market folly

Barry Rosenstein's hedge fund firm JANA Partners has filed a 13D with the SEC regarding their stake in Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ).  Per the filing, JANA now owns 7% of HTZ with over 32 million shares (including options to purchase 11.37 million shares).

They've increased their position size by over 26.1 million shares since the end of the second quarter.  The filing was required due to portfolio activity on October 10th and notes that while they were our purchasing shares in mid-October around $21.67, they also acquired a lot of shares upon the exercise of options.

JANA's 13D indicates JANA has had (and may continue to have) discussions with the board of directors regarding management succession and board composition.

They're not the only hedge fund who has been intrigued by shares of HTZ as they've fallen.  Last week we pointed out that Glenview Capital's Larry Robbins was positive on car rental companies (specifically HTZ and Avis Car Budget (CAR)).

Hertz has been somewhat of a hedge fund hotel and and lot of investors have come and gone.  As a result, shares have been more volatile.  Clearly, JANA has seen this volatility as opportunity.

JANA has been actively trading recently and we highlighted how they exited their QEP Resources stake and added to their Walgreen position.

Per Google Finance, Hertz is "its operating company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Hertz Investors, Inc., which is wholly owned by Hertz Holdings. Its business operates in two segments: rental and leasing of cars, crossovers and light trucks (car rental), and rental of industrial, construction and material handling equipment (equipment rental). In its equipment rental business segment, it rents equipment through approximately 340 branches in the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Italy, China and Saudi Arabia, as well as through its international licensees."