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Custom Truck One Source (CTOS)
NYSE:CTOS
US Market

Custom Truck One Source (CTOS) AI Stock Analysis

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CTOS

Custom Truck One Source

(NYSE:CTOS)

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Neutral 47 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:47Neutral
Price Target:
$5.50
▼(-10.71% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/11/26
CTOS scores low primarily due to strained financial performance (high leverage, recent losses, and consistently negative free cash flow) and weak technicals (downtrend with negative momentum). The latest earnings call is a meaningful offset, with upbeat 2026 guidance and a clearer path to deleveraging and free cash flow, but it has not yet translated into stronger reported fundamentals or price trend.
Positive Factors
High rental utilization
Sustained high rental utilization creates recurring, less cyclical revenue and supports higher rental gross margins and cash returns. With an on‑rent base (OEC) that grew and a de‑aged fleet, rental economics should sustainably bolster margins and predictable cash flow over the medium term.
Record revenue and EBITDA
Consistent top‑line and adjusted EBITDA expansion demonstrates demand resilience across sales, rentals, and services. Strong backlog and order growth provide forward visibility into equipment sales and services, supporting multi‑stream revenue durability and better operating leverage going forward.
Clear deleveraging and FCF plan
Management's plan to cut net rental CapEx, reduce inventory, and target meaningful leverage reduction addresses the central financial weakness. Explicit FCF and leverage targets, backed by ABL availability and inventory actions, improve the odds of durable balance‑sheet repair and funding flexibility.
Negative Factors
High leverage
Elevated leverage materially increases refinancing and interest sensitivity, constraining strategic optionality. High net debt limits the company's ability to fund working capital or opportunistic investments, and raises downside risk if rental or equipment sales slow or rates rise.
Persistently negative free cash flow
Chronic negative free cash flow forces reliance on external financing and asset disposals to fund operations and fleet investment. That weakens long‑term self‑funding, lengthens the path to sustainable deleveraging, and makes the company vulnerable to credit market tightening.
Profitability volatility & sales pressure
Intermittent GAAP losses and segment‑level pricing/ timing pressures undermine earnings durability. Reliance on cyclical TES sales and exposure to delivery timing, inventory swings, and pricing compressions can produce volatile margins and impede sustainable return on capital.

Custom Truck One Source (CTOS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Custom Truck One Source Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCustom Truck One Source, Inc. provides specialty equipment rental services to the electric utility transmission and distribution, telecommunications, rail, other infrastructure-related industries in North America. It operates through Equipment Rental Solutions, Truck and Equipment Sales, and Aftermarket Parts and Services segments. The Equipment Rental Solutions owns new and used specialty equipment, including truck-mounted aerial lifts, cranes, service trucks, dump trucks, trailers, digger derricks, and other machinery and equipment. The Truck and Equipment Sales segment offers new equipment for sale to be used for end-markets which can be modified to meet customers specific needs. The Aftermarket Parts and Services segment provides truck and equipment maintenance and repair services as well as sale of specialized aftermarket parts. The company was formerly known as Nesco Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Custom Truck One Source, Inc. in April 2021. Custom Truck One Source, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
How the Company Makes MoneyCTOS generates revenue through multiple, complementary streams tied to specialty work equipment. (1) Equipment sales: the company sells new and used vocational trucks and specialty equipment; revenue is recognized at the point of sale, and sales can include CTOS-configured or upfitted units tailored to specific applications (e.g., utility/telecom field service). (2) Equipment rentals: CTOS rents trucks and specialty equipment to customers on a short- and longer-term basis; this produces recurring rental revenue and helps balance cyclicality in new equipment demand. (3) Parts, service, and maintenance: CTOS earns aftermarket revenue by supplying replacement parts and performing service/repair work that keeps customer fleets operating; this stream can be supported by the company’s rental and installed base of sold equipment. (4) Upfitting/manufacturing and customization services: CTOS earns revenue from configuring, assembling, or modifying equipment to customer specifications (including installing specialized bodies, tool packages, and other vocational components) either as part of a sale or as a standalone service. (5) Disposition/remarketing of used fleet: equipment cycled out of the rental fleet (and other used equipment sources) can be sold, contributing additional sales revenue and helping manage fleet economics. Information on specific major partnerships, customer concentration, or precise segment-level contribution is null.

