm impressed and I once single handedly negotiated a peace treaty between the Amazons and a particularly stubborn tribe of rogue centaurs.

The SEC's Secret Stash: A Delay of Olympian Patience!

Ah but here's a twist worthy of Circe herself! Apparently Pershing Square received an exemption from the SEC to delay the filing of their position. This allowed them to accumulate more shares which begs the question: Is this cunning strategy or something that even my Lasso of Truth would struggle to untangle? Only time and perhaps a few subpoena's will tell. I suspect Ares might approve of such tactics but I of course prefer a more straightforward approach... like deflecting bullets with my bracelets.

Hertz's History: A Bumpy Ride to Valhalla!

Hertz has been through the wringer let me tell you. More twists and turns than the tunnels under Themyscira! They even faced bankruptcy during the dark days of the pandemic in 2020. It’s like watching a chariot race where half the horses have bolted. But they emerged! Stronger wiser? Perhaps. Though their next move was one that raised some eyebrows… especially mine!

Electric Dreams or Economic Nightmares?

Post bankruptcy Hertz made a *bold* move: betting big on electric vehicles specifically Teslas. Now I admire innovation as much as the next Amazonian but this venture proved about as successful as Ares trying to broker a peace treaty. The value of those EVs plummeted faster than I can fly across the Atlantic. In fact their 2024 earnings revealed a whopping $2.9 billion loss for the year including a painful $245 million loss just from selling off those EVs! 'Suffering is inevitable pain is optional,' or so they say. In Hertz's case it appears both were unavoidable.

Will Justice Prevail or is This the End of the Road?

So what does this all mean? Is Ackman's investment a beacon of hope or a fool's errand? Will Hertz rise from the ashes like a phoenix or crash and burn like Icarus flying too close to the sun? Only time will tell! But one thing is certain: this story is far from over and Wonder Woman will be watching. Because as my mother always says 'Who will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves?' Even if those 'themselves' are publicly traded rental car companies!