ZACKSยท2025-11-17 17:26Core Insights - Uber Technologies has pursued aggressive global expansion and diversification beyond ride-sharing, establishing significant revenue streams through Uber Eats and Uber Freight, aiming to create a comprehensive transportation and delivery ecosystem [1] - Lyft has adopted a concentrated strategy focused primarily on ride-sharing within the United States, limiting its exposure to faster-growing markets like delivery and international operations [2] Uber's Performance - Uber reported strong third-quarter 2025 results, with earnings per share of $3.11 exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents, and total revenues of $13.46 billion surpassing the estimate of $13.26 billion, reflecting a 20.4% year-over-year increase [4] - The company maintained an excellent earnings surprise record, having outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters with an average beat exceeding 200% [5] - Despite the strong performance, Uber's shares declined post-earnings due to soft EBITDA guidance for the fourth quarter, with management projecting adjusted EBITDA between $2.41 billion and $2.51 billion [6][7] Lyft's Performance - Lyft's third-quarter 2025 results showed revenues of $1.68 billion and adjusted EPS of 26 cents, both missing estimates, while gross bookings rose 18% year-over-year to $4.8 billion, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth [9][12][14] - Lyft's partnership with Curb has positively impacted its market momentum, leading to double-digit gains since the earnings release [15] - The company expects fourth-quarter gross bookings in the range of $5.01 billion to $5.13 billion, indicating 17-20% growth from the previous year [14] Valuation Comparison - Lyft is trading at a forward sales multiple of 1.26X, which is more favorable compared to Uber's 3.22X, indicating a better valuation picture for Lyft [19] - Lyft's recent performance and strategic partnerships place it on a more solid footing than Uber, which faces challenges with its EBITDA guidance and concerns over the profitability of autonomous vehicles [20] Investment Outlook - Based on the analysis, Lyft is positioned as a stronger investment opportunity compared to Uber, currently holding a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) while Uber holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [21]