Custom Truck One Source Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue By Segment
Revenue By Segment
Details revenue contributions from each business segment, revealing growth drivers and diversification of income sources.
Chart InsightsCustom Truck One Source's Equipment Rental & Sales segment showed fluctuating performance, with recent stabilization after a dip in early 2024. The Truck Equipment Sales segment has seen consistent growth, albeit with a recent backlog decrease, indicating potential future challenges. The After Market Parts & Services segment remains steady. The latest earnings call highlights strong demand in T&D markets and strategic investments in rental fleet CapEx, supporting a positive outlook despite economic uncertainties impacting customer purchase decisions. The company anticipates continued growth into 2026, driven by increased transmission demand.
Data provided by:The Fly

Custom Truck One Source Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 10, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveys a predominantly positive operational and financial story: record full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA, strong rental fundamentals (high utilization, OEC growth, de-aged fleet), improving backlog and orders for TES, and constructive 2026 guidance with planned deleveraging and free cash flow generation. Notable challenges include Q4 TES revenue softness driven by timing and pricing pressure, a FY GAAP net loss (impacted by prior-year one-time gain), elevated but improving inventory and leverage levels, and sensitivity to macro and timing factors. Overall, the positive momentum in core rental KPIs, backlog growth, and clear plans for reduced capital intensity and deleveraging outweigh the near-term TES timing and inventory headwinds.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Quarterly and Full-Year Revenue and EBITDA
Q4 revenue of $528,000,000 and adjusted EBITDA of $121,000,000 (Q4 EBITDA up >18% YoY). Full-year 2025 record revenue of $1,944,000,000 (up 8% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of $384,000,000 (up 13% YoY and ahead of midpoint guidance).
Strong Rental Business Performance (ERS)
Q4 rental utilization averaged ~83.6% (management cited just under 84%), up ~470 bps YoY. Average OEC on rent in Q4 was ~$1.38B (up $166M or 14% YoY). Rental adjusted gross margin and rental sales gross margin were highest quarterly levels of the year; on-rent yield of 38.7% in Q4.
Record Year for TES Despite Q4 Softness; Growing Backlog and Orders
TES full-year revenue reached $1,100,000,000 (up 4% YoY, highest annual level ever). New sales backlog ended Q4 at $335,000,000 (up >$55,000,000 or 20% sequentially from Q3) and stood at ~ $370,000,000 in early 2026. Net order growth was 21% YoY in Q4; orders won up 12% YoY in Q4.
Fleet Health and Capital Deployment
Fleet average age ended 2025 at ~2.9 years (de-aged >1 year since 2022). Net rental CapEx in Q4 was >$40,000,000. End-of-year OEC was ~$1.64B, the highest quarter-end level in company history. 2026 net rental CapEx expected to be $150M–$170M (meaningful reduction from >$250M in 2025) with mid-single-digit net OEC growth expected.
Balance Sheet Progress and Liquidity
Net debt of $1,650,000,000 and net leverage of 4.3x at year-end (improvement of ~0.25x vs 2024 and ~0.5x from quarter peak). Availability under ABL was $248,000,000 with potential to access >$200,000,000 by upsizing facility. Inventory declined by >$100,000,000 in Q4.
2026 Financial Guidance
Company provided 2026 outlook: revenue $2,005,000,000–$2,120,000,000 (implying +3% to +9% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA $410,000,000–$435,000,000 (+7% to +13% YoY). Segment guidance: ERS $725M–$760M, TES $1,125M–$1,200M, APS $155M–$160M. Expect >$50,000,000 levered free cash flow and net leverage meaningfully below 4x by end of 2026.
Operational Improvements and Margin Trends
ERS rental gross margin reached ~78% in Q4 (driven by high utilization and lower R&M relative to fleet size). APS full-year gross margin improved to ~24% (up ~120 bps YoY). TES Q4 gross margin improved sequentially to 15.6%.
Negative Updates
TES Q4 Revenue Decline and Pricing Pressure
TES Q4 equipment sales declined ~8% YoY due to customers pulling forward purchases earlier in the year, atypical year-end delivery deferrals into 2026, and continued pricing pressure on certain truck sales.
GAAP Results and One-Time Comparability Items
GAAP net income for Q4 was approximately $21,000,000, but GAAP net loss for full-year 2025 was approximately $31,000,000 (comparability impacted by a $23.5M sale-leaseback gain in 2024).
Leverage and Balance Sheet Headwinds Remain
Net leverage of 4.3x, while improved, remains above the company's multi-year target (3x by 2027). Floor plan and inventory financing contribute to working capital interest exposure.
High Inventory Levels (Though Improving)
Year-end gross inventory was $930,000,000 with net inventory (inventory less floor plan payables) of ~$275,000,000. Management aims to reduce whole goods inventory to below six months (expected ~ $100M reduction) with an estimated $25M–$50M net working capital pickup in 2026.
Seasonal and Timing Volatility
Management noted an anticipated seasonal slowdown in December and that backlog and results can move quarter-to-quarter with delivery timing and production schedules, creating near-term cadence variability (e.g., strong Q2 2025 due to pull-forward activity).
Macroeconomic and Policy Uncertainty
Executive commentary highlighted exposure to macro/political uncertainty and dependence on customer timing (e.g., tariff anticipation, tax provision impacts, and pending EPA/emission-related dynamics), which contributed to variability in order timing and revenue recognition.
Company Guidance
Management guided full‑year 2026 revenue of $2,005 million to $2,120 million and adjusted EBITDA of $410 million to $435 million (implying ~3%–9% revenue growth and ~7%–13% EBITDA growth vs. 2025), with segment targets of ERS $725–$760M, TES $1,125–$1,200M and APS $155–$160M. They expect net OEC on rent to grow mid‑single digits, a net rental fleet investment of ~ $150–$170M (down from >$250M in 2025), non‑rental CapEx of $40–$50M, lower maintenance CapEx, and >$50M of levered free cash flow; Q1 is expected to show mid‑to‑high single‑digit revenue growth and double‑digit EBITDA growth year‑over‑year. On the balance sheet, management plans to reduce net leverage to meaningfully below 4.0x by year‑end (current net leverage 4.3x on ~$1,650M net debt), noted ABL availability of $248M with >$200M additional potential, targets inventory below six months (expected to free ~$25–$50M of net working capital), and will recast reporting into two segments (SER and STEM) beginning Q1 2026.

