How to Invest in Uber

Uber went public on May 10, 2019. What does that mean? The company is no longer privately held. It is being traded on the stock market, and you can own a piece of the pie if you wish. The company was valued at $76 billion before going public. Some thought the company would go over $100 billion on opening day, but it is currently valued at $82.4 billion, which still makes it one of the top tech IPOs in history. 

Investing can be both simple and complicated. Big numbers do not always mean big payouts or long term success, but it does not mean it won’t either. Uber, to some, feels like an overnight success as a company. They quickly came onto the scene and changed the game, making rideshares a part of almost everyone’s lives. It would be hard to imagine a world without Uber. Though, Uber is a lot more than ridesharing. They also have Uber Copter (in New York), scooters, electric bikes, self-driving cars, and freight. There is always something in the works at Uber, which makes them a pretty stable company to invest in because of the innovation and diversification. Although, their competitor, Lyft, has not had such a great record since their IPO earlier this year, which could be an indicator of how Uber will fare as well.

Because Uber is such a new company, you don’t want to put all your money into one company; that is not a wise course of action for any investment portfolio. Diversification is an important part of investing success. You can decide how much you want to invest in Uber based on your own finances and portfolio, but a good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% in one company.

To invest in Uber, you need to have an investment or brokerage account. If you do not have one, you will need to create one. This is a big decision, so you’ll want to do some research. Some of the major and reliable brokers are Merrill, Ameritrade, ETrade, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab. You’ll then want to decide how you want to invest. The straightforward ways are: market order and limit order. With a market order, you’ll buy ASAP at the best available price. You’ll be invested immediately, but you might not get the best price. A limit order means you’ll buy the stock only if it is at or below a certain set price. 

Investing is incredibly personal and completely dependent on what you are comfortable with as far as price, goals, types of investing, and risk factors. What works for one person may not work for someone else. Once you make your decision, it is pretty easy to be part owner of the tech titan Uber.