Uber beats estimates as strong ridership defies inflation

UBER Technologies reported revenue that beat analysts' estimates, boosted by resilient demand from customers who continued to hail rides and order takeout food despite rising inflation. Shares jumped about 11 per cent in early trading.

Revenue more than doubled to US$8.1 billion in the second quarter, the company said on Tuesday (Aug 2) in a statement. That beat the US$7.4 billion average projection from analysts, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

"Last quarter I challenged our team to meet our profitability commitments even faster than planned - and they delivered," chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi said in the statement.

In the 3 months ended Jun 30, Uber reported gross bookings, which encompass ride hailing, food delivery and freight, increased 33 per cent to an all-time high of US$29.1 billion. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, deprecitaion and amortisation rose US$873 million to US$364 million, far exceeding expectations.

Uber reported 122 million people used the platform monthly, surpassing the 120.5 million analysts expected. Khosrowshahi said the number of consumers and earners using Uber are both now at a record.

Uber and gig-economy peers like Lyft and DoorDash are confronting inflation levels that are the highest in 4 decades and the spectre of an economic downturn that could damp demand, just as it was starting to recover after the rocky months of Covid shutdowns. At the same time, aggressive interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve have made unprofitable companies like these very much out of favour with investors.

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Uber shares declined 43 per cent this year through Monday's close, while Lyft has lost 67 per cent of its value. Lyft reports results on Thursday.

Khosrowshahi said in May the company is "recession resistant," but it has still taken steps to keep costs in check, by treating "hiring as a privilege." Lyft also said it plans to significantly slow hiring and cut expenses.

Uber, which has struggled with a persistent shortage of drivers over the past year, has gradually decreased the extra spending on bonuses and incentives it was forced to offer to lure people back. Instead, the company has focused on improving its app by unlocking drivers' ability to see a fare and a passenger's destination. The imbalance between drivers and passengers has led to longer wait times and higher fares for customers. Rising fuel prices have lead drivers to cut down on the number of hours on they are on the road.

A key advantage against rival Lyft is Uber's food-delivery business Uber Eats, which boomed during the pandemic just as ride-hailing demand cratered. Uber's delivery arm, including restaurant, grocery items and alcohol, saw bookings increase 7 per cent from a year ago to US$13.9 billion. That missed the US$14.4 billion analysts were expecting.

Uber projected gross bookings of US$29 billion to US$30 billion in the third quarter and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of US$440 million to US$470 million. That beat expectations of US$391.6 million.

In the second quarter, Uber recorded a net loss of US$2.6 billion, or US$1.33 a share, due to unrealised losses from stakes in Grab Holdings, Aurora Innovation and Zomato. BLOOMBERG