Read the following article: https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/12/will-ride-hailing-profits-ever-come/ then answer the following questions.                                                                                                                                                      1. The article notes Uber had never been profitable, yet at the time Uber had a market cap above $90 billion. What gives?                                                                                                                                                                          2. Uber lost approximately $7 billion in accounting profits in 2020. Is Uber’s producer surplus above or below this amount? Is Uber's economic profit above or below this amount? Explain.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. How long can a company remain in business with negative accounting profits? What factors does this depend on?

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Read the following article: https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/12/will-ride-hailing-profits-ever-come/ then answer the following questions.                                                                                                                                                      1. The article notes Uber had never been profitable, yet at the time Uber had a market cap above $90 billion. What gives?                                                                                                                                                                         

2. Uber lost approximately $7 billion in accounting profits in 2020. Is Uber’s producer surplus above or below this amount? Is Uber's economic profit above or below this amount? Explain.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. How long can a company remain in business with negative accounting profits? What factors does this depend on?

File
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434 words
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x
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Document2 - Word
Tell me what you want to do
Uber and Lyft lost a lot of money in 2020. That's not a surprise, as COVID-19 caused many ride-hailing
markets to freeze, limiting demand for folks moving around. To combat the declines in their traditional
businesses, Uber continued its push into consumer delivery, while Lyft announced a push into business-to-
business logistics.
But the decline in demand harmed both companies. We can see that in their full-year numbers. Uber's revenue
fell from $13 billion in 2019 to $11.1 billion in 2020. Lyft's fell from $3.6 billion in 2019 to a far-smaller $2.4
billion in 2020.
But Uber and Lyft are excited that they will reach adjusted profitability, measured as earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation, amortization and even more stuff stripped out, by the fourth quarter of this year.
Ride-hailing profits have long felt similar to self-driving revenues: just a bit over the horizon. But after the year
from hell, Uber and Lyft are pretty damn certain that their highly adjusted profit dreams are going to come
through.
This morning, let's unpack their latest numbers to see if what the two companies are dangling in front of
investors is worth desiring. Along the way we'll talk BS metrics and how firing a lot of people can cut your cost
base.
Uber
Using normal accounting rules, Uber lost $6.77 billion in 2020, an improvement from its 2019 loss of $8.51
billion. However, if you lean on Uber's definition of adjusted EBITDA, its 2019 and 2020 losses fall to $2.73
billion and $2.53 billion, respectively.
So what is this magic wand Uber is waving to make billions of dollars worth of red ink go away? Let's hear
from the company itself:
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), excluding (i) income (loss) from discontinued operations,
net of income taxes, (ii) net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax, (iii) provision for
(benefit from) income taxes, (iv) income (loss) from equity method investments, (v) interest expense, (vi) other
income (expense), net, (vii) depreciation and amortization, (viii) stock-based compensation expense, (ix)
certain legal, tax, and regulatory reserve changes and settlements, (x) goodwill and asset impairments/loss
on sale of assets, (xi) acquisition and financing related expenses, (xii) restructuring and related charges and
(xiii) other items not indicative of our ongoing operating performance, including COVID-19 response initiative
related payments for financial assistance to Drivers personally impacted by COVID-19, the cost of personal
protective equipment distributed to Drivers, Driver reimbursement for their cost of purchasing personal
protective equipment, the costs related to free rides and food deliveries to healthcare workers, seniors, and
others in need as well as charitable donations.
Q Search
W
ANALDO MORRIS
AM
R
I
хв
113%
7:54 PM
3/26/2023
Transcribed Image Text:File Page 1 of 1 Home Insert Design Layout References 434 words 47°F Partly sunny x Accessibility: Investigate Mailings Review View Help Document2 - Word Tell me what you want to do Uber and Lyft lost a lot of money in 2020. That's not a surprise, as COVID-19 caused many ride-hailing markets to freeze, limiting demand for folks moving around. To combat the declines in their traditional businesses, Uber continued its push into consumer delivery, while Lyft announced a push into business-to- business logistics. But the decline in demand harmed both companies. We can see that in their full-year numbers. Uber's revenue fell from $13 billion in 2019 to $11.1 billion in 2020. Lyft's fell from $3.6 billion in 2019 to a far-smaller $2.4 billion in 2020. But Uber and Lyft are excited that they will reach adjusted profitability, measured as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and even more stuff stripped out, by the fourth quarter of this year. Ride-hailing profits have long felt similar to self-driving revenues: just a bit over the horizon. But after the year from hell, Uber and Lyft are pretty damn certain that their highly adjusted profit dreams are going to come through. This morning, let's unpack their latest numbers to see if what the two companies are dangling in front of investors is worth desiring. Along the way we'll talk BS metrics and how firing a lot of people can cut your cost base. Uber Using normal accounting rules, Uber lost $6.77 billion in 2020, an improvement from its 2019 loss of $8.51 billion. However, if you lean on Uber's definition of adjusted EBITDA, its 2019 and 2020 losses fall to $2.73 billion and $2.53 billion, respectively. So what is this magic wand Uber is waving to make billions of dollars worth of red ink go away? Let's hear from the company itself: We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), excluding (i) income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, (ii) net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax, (iii) provision for (benefit from) income taxes, (iv) income (loss) from equity method investments, (v) interest expense, (vi) other income (expense), net, (vii) depreciation and amortization, (viii) stock-based compensation expense, (ix) certain legal, tax, and regulatory reserve changes and settlements, (x) goodwill and asset impairments/loss on sale of assets, (xi) acquisition and financing related expenses, (xii) restructuring and related charges and (xiii) other items not indicative of our ongoing operating performance, including COVID-19 response initiative related payments for financial assistance to Drivers personally impacted by COVID-19, the cost of personal protective equipment distributed to Drivers, Driver reimbursement for their cost of purchasing personal protective equipment, the costs related to free rides and food deliveries to healthcare workers, seniors, and others in need as well as charitable donations. Q Search W ANALDO MORRIS AM R I хв 113% 7:54 PM 3/26/2023
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