Custom Truck One Source Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financial fundamentals are constrained by high leverage (debt-to-equity rising to ~3.2x in TTM), a return to net losses in 2024 and TTM, and persistently negative free cash flow despite a TTM rebound in operating cash flow. Stable gross margins and positive EBIT margins help, but funding flexibility and earnings durability remain key risks.
Income Statement
44
Neutral
Profitability is mixed. Gross margin has been fairly steady around ~19–22% since 2022, but bottom-line results weakened: profitable in 2022–2023, then back to losses in 2024 and TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Operating profitability (EBIT margin) remains positive in 2024 and TTM, but revenue momentum has turned negative (down modestly in 2024, and the TTM revenue figure appears to reflect a sharp drop versus prior periods), raising questions about near-term demand and earnings durability.
Balance Sheet
38
Negative
Leverage is the central issue. Debt is high relative to equity (debt-to-equity ~2.1x in 2022, rising to ~2.8x in 2024 and ~3.2x in TTM), which reduces financial flexibility and increases sensitivity to downturns and refinancing costs. Equity is positive in recent years, but returns on equity are negative in 2024 and TTM (consistent with net losses). Total assets have grown versus earlier years, yet the balance sheet remains meaningfully geared.
Cash Flow
36
Negative
Cash generation is uneven. Operating cash flow improved materially in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) versus 2024, but free cash flow is deeply negative in every period shown, indicating heavy reinvestment/capex and/or working-capital demands. The relationship between operating cash flow and earnings is not consistently supportive (with weak coverage in 2024 and stronger in TTM), and sustained negative free cash flow keeps reliance on funding and balance-sheet capacity elevated.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.94B1.80B1.87B1.57B1.17B
Gross Profit367.36M343.43M410.09M340.39M165.65M
EBITDA409.76M380.66M414.78M359.12M104.84M
Net Income-31.05M-28.66M50.71M38.91M-181.50M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.74B3.50B3.37B2.94B2.68B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments6.27M3.81M10.31M14.36M35.90M
Total Debt2.42B2.43B2.20B1.83B1.60B
Total Liabilities2.93B2.64B2.45B2.05B1.83B
Stockholders Equity809.10M861.31M917.20M888.44M858.51M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-107.59M-353.63M-511.64M-358.74M-31.19M
Operating Cash Flow349.39M44.68M-147.45M-17.95M157.20M
Investing Cash Flow-282.46M-187.49M-176.60M-218.94M-1.43B
Financing Cash Flow-64.55M135.58M319.44M217.82M1.30B

