VICTORIA, British Columbia, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uber drivers in Victoria, B.C. have secured a landmark victory, with the B.C. Labour Relations Board officially certifying their union under UFCW Canada — the first union certification of its kind for Uber drivers in Canada. This breakthrough signals the start of a new chapter, with Victoria leading the way as the first Canadian city where gig workers have successfully unionized to demand better protections and rights. The drivers’ campaign focus ...

Core Points - The certification of Greater Victoria's Uber drivers marks a historic moment as they become the first rideshare drivers in Canada to unionize, aiming to negotiate a collective agreement [1][2] - UFCW 1518, as BC's largest private sector union, is committed to supporting these drivers in their negotiations, emphasizing the importance of giving gig workers a voice in their working conditions [2][3] - The union has a proven track record in organizing workers in emerging industries, including the cannabis sector and temporary foreign agricultural workers, showcasing its capability to advocate for non-traditional workers [3] Industry Impact - The successful organization of Uber drivers in Victoria is seen as a significant development for the labor movement in Canada, indicating that workers in the platform economy can unite and advocate for their rights [3][5] - The drivers have identified key issues for negotiation, including transparency in trip rates and earnings, improved health and safety protections, and fair account deactivation processes, reflecting their priorities [4] - British Columbia's progressive labor laws have facilitated this certification, recognizing the rights of platform workers to organize similarly to other workers in the province [5] Union's Role - UFCW 1518 is focused on collaborating with drivers to develop proposals that align with their needs, demonstrating a commitment to effective collective bargaining [4][5] - The union's leadership is expected to enhance the drivers' chances of success in negotiating their first collective agreement, highlighting the importance of strong local representation [5] - UFCW 1518 represents over 28,000 workers across various sectors, indicating its extensive experience and resources in labor representation [6]

Core Insights - Uber drivers in Victoria, B.C. have achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Uber drivers globally to secure union certification under UFCW Canada, marking a pivotal moment for gig workers [1][5] - The unionization effort aims to establish essential workplace protections, including enhanced health and safety measures, transparency in the app's rating system, and fair processes for account deactivations [2][3] - UFCW Canada emphasizes that this certification represents a national precedent for workers in the platform economy, highlighting the importance of collective organization for fair treatment [3][4] Industry Impact - The successful unionization of Uber drivers in Victoria is expected to influence app-based workers across Canada and potentially worldwide, setting a new standard for labor rights in the gig economy [1][5] - UFCW Canada has been actively involved in advocating for platform workers, having filed over 4,000 cases on behalf of drivers since a national agreement with Uber in 2022, resulting in favorable outcomes for many [4][9] - The union's collaboration with the Government of British Columbia has led to the development of laws and regulations that provide basic standards and workers' compensation protections for platform workers, which were previously lacking [3][4]

The biggest story in June concerning autonomous driving was Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi launch, but the news surrounding Uber Technologies (UBER -1.19%) could have a bigger impact in the near term. Shares of Uber climbed 10.9% in June, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, on investor excitement about the company offering autonomous rideshare services in a second major U.S. market. Uber and Waymo extend their alliance Uber is perhaps the biggest name in ridesharing and initially ha ...

Market Capitalization Summary - Oracle has a market capitalization of 806.88 billion, while Visa stands at 655.99 billion [2] - Procter & Gamble has a market capitalization of 378.02 billion, and ExxonMobil is at 512.70 billion [2] - Mastercard's market capitalization is 470.87 billion, and Bank of America is at 375.11 billion [2] - UnitedHealth has a market capitalization of 308.53 billion, while ASML is at 310.77 billion [2] - Coca-Cola's market capitalization is 295.75 billion, and T-Mobile US Inc is at 273.60 billion [2] Stock Performance - Oracle's stock increased by 0.46 (+0.47%), while Visa's rose by 0.47 (+0.13%) [2] - Procter & Gamble's stock saw a slight increase of 2.68 (+0.48%), while ExxonMobil's stock increased by 1.92 (+1.20%) [2] - Mastercard's stock increased by 1.46 (+1.35%), and Bank of America's stock rose by 3.15 (+2.06%) [2] - UnitedHealth's stock decreased by 11.21 (-1.40%), while ASML's stock increased by 0.93 (+1.31%) [2] - Coca-Cola's stock increased by 14.05 (+4.50%), and T-Mobile US Inc's stock rose by 3.31 (+1.39%) [2] Additional Company Insights - McDonald's has a market capitalization of 212.78 billion, while AT&T is at 207.73 billion [3] - Uber's market capitalization is 192.79 billion, and Verizon's is at 184.08 billion [3] - Caterpillar's market capitalization is 183.87 billion, while Qualcomm is at 174.99 billion [3] - BlackRock has a market capitalization of 163.25 billion, and Citigroup is at 161.13 billion [3] - Boeing's market capitalization is 158.16 billion, while Pfizer is at 142.36 billion [3] Recent Market Movements - Intel's stock increased by 0.45 (+1.99%), while Dell Technologies rose by 0.82 (+0.16%) [4] - Rio Tinto's market capitalization is 746.07 billion, and Newmont is at 654.78 billion [4] - General Motors has a market capitalization of 494.87 billion, while Target is at 472.00 billion [4] - Ford's market capitalization is 451.14 billion, and Valero Energy is at 432.26 billion [4] - Vodafone's market capitalization is 241.45 billion, while Pinterest is at 270.30 billion [5]

