Should You Buy This Magnificent Autonomous Driving Stock Before Aug. 6?

Core Viewpoint - Autonomous vehicles are poised to significantly impact the ride-hailing industry, with companies like Uber potentially benefiting from reduced operational costs and increased market opportunities through partnerships with self-driving vehicle providers [1][2][12]. Company Overview - Uber operates the largest ride-hailing network globally, relying on 8.5 million human drivers, which constitutes its largest expense [2][5]. - In Q1 2025, Uber reported gross bookings of $42.8 billion, with $18.6 billion paid to drivers, resulting in $11.5 billion in revenue after deducting costs [5][6][7]. - The company is expected to release its Q2 2025 operating results on August 6, with strong revenue and earnings growth anticipated [3][10]. Financial Performance - For Q1 2025, Uber's GAAP net profit was $1.7 billion, indicating a low profit margin relative to its gross bookings [6][7]. - Projections for Q2 2025 suggest gross bookings between $45.7 billion and $47.2 billion, translating to approximately $12.5 billion in revenue, representing a year-over-year growth of 16.4% [10][11]. Autonomous Vehicle Partnerships - Uber has partnerships with 18 self-driving vehicle providers, up from 14 six months prior, leveraging its large user base of 170 million monthly active users [12]. - Waymo, a key partner, is completing over 250,000 paid autonomous ride-hailing trips weekly across five U.S. cities, utilizing both its and Uber's networks [13]. - As of Q1 2025, Uber's network completed 1.5 million annualized autonomous trips and deliveries, with expectations for updates on this figure in the upcoming report [14]. Market Outlook - Uber's stock has increased by 42% in 2023, currently trading near record highs, with a price-to-sales ratio of 4.2, aligning with its 10-year average [15]. - The potential for accelerated revenue growth due to autonomous vehicles suggests that the stock may be worth holding, especially for long-term investors [17][18].