Uber (UBER) may still live up to its IPO hype - here's why

Two days after going public, shares of Uber Technologies Inc. fell nearly 18% and the future didn’t look bright. Rival Lyft (LYFT) had a similar fate after its public offering in March.

On the surface, it may not be as dismal as it appears, as both Uber and Lyft have been gaining popularity among riders. But steep bottom-line losses and a lack of clarity about the both the companies’ future paths to profitability are discouraging investors. However, there are reasons that Uber’s IPO may eventually bounce back.

First, Uber’s shares have plunged not just 17.6% since its IPO, but proposals reveal that Uber is worth as much as $120 billion, and documentation sent to holders of Uber's convertible notes fixed its value between $90 billion and $100 billion. So, investors may say that Uber has shed nearly 18% of its value, but it’s more likely that it has shed 43% below peak Uber.

Secondly, Uber is more than just ride hailing platform. Unlike Lyft, it has a growing overseas presence. While ridesharing accounts for $9.2 billion out of $11.3 billion of Uber’s revenue in 2018, while the rest came from a wide range of offerings that go beyond hailing rides. Takeout orders and other merchandise need rides like Uber Eats, Uber Freight and vehicle financing are all part of the basket.

And finally, underwriters usually wait 25 days following an IPO before initiating coverage. There are 28 firms listed on Uber, helping it sell more than $8 billion in shares last week. Uber debuted when the market for all stocks was generally low. If the climate improves, analysts’ bullish surge could help Uber get back above the splash line.