The Motley Fool·2025-12-20 03:24Core Insights - Lyft needs to maintain growth rates comparable to or better than Uber's to keep pace with the S&P 500 in the long term [1] - Lyft's stock has outperformed Uber in 2025, with a 40% return, but has significantly underperformed over the past five years, declining 62% compared to the S&P 500's 83% gain [2] - Investors must assess whether Lyft's stock will continue its 2025 success or revert to underperformance [3] Rider Growth and Engagement - Rider growth is crucial for Lyft, with 28.7 million riders compared to Uber's 189 million; Lyft's year-over-year growth rate in ridership is 18%, slightly ahead of Uber's 17% [5] - Despite faster rider growth, Lyft's total rides increased by only 15% last quarter, while Uber's rides grew by 22%; Lyft's 248.8 million rides are far behind Uber's 3.5 billion [6] - Lyft needs to achieve a 20% year-over-year growth rate in riders and quarterly rides to match Uber's performance and enhance its stock price [7] Market Position and Future Opportunities - Lyft holds the second position in market share for ride-sharing but lacks a food delivery service like Uber Eats, limiting its growth potential [9] - The development of autonomous vehicles is critical for Lyft to avoid losing market share; partnerships, such as with Tensor for consumer-owned autonomous vehicles, are in progress [10][11] - Lyft's current net profit margin is 3%, significantly lower than Uber's double-digit margins, indicating potential for improvement if it successfully develops autonomous vehicles [12]