Core Insights - The stock market has experienced volatility in the first half of 2025, but several companies have shown impressive returns driven by AI momentum, energy sector strength, and bold corporate strategies [1] Company Performance - Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has achieved an 80.07% year-to-date return, significantly outperforming the broader market, driven by its growing role in AI and expanding government business [2][3] - NRG Energy (NRG) follows closely with a 77.99% gain, supported by strong Q1 earnings and the acquisition of natural gas power plants, which increased its generation capacity [6] - Howmet Aerospace (HWM) reported a 71.90% return, benefiting from the global rebound in air travel and rising demand for aircraft components [8] - Seagate Technology (STX) surged 66.20%, capitalizing on the growing need for data storage solutions for AI infrastructure [8] - Supermicro (SMCI) jumped 60.92%, driven by its role in building AI-optimized servers [8] - GE Vernova (GEV) climbed 60.87% amid increasing investor interest in renewables and grid modernization [10] - Newmont (NEM) gained 56.52%, driven by rising gold prices due to inflation concerns and a weaker dollar [10] - Uber (UBER) rose 54.71%, benefiting from strong performance in its mobility and delivery businesses [10] - GE Aerospace (GE) advanced 54.54% on strong demand in commercial and defense aviation [10] - CVS Health (CVS) increased by 53.00%, supported by restructuring efforts and a push into healthcare services [11] - Jabil (JBL) rose 51.47%, backed by steady demand in consumer electronics and automotive markets [11]

I recently covered Pony AI ( PONY ), which has developed autonomous vehicle (AV) technology at a far lower cost than Waymo. The economics of robotaxis are complex, given that the average US$12 fare needs to cover theExperience is difficult to learn. After 30 plus years of critically analyzing the nuts and bolts of businesses as diverse as airlines, oil, retail, mining to fintech and ecommerce plus the macro, monetary and political drivers. I continue to immensely enjoy learning and applying my experience to ...

Group 1: Pershing Square Capital Management's Portfolio Overview - A significant portion of Pershing Square Capital Management's portfolio, specifically 41.6%, is invested in three companies: Alphabet, Uber Technologies, and Chipotle Mexican Grill [2] - Alphabet constitutes approximately 14% of the portfolio, with over 5.7% in class A shares and nearly 8.3% in class C shares [4][5] - Uber Technologies represents 18.5% of the portfolio, being the largest holding as of the first quarter [8] - Chipotle Mexican Grill accounts for about 9.1% of the portfolio [12] Group 2: Alphabet Insights - Alphabet's stock underperformed in the first half of the year despite strong financial results, likely due to market concerns over regulatory risks, particularly an antitrust lawsuit [4][5] - The company is well-positioned for future growth in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, which are still in early stages [6] - Alphabet's YouTube platform and its competitive advantages, such as network effects and switching costs, contribute to its attractiveness for long-term investors [7] Group 3: Uber Technologies Insights - Uber has transformed into a profitable company, with first-quarter revenue growing 14% year over year to $11.5 billion and net income reaching $1.8 billion [9] - The company's competitive edge is reinforced by its network effect, as more drivers enhance its attractiveness to clients, significantly outpacing competitor Lyft in trips and gross bookings [10] - Long-term prospects for Uber are promising, especially as younger generations are driving less, increasing demand for ride-hailing services [11] Group 4: Chipotle Mexican Grill Insights - Chipotle's stock has faced challenges in 2025 due to potential tariff impacts and weak foot traffic, but it remains a consistently profitable business with strong margins [12][13] - The company is actively expanding, having opened 57 new locations in the first quarter, with a long-term goal of reaching 7,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada [14] - Despite current struggles, the recent dip in stock price presents a buying opportunity for long-term investors [14]

At the beginning of my analysis of Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT ), it seemed like a very interesting thesis, with interesting triggers, strategic positioning, and a valuation substantially cheaper than Uber (NYSE: UBER ). And although Uber also has an attractive valuation, ifEquity Research Analyst with a broad career in the financial market, covered both Brazilian and global stocks. As a value investor, my analysis is primarily fundamental, focusing on identifying undervalued stocks with growth potential. Feel free ...

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. has terminated all trade negotiations with Canada in response to Canada's newly announced digital services tax, which President Trump described as a direct attack on American companies [1][3]. Group 1: Digital Services Tax Overview - Canada has implemented a 3% digital services tax on certain total revenues related to online markets, targeted advertising, social media platforms, and user data, effective June 28, 2024, retroactive to January 1, 2022 [3]. - The tax applies to companies with global annual revenues exceeding €750 million (approximately $833 million) and digital service revenues in Canada exceeding CAD 20 million (approximately $14.3 million), impacting major tech firms like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Uber, and Airbnb [3]. - The Canadian government estimates that the digital services tax will generate over CAD 59 billion in revenue over five years starting from 2024-2025 [3]. Group 2: U.S. Opposition to the Tax - The U.S. Trade Representative's office has criticized the design of most digital services taxes, claiming they discriminate against American companies while exempting local firms from similar taxation [4]. - The digital services tax imposes significant retroactive tax liabilities and will have an immediate impact on U.S. companies [4]. Group 3: U.S. Government Actions - The Biden administration previously opposed the tax and requested dispute resolution consultations with Canada under the USMCA, but did not take further action after the consultation period [5]. - U.S. industry groups and lawmakers have urged Canada to cancel or suspend the tax, but Canada’s Finance Minister confirmed that the tax will proceed as planned [5]. - The U.S. Treasury Secretary indicated that the U.S. is likely to initiate a Section 301 investigation in response to Canada’s digital services tax, which could lead to more enduring tariffs compared to those imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act [6].