Uber's multisided mobility and delivery platforms provide more value to users over time, making them extremely difficult to disrupt.
As investors worry about the potential for self-driving technology, this company is positioned well.
Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER) has become a dominant ride-hailing and delivery platform. However, its shares have disappointed investors. They're down 14% in 2026 (as of June 10), while trading 30% below their peak.
It's worth taking a closer look. Uber trades at a price-to-earnings multiple (P/E) of just 17.5, which is much cheaper than the overall market. But if you're new to this growth stock in 2026, it's important to understand a key variable driving the company's success.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Image source: Getty Images.
Uber is a platform business. The mobility segment connects riders and drivers. The delivery segment connects consumers, couriers, and merchants. The combination of all these stakeholders creates powerful network effects, since a larger base of stakeholders increases Uber's value proposition over time.
This characteristic supports the company's wide economic moat, making it difficult to disrupt. This is crucial for investors to remember as autonomous driving technology causes concerns about the company's durability.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi believes his company is positioned well in the face of ongoing innovation within the mobility sector. He thinks a hybrid network, combining human drivers and self-driving cars, will be the path ahead. And Uber's technological infrastructure, experience matching supply and demand, and control of the customer relationship are all strengths.
Once established, network effects are extremely challenging to overcome, even in the face of tech advancements. Uber's impressive growth trajectory is proof of this.
Before you buy stock in Uber Technologies, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Uber Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $442,220!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,230,114!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 926% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 203% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
See the 10 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 11, 2026.
Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.