LYFT Shares Plunge Nearly 60% YTD Amid Multiple Headwinds

Unsplash

Shares of Lyft (LYFT - Free Report) have fallen 58.4% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s decline of 25.2%. The downside is primarily due to the prevalent pandemic-related woes and high costs associated with boosting driver supply.

Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Despite improving from the coronavirus-induced slump, ride volumes continue to be significantly below the pre-pandemic level. During the first-quarter 2022 conference call, Lyft stated that its ride volumes were still down 30% from the fourth quarter of 2019. In certain key U.S. markets, it was down more than 50%. Omicron-induced woes hurt the company’s ride volumes significantly in January. Consequently, the company’s total revenues decreased 10% sequentially in the first quarter with a 5% decline in Active Riders.

Despite better-than-expected first-quarter results, Lyft’s shares slumped nearly 30% following the earnings release on May 3, primarily due to its bleak second-quarter guidance. Management announced that due to increased investments in drivers and marketing, it estimates adjusted EBITDA to be only $10-$20 million in the second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $54.8 million in the first quarter.

Lyft shares suffered a setback recently following news that it will slow down hiring and trim costs at some of its departments. Shares fell as much as 17.3% on May 24.

Rising gas prices amid the Russia-Ukraine war have also weighed on the LYFT stock. To help drivers combat escalating gas prices, the ride-hailing company collaborated with Payfare in March to launch a cash-back rewards program for its drivers on fuel purchases. With this partnership, Lyft drivers who use Lyft Direct debit card for purchasing fuel will receive increased cash back rewards of 4-5% until Jun 30, 2022. The company has levied a temporary fuel surcharge on rides, all of which is going to drivers.

Disclaimer: Neither Zacks Investment Research, Inc. nor its Information Providers can guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or correct sequencing of any of the Information on the Web ...

more
How did you like this article? Let us know so we can better customize your reading experience.

Comments

Leave a comment to automatically be entered into our contest to win a free Echo Show.