icon
icon
icon
icon
Upgrade
Upgrade

News /

Articles /

Uber (UBER) Earnings Preview: Strong Results Ahead as Mobility and Delivery Resilience Drive Growth?

Jay's InsightWednesday, Oct 30, 2024 3:21 pm ET
2min read

Uber Technologies is set to announce its Q3 earnings tomorrow, and investor anticipation is high as the company continues to demonstrate notable resilience across its core segments: Mobility and Delivery. Despite economic headwinds affecting consumer spending, Uber’s diversified service offerings and adaptability have kept it on an upward growth trajectory.

Consensus estimates for the quarter stand at an EPS of 0.37 and revenue of 10.9 billion, while Uber has forecast Gross Bookings in the range of 40.25-41.75 billion, indicating year-over-year growth between 18-23 percent on a constant currency basis.

Profitability Driven by Growth in Mobility and Delivery Segments

Uber’s Q2 earnings report already highlighted a robust 71 percent year-over-year jump in adjusted EBITDA, totaling 1.6 billion and surpassing the company’s own guidance. For Q3, Uber has set its adjusted EBITDA outlook at 1.58-1.68 billion, which also slightly exceeds analyst expectations. Adjusted EBITDA is a particularly significant metric for Uber as it excludes one-time items that can impact GAAP-based EPS, offering a clearer view of core profitability.

Within the Mobility segment, Uber has seen healthy demand with Gross Bookings growing 27 percent year-over-year to 20.6 billion on a constant currency basis last quarter.

The company’s strategy to target a more affluent customer base has paid off, insulating it somewhat from macroeconomic challenges that are impacting consumer spending more broadly. Strong international performance in countries like Brazil, Australia, and India has further reinforced this growth.

On the Delivery side, Gross Bookings saw a 17 percent year-over-year increase to 18.1 billion, showcasing the sustained demand for meal and grocery delivery even after pandemic-era peaks.

Uber’s push into the grocery delivery vertical has begun to bear fruit, with 15 percent of Uber Eats customers now using Uber’s grocery services, a 200 basis-point increase from the prior year. Improved customer retention for grocery services is helping to add a recurring revenue stream that complements Uber’s traditional food delivery business.

Advertising and High-Margin Revenue Streams Boost Profitability

Uber has made significant strides in monetizing its platform through high-margin advertising, particularly in the Delivery segment. In Q2, ad spending on grocery and retail more than tripled year-over-year, helping adjusted EBITDA for Delivery surge by 79 percent to 588 million.

As advertising becomes an increasingly important component of Uber’s revenue structure, it provides a higher-margin stream that supports the company’s profitability goals. Continued growth in this area will be essential as Uber seeks to enhance its bottom line while keeping fare prices competitive.

Strategic Positioning Amid Self-Driving Vehicle Concerns

While the rise of self-driving technology and robotaxis has raised questions about Uber’s long-term market share, recent developments suggest minimal impact on Uber in the near term. Tesla’s recent Robotaxi event left many questions unanswered, with production not expected to begin until 2026. Uber is also proactively positioning itself in the self-driving landscape through partnerships, such as its expanded collaboration with Waymo, Google’s self-driving technology subsidiary.

This partnership reflects Uber’s commitment to integrating self-driving solutions gradually rather than relying solely on external developments, thus strengthening its competitive edge as autonomous vehicle technology matures.

Outlook and Market Position

Uber has maintained strong growth momentum through a balanced strategy that leverages diverse revenue streams while catering to an economically resilient customer base. With year-over-year growth in Gross Bookings and a steady expansion of the Delivery and grocery sectors, Uber is poised to meet or exceed its Q3 guidance.

If Uber can sustain its profitability gains and maintain momentum across its core business units, the stock may continue to attract investor interest despite broader market uncertainties.

Conclusion

Uber’s Q3 earnings report will serve as a key indicator of the company’s ability to navigate complex macroeconomic conditions while scaling its high-growth and high-margin business lines.

The continued strength of Uber’s Mobility and Delivery businesses, combined with successful advertising initiatives and strategic moves in the self-driving space, positions Uber favorably as it pursues long-term growth. As the market awaits tomorrow’s results, Uber’s outlook remains promising, supported by a resilient business model and a forward-looking strategy in emerging technologies.

Disclaimer: the above is a summary showing certain market information. AInvest is not responsible for any data errors, omissions or other information that may be displayed incorrectly as the data is derived from a third party source. Communications displaying market prices, data and other information available in this post are meant for informational purposes only and are not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Please do your own research when investing. All investments involve risk and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. Keep in mind that while diversification may help spread risk, it does not assure a profit, or protect against loss in a down market.