Uber Posts $5.2B Loss and Slowest Ever Growth Rate (nytimes.com)

Article summary

Uber has posted a $5.2 billion loss, with $3.9 billion of that being a one-time recognition of stock-based compensation. The company's growth rate has also slowed down. Excluding the one-time expense, Uber lost $1.3 billion. The loss and slow growth rate have raised concerns about the company's path to profitability.

Main themes

• Uber's financial performance
• stock-based compensation
• growth rate
• path to profitability
• ride-hailing market

What commenters say

• The $3.9 billion one-time expense for stock-based compensation should not be considered a significant factor in Uber's loss because it does not affect cash flow.
• Stock-based compensation is a real expense that should be taken into account when evaluating a company's financial performance, even if it is non-cash.
• Uber's slow growth rate and significant losses suggest that the company may not be viable in the long term without significant changes to its business model.
• The company's reliance on subsidizing rides to attract customers is unsustainable and will ultimately lead to higher prices that may drive away users.
• The potential for self-driving cars to make Uber profitable is still a long way off and may not be enough to save the company.
• The true cost of using Uber, including the expense of stock-based compensation, should be taken into account when evaluating the company's financial health.
• The loss and slow growth rate are not surprising given the competitive nature of the ride-hailing market and the challenges of achieving profitability in this industry.