Custom Truck One Source Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price6.16
Price Trends
50DMA
6.61
Negative
100DMA
6.31
Negative
200DMA
5.98
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.22
Positive
RSI
40.90
Neutral
STOCH
31.14
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CTOS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 6.16 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 6.85, below the 50-day MA of 6.61, and above the 200-day MA of 5.98, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.22 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 40.90 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 31.14 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CTOS.

Custom Truck One Source Risk Analysis

Custom Truck One Source disclosed 24 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Custom Truck One Source reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Custom Truck One Source Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Outperform
$2.58B12.9613.21%1.79%4.77%-35.44%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
63
Neutral
$1.14B8.0516.94%0.82%27.90%19.25%
61
Neutral
$7.51B16.0316.36%1.75%1.68%9.91%
58
Neutral
$3.65B4,644.290.06%1.79%19.40%-120.47%
51
Neutral
$3.22B-64.81-5.35%1.44%-3.64%867.62%
47
Neutral
$1.40B-42.03-3.00%7.39%34.57%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CTOS
Custom Truck One Source
6.16
1.47
31.34%
WSC
WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings
17.78
-11.80
-39.90%
HRI
Herc Holdings
109.51
-15.85
-12.65%
MGRC
Mcgrath Rentcorp
104.73
-6.87
-6.16%
R
Ryder System
190.58
53.81
39.34%
WLFC
Willis Lease Finance
167.18
-10.20
-5.75%

Custom Truck One Source Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Custom Truck One Source Reports Record 2025 Revenue Growth
Positive
Mar 10, 2026

On March 10, 2026, Custom Truck One Source, Inc. reported record fourth-quarter 2025 revenue of $528.2 million, up 1.4% year over year, and record full-year 2025 revenue of $1.94 billion, a 7.9% increase from 2024, while quarterly net income declined to $20.9 million and the company posted a full-year net loss of $31.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 18.4% in the quarter and 12.9% for the year, rental fleet utilization reached its highest level in nearly three years at 83.6%, sales backlog climbed to $335.3 million, and management highlighted strong growth in the Equipment Rental Solutions and Truck and Equipment Sales segments, improved working capital and inventory reduction, and favorable infrastructure and electrification demand trends expected to support further growth in 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (CTOS) stock is a Sell with a $6.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Custom Truck One Source stock, see the CTOS Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
Custom Truck One Source announces chief accounting officer resignation
Neutral
Dec 23, 2025

On December 19, 2025, Custom Truck One Source, Inc. announced that Chief Accounting Officer R. Todd Barrett had submitted his resignation, effective January 16, 2026, marking a planned leadership change in the company’s finance function. The company stated that Barrett’s departure did not arise from any disagreement over its operations, policies, or practices, suggesting the transition is not tied to operational or governance disputes for stakeholders to worry about.

The most recent analyst rating on (CTOS) stock is a Hold with a $6.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Custom Truck One Source stock, see the CTOS Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 11, 2026