Does LYFT's Gross Booking Growth Justify a Buy Decision on the Stock?

Core Insights - Lyft is experiencing growth in driver supply and active riders, with gross bookings increasing for 18 consecutive quarters, indicating a strong customer-friendly strategy [1][4]. Q3 2025 Results - Quarterly earnings per share were 26 cents, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 30 cents, and down 10.3% year-over-year [3]. - Revenues reached $1.68 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $1.70 billion but showing an 11% year-over-year increase [3]. - Gross bookings hit $4.78 billion, a 16% year-over-year increase, marking an all-time high [4]. - Rides grew by 15% year-over-year to 248.8 million, achieving double-digit growth for the tenth consecutive quarter [4]. - Active riders increased by 18% year-over-year to 28.7 million [4]. - Adjusted EBITDA was $138.9 million, up 29% from the previous year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 2.9% compared to 2.6% in the prior year [4]. Q4 2025 Outlook - Lyft anticipates mid-to-high teens year-over-year growth in rides for Q4 2025, driven by strong service levels and rider engagement [6]. - Gross bookings are expected to grow by 17-20% year-over-year, reaching between $5.01 billion and $5.13 billion [7]. - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $135 million and $155 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 2.7-3% [7]. Stock Performance - Lyft's shares have gained in double digits over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Internet Services industry and competitors like Uber and DoorDash [8][10]. Autonomous Vehicle Initiatives - Lyft has partnered with Waymo to introduce fully autonomous ride-hailing services in Nashville by 2026, leveraging its fleet-management capabilities [12][13]. - Additional partnerships with May Mobility, Mobileye Global, and Nexar highlight Lyft's commitment to the autonomous vehicle market [14]. Price Lock Feature - Lyft's Price Lock feature allows users to avoid surge pricing during peak hours for a monthly fee of $2.99, resulting in increased ride frequency among users [15][16]. Share Buyback Program - Lyft has increased its share repurchase program to $750 million, with plans to utilize $500 million within the next 12 months, supported by strong cash flow generation exceeding $1 billion [17]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lyft's 2025 and 2026 sales indicates year-over-year increases of 12.3% and 14.6%, respectively, with EPS estimates reflecting a 25.3% and 25.9% uptick [18]. Valuation - Lyft is trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 1.2, lower than competitors Uber and DoorDash, indicating a compelling valuation [19]. Investment Opportunity - With strong gross bookings momentum, strategic partnerships in the autonomous vehicle market, and appealing valuation metrics, Lyft is positioned as an attractive investment opportunity [22][23].