Uber(US:UBER) ZACKSยท2025-07-08 16:06Core Insights - Uber Technologies (UBER) has seen a significant increase in its stock price, reaching a 52-week high of $97.12, with a year-to-date surge of 60.3%, outperforming rival Lyft's 24.6% gain and the Zacks Internet-Services industry's 3% decline [1][9] Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Market - Uber is making strategic moves to strengthen its position in the autonomous ride-sharing market, including potential acquisition talks for the U.S. arm of China's Pony AI [3][9] - The company has established partnerships with Pony AI to integrate robotaxis into its platform, allowing Uber to mitigate R&D costs associated with developing autonomous systems independently [4] - Uber's extensive market share in ride-hailing provides a competitive edge in scaling autonomous services as technology advances [5] Financial Performance - Uber has consistently surpassed earnings estimates, with an average beat of 212.3% over the last four quarters [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has been revised upward for the second and third quarters of 2025, reflecting confidence in Uber's financial performance [10] - The company reported a free cash flow of $2.25 billion in Q1 2025, a 66.6% increase year-over-year, and has $7.2 billion in cash and equivalents [11] Growth and Expansion - Uber's gross bookings for Q2 2025 are projected to be between $45.75 billion and $47.25 billion, indicating a growth of 16-20% year-over-year [13] - The company has diversified its business beyond ridesharing into food delivery and freight, enhancing its risk management through geographic and product diversification [12] Investment Outlook - The average price target for UBER shares is $97.81, suggesting a potential upside of 4.5% from current levels, indicating a favorable investment opportunity [14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 anticipates a 15.2% increase in sales and a 21.8% rise in EPS, highlighting strong growth potential [14][15]