Average Rental Revenue Drops 9.4 Percent in Q2 Say Baird/RER Survey Respondents

Equipment rental activity was significantly impacted by COVID-19 related disruptions during the second quarter and, to a lesser degree, oil-and-gas headwinds, according the Baird/RER second quarter 2020 rental equipment industry survey. Based on qualitative commentary, revenue declines were sharpest in April, with some gradual improvement in May and June, according to respondents. Expectations for 2020 point toward lower year-over-year revenue, flattish rental rates and a decline in year-over-year fleet spending in response to industry challenges.

Activity dropped about 20 percent in April because of the impacts from the pandemic and the sharp drop in oil prices.

According to respondents, average rental revenue declined 9.4 percent in the second quarter, compared to a 0.9-percent increase in the first quarter, with the initial COVID impact hitting in mid-March. Prior to the first quarter, average quarterly growth was 7.7 percent during the nine-year history of the survey.

Average rental rates decreased 1 percent year over year in the second quarter compared to flat rates in the first quarter and an average growth rate of 1.4 percent in 2019. Increased fleet sizes and slower demand are intensifying competitive pressures while suppressing rental rate growth, especially for smaller rental companies.

Fleet utilization was 57.9 percent, up modestly from the first quarter’s 56.4 percent, but down 8.5 percent from the second quarter of 2019’s 64.9 percent. Survey respondents expect 2020 revenue to decline 5.2 percent, compared to first quarter respondents who predicted a 0.6 percent tumble. Respondents expect fleet spending to drop 7.4 percent in 2020, after respondents in the first quarter predicted flat spending. Respondents expect a 4.2-percent dip in earthmoving equipment, but a 15.4-slide in access equipment expenditures.

Based on the qualitative commentary Baird analysts estimate that revenue declined about 20 percent in April, 13 percent in May and 6 percent in June. Fifty-five percent of respondents expect revenue and utilization to return to pre-COVID levels in 2020, with about 32 percent expecting it in the third quarter. Most of the remaining respondents expect a return to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, with most predicting that to occur in the first half of the year.

Average rental revenue plunged 9.4 percent year over year in the quarter, below Q1 when it dropped 0.9 percent and the lowest growth in the survey’s nine-year history. Many, but not all of the respondents experienced the worst disruptions in April because of shelter-in-place mandates, with revenue declines lessening as the quarter went on.

“Everything is tied to COVID-19 at the moment,” said one respondent. “Rates are low because of it, people are hesitant, jobs aren’t starting as planned.”

“Smaller contractors/homeowners are doing many smaller projects that are keeping us busy, but we miss the ‘send it out for six months’ base of business,” said another.

A third noted: “The states don’t have money to spend on road projects. We need a Federal infrastructure bill to pass.”

Some of the commentary was similar to what rental people said during the recession during the late 2000s. “Increase(d) competition and rental rates eroding. Local competitor stealing salespeople from other rental companies and take the customers by offering lower rates,” said one respondent.

The utilization rate for access equipment fell to 57.4 percent from 66.1 percent in 2Q19, while the utilization rate for earthmoving equipment fell to 63.1 percent from 64.3 percent in 2Q19. Small iron utilization plummeted 1230 basis points year over year (48.8 percent vs. 61.3 percent.)

The average fleet size, in terms of units, shrank 2.2 percent year over year in the second quarter compared to 3-percent growth the prior three quarters, the first time the average fleet size has declined in survey history. Respondents expect fleet purchases to decline 7.4 percent in 2020 compared to flat expectations from respondents last quarter. Respondents expect access equipment spending to plunge 15.4 percent, compared to the 0.1-percent increase predicted at the end of the first quarter. Earthmoving expenditures are expected to drop 4.2 percent, and small iron 4.3 percent.