Legislative challenges in Minnesota have highlighted the ongoing struggles of ride-hailing leaders Uber Technologies (UBER -0.52%) and Lyft (LYFT -1.92%), prompting investors to question the companies' viability as top stock picks in the near term.
As Uber and Lyft navigate new regulations, their current strategies and financial performance give some insight into the potential for long-term growth. Let's look at why these companies remain strong picks for 2024.
Uber: strong financials and cash flow
Uber's financial results for the first quarter of 2024 demonstrate its robust market position. The company reported gross bookings of $37.7 billion, a 20% year-over-year increase.
Gross bookings represent the total dollar value of all services Uber handles on its platform, including ride-sharing, food delivery, and freight. This growth showed increased demand for its services.
Revenue grew by 15% to more than $10 billion, bolstered by a 21% rise in trips, averaging around 28 million trips per day. That revenue increase shows the company's ability to attract more customers and retain a significant portion of the gross bookings as income.
With improved efficiency and profitability, the company's core business operations generated significantly higher earnings. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) were $1.4 billion, up 82% year over year.
Uber generated net free cash flow (FCF) of $1.4 billion, showing continued operational efficiency. FCF indicates the company's ability to generate sufficient cash to fund its operations, invest in growth opportunities, and return value to shareholders. Robust FCF further underscores Uber's strong financial health and ability to sustain growth.
Robust financials
Better operational efficiency and cost controls converted more gross bookings into earnings, increasing the adjusted EBITDA margin to 3.7%, up from 2.4% last year.
With unrestricted cash and equivalents of $5.8 billion, Uber appears well positioned to weather market fluctuations and invest in growth opportunities.
Moving forward with strategic initiatives
Uber's strategic moves include expanding autonomous delivery partnerships with Alphabet subsidiary Waymo, and enhancing its electric vehicle (EV) offerings through collaborations with Tesla and Kia. These initiatives align with global trends toward sustainability and automation, positioning Uber for sustained growth.
Autonomous delivery and EV partnerships can help reduce operational costs, enhance efficiency, and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers -- all strong long-term competitive advantages.
Lyft: market expansion and operational efficiency
Lyft also reported impressive financial results for the first quarter of this year that indicate it remains on a path to profitability. Increased demand for its services led to gross bookings of $3.7 billion, a 21% year-over-year rise, and revenue of $1.3 billion, up 28%.
The net loss of $31.5 million was a significant improvement from the $187.6 million loss in the same quarter of last year, and adjusted EBITDA of $59.4 million was up from $22.7 million last year, with both numbers a result of better cost management and operational efficiency.
Expanding services and market reach
Lyft's active riders increased by 12% year over year to 21.9 million. Innovations like the Women+ Connect feature and Driver Earnings Commitment have boosted driver and rider satisfaction and strengthened its competitive position.
Lyft's market diversification strategy expanded its presence in Canada, where rides doubled year over year, reducing dependence on the U.S. market and opening new revenue streams.
New wage regulations in Minnesota
The legislative challenge in Minnesota culminated in a new law setting minimum pay rates for Uber and Lyft drivers statewide, effective December 2024. The law mandates that drivers earn at least $1.28 per mile and 31 cents per minute, aligning with the state's minimum wage and including annual inflation adjustments.
Despite initial resistance, Uber and Lyft accepted the legislation, which also expands insurance requirements and enhances pay transparency. The increased costs will likely be offset by pricing adjustments and operational efficiencies. Moreover, pay transparency builds trust with drivers, potentially improving driver retention and service quality. Other states might seek to replicate this type of legislation.
Continued operating losses for Uber and Lyft
Even with impressive revenue growth and strong operational metrics, both Uber and Lyft reported net losses for the first quarter of 2024. Uber's net loss was $654 million, primarily due to unrealized losses of $721 million unrelated to operations. Lyft reported a significantly reduced net loss of $31.5 million, down from $187.6 million in the same quarter the previous year.
The operational performance and revenue growth are strong indicators of both companies' health, but the net losses underscore the ongoing costs and risks associated with ride-hailing. The losses can impact stock prices and investor sentiment in the short term, but they also are a result of the companies' reinvestment in their businesses and scaling up, which could drive substantial long-term gains.
Smart investments for long-term growth
The two ride-sharing companies' ability to navigate regulatory issues and adapt to new market conditions highlights their resilience and strategic foresight. Investors will likely learn more about how they plan to handle future state-based wage challenges during the next earnings report.
Meanwhile, both companies continue to invest in growth, including innovative services and EV partnerships, positioning them for future success even if operating expenses increase.
Uber's strong financial performance, robust cash flow, and strategic initiatives indicate significant long-term potential. Lyft's operational efficiency and expanding market presence make it a solid choice.
The two ride-hailing leaders are compelling investment opportunities that could make attractive additions to a growth-oriented portfolio for those willing to take on some risk, which is why Uber and Lyft remain top stocks to buy in 2024.
