On Tuesday, BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed its confidence in Uber Technologies Inc . (NYSE:UBER) stock, maintaining an Outperform rating with a steady price target of $92.00.
BMO's stance is based on the belief that size is a critical advantage for third-party (3P) delivery platforms, as it leads to better supply capacity, reduced customer acquisition costs, and enhanced technological capabilities.
Uber's strategic moves to onboard London Black Cabs by the end of 2024, expand its taxi services across Germany, and its recent acquisition of foodpanda are seen as key drivers for growth in the delivery segment, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. These initiatives are part of Uber's broader efforts to strengthen its market position and expand its global footprint in the competitive ride-sharing and delivery industries.
Furthermore, BMO Capital Markets highlighted the potential for Uber to benefit from the autonomous vehicle (AV) market, which is expected to unlock a $4.7 trillion total addressable market (TAM). Despite some skepticism around the AV space and concerns of a winner-take-all market, particularly with Robotaxi platforms, the firm believes Uber is well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity.
The analyst also noted an improvement in market sentiment towards Uber, pointing out that monthly active users and engagement are on the rise. This is in contrast to the negative sentiment that has been reflected in Uber's stock price, which is currently trading at approximately 17 times BMO's estimated 2025 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $8.6 billion. This valuation is below the two-year next twelve months (NTM) average of roughly 22 times EBITDA.
BMO's reiteration of the Outperform rating and $92 price target underscores its optimistic outlook on Uber's long-term growth prospects, despite the challenges and competition in the evolving transportation and delivery landscape.
In other recent news, Uber Technologies has been the focus of several significant developments. The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Uber and Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT), maintaining the classification of drivers as independent contractors, a decision that upholds the companies' current business model.
In a similar vein, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court approved a ballot initiative allowing voters to decide whether drivers for app-based services like Uber should be classified as independent contractors with certain benefits.
Uber also experienced legal victories overseas. The Court of Appeal in the United Kingdom reversed a previous decision requiring private-hire taxi operators to pay a 20% value-added tax on profit margins for services outside of London, a challenge initially initiated by Uber.
In terms of financial analysis, Melius Research initiated coverage on Uber with a Hold rating and a $77 price target, while Wolfe Research rated Uber with an Outperform and a $90 price target. Both firms highlighted Uber's diverse service offerings and expected growth trajectory. Citi also increased its price target for Uber shares to $96, showing confidence in the company's ability to meet its growth targets.
Lastly, Uber launched the "One Less Car" initiative, offering $1,000 in credits to select car owners in the U.S. and Canada who agree to stop using their cars for five weeks, aiming to reduce emissions and promote the use of public and other transportation services. These are among the recent developments involving Uber.
InvestingPro Insights
As Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) continues to make strategic moves to enhance its delivery segment and explore the autonomous vehicle market, real-time data and insights from InvestingPro offer a deeper look into the company's financial health and market position. According to InvestingPro, Uber is expected to see net income growth this year, which aligns with BMO Capital Markets' positive outlook on the company's long-term growth prospects.
InvestingPro data reveals that Uber has a market capitalization of $133.23 billion, with a revenue growth of 14.01% in the last twelve months as of Q1 2024. This growth is indicative of Uber's expanding market reach and its ability to increase earnings. Despite trading at a high P/E ratio of 94.87, the company's PEG ratio stands at 0.71, suggesting that its earnings growth could justify the higher P/E ratio over time. Additionally, Uber's Price / Book ratio of 12.05 is a point of interest for investors considering the company's asset valuation.
InvestingPro Tips highlight Uber as a prominent player in the Ground Transportation industry, operating with a moderate level of debt. While the company is trading at high EBIT and EBITDA valuation multiples, analysts predict profitability for the year, with Uber already profitable over the last twelve months. Noteworthy is that Uber does not pay a dividend, which could be a consideration for income-focused investors.
For readers looking for further insights and additional InvestingPro Tips, there are 10 more tips available that could help inform investment decisions. To explore these tips and gain a more comprehensive understanding of Uber's financials and market position, visit https://www.investing.com/pro/UBER and use coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
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