Should Investors Bet on Uber Stock Post Q1 Earnings Beat?

Core Viewpoint - Uber Technologies reported mixed first-quarter 2025 results, with earnings per share exceeding estimates while revenues fell short, leading to a stock decline of 4.3% post-earnings release [1][2]. Financial Performance - Earnings per share for Q1 2025 were 83 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents, compared to a loss of 32 cents per share in the same quarter last year [3]. - Total revenues reached $11.5 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.6 billion, but reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase on a reported basis and a 17% increase on a constant currency basis [4]. - The Mobility segment saw a revenue increase of 18% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, with gross bookings rising 20% to $21.2 billion [5][4]. - The Delivery segment's revenues grew 22% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, with gross bookings increasing 18% to $20.4 billion and trips rising 18% to 3 billion [6]. Market Outlook - For the June quarter, gross bookings are expected to be in the range of $45.75-$47.25 billion, indicating a growth of 16-20% on a constant currency basis compared to Q2 2024 [7]. - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 is estimated to be between $2.02 billion and $2.12 billion, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 29% to 35% [8]. Stock Performance - Year-to-date, Uber's stock has gained 36.5%, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Services industry, which has seen declines, while competitors Lyft and DoorDash have gained only 0.8% and 9.1%, respectively [9]. Valuation - Uber's forward price/earnings ratio stands at 28.97, significantly higher than the industry average of 16.39, indicating a relatively expensive valuation [12]. - Lyft's forward earnings multiple is 11.41, while DoorDash's is 69.48, suggesting that Lyft may be undervalued compared to Uber [12]. Strategic Positioning - Despite recent revenue misses, Uber's fundamentals remain strong, supported by diversification into food delivery and freight, which mitigates risks [13]. - The company is pursuing strategic partnerships to enter the robotaxi market, avoiding high R&D costs associated with developing autonomous systems independently [14]. - Uber's scale, market expansions, and diversification strategies position it well for long-term growth, with a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 36%, significantly above the industry's 16.7% [15].