Hertz skids as Goldman turns bearish, upgrades Avis

** Hertz's HTZ shares down 4.1% at $7.32 on Thurs after Goldman downgrades rental car firm to "sell" from "neutral"

** Goldman reduces HTZ PT from $8 to Street-low $7, per LSEG

** Last month, Stephen Scherr resigned as Hertz CEO and was succeeded by Gil West as co struggles with higher repair costs and weak demand for its electrical vehicles fleet

** Hertz earlier this year said it would sell approx 20,000 EVs, including Teslas TSLA, roughly a third of its global EV fleet, and will opt for gas-powered vehicles

** In contrast, Goldman upgrades peer Avis Budget Group CAR to "neutral" and boosts PT on stock from $118 to $130 (also a Street-low)

** CAR shares last up 2.7% at $124.33 on Thurs

** 8 of 9 analysts rate HTZ "hold" and Goldman is the lone "sell"; median PT of $9.50 down from $14 on Jan 4 - LSEG

** For CAR, 6 of 8 analysts rate stock "buy" or "strong buy", rest "hold"; median PT of $170 down from $232 on Jan 4

** Despite moves higher on the session, both HTZ and CAR have shed 30% in 2024