Uber forecasts profit below estimates as cheaper rides boost trips but hurt margins

The Uber app is seen on an iPhone near a driver's vehicle in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Uber Technologies forecast first-quarter profit below market expectations and missed fourth-quarter estimates on Wednesday, as margins took a toll from the company’s attempt to lift trip volumes through more affordable ride options.

The company’s shares fell more than eight per cent in premarket trading.

Trips rose 22 per cent in the fourth quarter, as more consumers opted for Uber’s affordable offers such as shared rides and other lower-cost mobility products.

The ride-hailing company had said in November it was deliberately moderating the pace of margin growth after demonstrating over the past several years that its business model can generate profits at scale.

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Uber had said investments in affordability and low-cost product offerings were partly responsible for accelerating mobility growth, even as they weighed on near-term margin gains.

The company expects first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of US65 cents to 72 cents, compared with expectations of 76 cents, while for the fourth quarter it earned 71 cents and missed estimates of 79 cents per share.

Uber had last year said it will replace quarterly adjusted core profit guidance with adjusted profit per share to give investors a clearer view of recurring operating performance.

Gross bookings, a measure of the total value of rides, deliveries and other services, are expected to be between $52.0 billion and $53.5 billion for the first quarter, above estimates of $51.16 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said improving pricing conditions and lower insurance costs should support faster U.S. growth and margin expansion this year.

CFO change

The company said Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah, finance chief since November 2023, will step down and Balaji Krishnamurthy, a former Goldman Sachs executive who joined in 2019, will take the role.

Uber also said a change in how it accounts for parts of its UK business starting in January will lower reported mobility revenue margin by about 350 basis points in the first quarter and for 2026, without affecting underlying profitability.

The company is positioning itself to be a key facilitator as autonomous ride services begin to scale, partnering with companies including Alphabet’s Waymo and Lucid to integrate robotaxis alongside human drivers.

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Mobility and delivery segments grew in the fourth quarter, with delivery gross bookings rising faster than mobility, in a sign of strong demand in segments such as convenience services, which have lower margins than ride-hailing.

The company said quarterly gross bookings rose 22 per cent to $54.14 billion, while revenue increased about 20 per cent to $14.37 billion, reflecting strong growth in its two largest segments.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)