Lyft Inc., the renowned ride-hailing service, has announced a surprising adjusted profit for the second quarter, attributing its success to increased summer travel and the reopening of offices. The company’s third-quarter sales forecast has also exceeded expectations.
Following the announcement, Lyft’s shares experienced an impressive rally of 10.2% after hours.
While some analysts have expressed concerns about the ride-sharing industry’s recovery from the pandemic, Lyft’s positive results indicate a leveling out of the industry. Additionally, the fading recession fears on Wall Street have contributed to this upward trend, despite higher prices. Lyft’s CEO, David Risher, confidently stated that inflation hasn’t adversely affected demand and that cost-cutting measures are unnecessary.
In terms of financial performance, Lyft reported a net loss of $114.3 million, or 30 cents per share, for the second quarter. This is a significant improvement from the previous year’s second quarter, which recorded a net loss of $377.2 million, or $1.08 per share. Furthermore, revenue showed a 3% increase, reaching $1.021 billion compared to $990.7 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Adjusted earnings per share landed at 16 cents.
Market analysts anticipated that Lyft would report an adjusted per-share loss of 1 cent on sales of $1.02 billion, according to FactSet. However, the actual results surpassed expectations.
Looking ahead to the third quarter, Lyft projects sales ranging from $1.13 billion to $1.15 billion. This outlook outscores FactSet’s expected sales of $1.09 billion.
Lyft identified various emerging use cases that contributed to its positive performance, with standout growth of over 20% in commute and early-morning trips. Furthermore, the company noted that it achieved its highest volume of quarterly airport rides since 2019.
In conclusion, Lyft’s unexpected profit in the second quarter, coupled with impressive third-quarter sales forecasts, underscores the company’s resilience in the face of post-pandemic challenges.
Lyft Sees Increase in Active Riders, Revenue Per Ride Falls
Lyft, the popular ride-sharing company, experienced an 8% rise in active riders during the quarter, reaching a total of 21.5 million. However, despite this increase, revenue made per ride actually decreased. In an attempt to attract more riders, Lyft had recently reduced its prices, which in turn affected its earnings.
The company has faced various challenges recently, including executive shakeups, layoffs, and tensions with its drivers regarding benefits and safety concerns. As a result, Lyft’s performance in the stock market has been outperformed by its larger competitor, Uber Technologies Inc. However, since assuming the role of chief executive in April, Risher has been focused on improving profitability.
BTIG analyst, Jake Fuller, commented that the ride-share industry has transitioned into a “post-recovery mode” following the impact of pandemic restrictions. Fuller believes that Uber can still achieve strong growth as the economy continues to rebound.
Lyft’s CEO, Risher, has emphasized that the company’s price cuts have enabled them to capture a larger share of the ride-sharing market. However, a D.A. Davidson analyst noted that data suggests the lower prices have not significantly increased demand. On the other hand, Brian White from Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co. observed a noticeable improvement in Lyft’s value proposition since April, which he attributed to more competitive pricing.
Moving forward, industry experts are eager to see how riders respond to Lyft’s pricing initiatives and the subsequent financial implications for the company. The sustainability of these programs will also be closely monitored.
