Uber May Drive Largest IPO in History

Uber has hit the road in anticipation of the ride-sharing app’s much-anticipated IPO.

The race of the ride-sharing services has begun, with Lyft already well ahead of Uber in the IPO department. This time, the difference is simply sheer numbers.

Lyft became the first ride-hailing company to launch an IPO after filing for SEC approval earlier in March. This leaves Uber in a precarious position as the biggest ride-sharing company in the world. Despite Uber’s current placement as the industry leader in ride-sharing, the company has faced several difficulties. As the first major ride-sharing app, Uber faced the brunt of the anger directed towards the emerging industry from taxi companies and skeptical consumers. There have also been quite a few high-profile cases that Uber has been tangled up in, including their drivers’ employment status and passenger safety. That isn’t to say that things are going poorly for Uber. Uber bought Grab, the second largest ride-sharing service in the world. They also bought Dubai’s Careem Network earlier this month. These acquisitions have kept Uber in a great position globally, but now the company is busy catching up on Wall Street, as they face the reality of 2018’s $3.3 billion net loss.

Both Lyft and Uber have hit the road for roadshows promoting their upcoming IPOs, which are too close for comfort. It is believed that the Uber IPO may become the largest one in history, while Lyft’s IPO will likely give the current underdog the strength to compete for the decades to come.

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5 years ago