Uber listed on the New York Stock Exchange on May 10, 2019, under the ticker symbol UBER

Uber's initial public offering (IPO) happened on Friday, May 10, 2019. The company priced its shares at $45 each and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange that morning. On the first day, the stock closed at $42.36, meaning the IPO price was higher than where it settled — a common pattern for newly public companies.

The offering raised roughly $8.1 billion for Uber, making it one of the largest IPOs of that year. The company had been operating as a private company since 2009, so this was the first time regular investors could buy shares directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber went public on May 10, 2019, on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker UBER at an initial price of $45 per share.
  • The IPO raised approximately $8.1 billion, though the stock closed below the offering price on its first day of trading.
  • Before the IPO, Uber was a private company where only early investors, employees, and venture capital firms could own shares.
  • Going public meant Uber had to file quarterly and annual financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and follow public company regulations.
  • The stock price has fluctuated significantly since the IPO, affected by company performance, ride-sharing competition, and broader economic conditions.

Why Uber decided to go public

Private companies go public when they need capital to grow, when early investors want to cash out, or when the company has matured enough to operate under public scrutiny. For Uber, the IPO allowed the company to raise money for expansion, pay down debt, and give employees and early investors a way to sell their shares.

Going public also meant Uber could use its stock as currency to acquire other companies or attract talent by offering stock options. However, it also meant the company had to disclose financial details quarterly, face pressure from shareholders to be profitable, and deal with regulatory oversight from the SEC.

What changed after Uber became a public company

Once Uber listed on the NYSE, it became subject to public company rules. The company had to file a 10-K annual report and 10-Q quarterly reports with the SEC, showing revenue, expenses, and other financial details that were previously private. These filings are open to the public and shape how investors, analysts, and competitors understand the business.

Uber also had to establish a board of directors with independent members, create audit committees, and follow corporate governance standards. The company's executives became more accountable to shareholders, who could vote on certain matters and could sue if they believed management was mishandling the business.

How the stock price has moved since the IPO

Uber's stock did not follow a straight line after going public. In the months after the May 2019 IPO, the stock fell as investors worried about the company's path to profitability and competition from Lyft, which had gone public weeks earlier. By late 2019 and early 2020, the stock had dropped significantly from the $45 offering price.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 initially hurt Uber's ride-sharing business, but the company's food delivery service (Uber Eats) grew rapidly. The stock recovered and climbed substantially through 2020 and 2021. Since then, the stock has experienced typical market swings based on quarterly earnings reports, changes in company strategy, and broader economic conditions.

How to track Uber's stock performance

You can check Uber's stock price on financial websites like Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, or your brokerage account. Search for the ticker symbol UBER to see the current price, daily change, and historical charts. Most of these sites also show news articles about the company and analyst ratings.

For detailed financial information, you can read Uber's SEC filings directly on the SEC's website (sec.gov) under the EDGAR database. Search for Uber Technologies Inc. to find the company's 10-K annual reports, 10-Q quarterly reports, and other official documents. These filings contain the most complete picture of the company's finances and operations.

The difference between owning Uber stock and using the Uber app

Using the Uber app to request a ride or order food does not make you a shareholder. You are a customer paying for a service. Owning Uber stock means you own a small piece of the company and have a claim on its future profits (if any). Stock ownership also gives you voting rights on certain company matters, though individual shareholders typically have very little influence.

If Uber becomes more profitable or grows its business, the stock price may rise, and your shares could be worth more. If the company struggles, the stock price may fall. Stock ownership carries risk — you could lose money if the price drops, and there is no may provide of returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy Uber stock directly from the company?

No. You must buy Uber stock through a brokerage account — either a traditional broker like Fidelity or Charles Schwab, or an app-based broker like Robinhood or Webull. You cannot purchase shares directly from Uber. You will need to open an account, fund it with money, and place an order for UBER shares at the current market price.

What does it mean that Uber trades on the New York Stock Exchange?

The NYSE is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world. Trading on the NYSE means Uber's stock is bought and sold on that exchange during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays). It also signals that Uber meets the NYSE's listing standards for size, financial health, and corporate governance.

Does Uber pay dividends to shareholders?

As of now, Uber does not pay dividends. The company reinvests profits (when it has them) back into the business rather than distributing cash to shareholders. This is common for growth-focused companies. Dividends are typically paid by mature, established companies with stable earnings.

How much of Uber do the founders still own?

Founders Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp retained significant stakes after the IPO, though both have sold shares over time. Exact ownership percentages change as executives buy and sell stock. You can find current insider ownership information in Uber's proxy statements (DEF 14A) filed with the SEC each year.