As a general rule, it's not a bad thing when your product becomes a verb or a generic noun. Consider Kleenex, Xerox (XRX -2.19%), Band-Aid, Tupperware, and, of course, Uber (UBER -0.53%).
Although relatively new to the brand-name-as-a-generic concept, ridesharing company Uber has already disrupted the transportation and food delivery markets since its founding in 2009 and continues to expand. This article will explore the ins and outs of Uber -- its history, performance, and, of course, how to invest in its stock.
Stock
Overview
What is Uber?
Uber is a ridesharing company that has expanded its offerings to include food delivery services, operating in more than 70 countries. Its stock was expected to be one of the hottest new investments when it completed its initial public offering (IPO) in 2019, valued at as much as $120 billion. And it was -- very briefly.
After starting trading at $45 per share, Uber stock dropped like a rock to $41.70, suffering the largest first-day loss in U.S. history. The news got worse from there, with Uber reporting a $5 billion loss and slowest-ever revenue growth only three months later.
Lately, however, Uber's fortunes have made a U-turn. After bottoming out at around $20 per share at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, its stock price has risen above $90 as of October 2025, boosted by a renewed focus on its two core businesses: ridesharing and food delivery.
How to buy
How to buy Uber stock
If you want to buy shares of Uber, follow these steps.
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Should I invest?
Should I invest in Uber stock?
You may want to skip Uber stock if:
- You believe competing ridesharing companies will take a bite out of Uber's market.
- You're worried about lawsuits and increased regulatory oversight of Uber.
- You expect inflation will continue to increase gas and food prices.
- You're wary of companies that have built their reputations on apps.
- You think Uber shares are trading at unrealistically high prices.
- Your portfolio already has enough tech, food, and transportation stocks.
On the other hand, you may want to buy Uber stock if:
- You think Uber will continue to be the leading rideshare and food delivery company.
- You believe Americans will continue to rely heavily on restaurants and shared rides.
- You think the recent decline in inflation will continue for both food and gas prices.
- You'd like to balance your portfolio with a stock that crosses multiple sectors.
- You think Uber stock is undervalued and will rise as it expands into new markets.
- You're excited about Uber's plans to focus on creating value with stock buybacks.
Profitability
Is Uber profitable?
Uber didn't post a quarterly profit until the second quarter of 2023, more than a decade after its founding. Even then, its net income of $394 million included a $386 million unrealized gain on equity investments.
Has Uber turned the corner? For its fiscal year 2024, Uber reported $9.9 billion in net income, a considerable year-over-year bounce from a $1.9 billion. Through the first half of 2025, net income was positive, totaling $3.1 billion in the first two quarters.
Further, the company made about 3.3 billion trips in the second quarter of 2025, up 18% year over year. After announcing a partnership with autonomous vehicle company Waymo in Phoenix, Uber began offering rides in Waymo's self-driving cars in Atlanta and Austin in 2025.
Additionally, Uber became part of the S&P 500 in December 2023, meaning all S&P index funds had to buy its stock.
Dividends
Does Uber pay a dividend?
As of yet, Uber does not pay a dividend, and investors shouldn't hold their breath while waiting for one. A dividend is possible in the future, though share buybacks will likely be the company's preferred vehicle for driving shareholder value in the short term.
In August 2025, the company announced the authorization of $20 billion in share repurchasing.
ETF options
ETFs with exposure to Uber
Despite its slow climb to profitability, a number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have acquired Uber stock. ETFs are an excellent way for investors to hedge their bets since they comprise a basket of similar stocks.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
A poor quarter from one stock in the ETF doesn't necessarily mean an investor will lose a large amount of value in their overall portfolio. Of course, the opposite is true, too: A booming quarter from one stock in the ETF isn't likely to move the needle of the fund very much.
According to ETF.com, 365 funds held 285 million shares of Uber in late 2025. The iShares U.S. Transportation ETF (IYT 0.56%) had 1.44 million shares of its holdings in Uber stock. The 22.8% weighting of its Uber stock was the most of any fund tracked by the site.
Other ETFs with significant Uber holdings included the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV 0.1%) -- a large-cap fund with 25.59 million shares but only 0.36% of its overall fund -- and the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI 0.16%), which held more than 65.76 million Uber shares, or 0.31% of its investments.
Stock splits
Will Uber stock split?
Again, investors probably don't want to bet the farm on an Uber stock split. A number of analysts are bullish on the company's prospects, given its recent profits and continued growth.
Stock Split
But most stock splits, especially in the tech sector, are designed to make shares more affordable for the average investor. Although Uber stock has been on the rise since its first quarterly profit was announced in late 2023, its share prices don't yet appear out of reach for the average retail investor.
Related investing topics
The bottom line
The bottom line on Uber stock
Early signs are usually just that -- early signs. However, Uber share prices don't appear to be headed in reverse any time soon. The company is focusing on its bread and butter, investing in R&D, and has relatively few red lights on its path.
Despite its relatively bright outlook, Uber is subject to the same laws of gravity that govern all stocks, if not more so. As the energy, transportation, and food and beverage sectors go, so goes Uber. Although a slump in one sector isn't fatal, a broader economic downturn or recovery that turns anemic could lead to a bumpy road for the ridesharing leader.
Smart investors will research the company to determine its future prospects to see whether it's a good fit for a diversified portfolio based on a long-term buy-and-hold strategy. As a widely held stock, any risks Uber poses can be offset through investments in one of the 300-plus ETFs that own a piece of the company.
FAQ
How to invest in Uber FAQ
Is it good to invest in Uber?
Uber is undoubtedly on a roll, increasing its value by more than 50% in 2025. As always, though, remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Can I buy shares in Uber?
Yes, Uber is a publicly traded company. You can buy shares in Uber through almost any brokerage.
Where can I buy Uber stock?
You can buy Uber stock from almost any online or brick-and-mortar brokerage.
Where will Uber stock be in five years?
It's impossible to say where any stock will be in five years, let alone Uber. But remember, investing in the market over time is always better than trying to invest by timing the market.
