What Uber Stock Is and How to Buy It
Uber stock is a share of ownership in Uber Technologies, Inc., the ride-sharing and food-delivery company. When you buy Uber stock, you own a small piece of the company. The stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol UBER, which means you can buy it through any brokerage account — online brokers like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, or Robinhood all offer it.
To buy Uber stock, you open a brokerage account, deposit money, search for UBER in the trading platform, and place an order. You can buy a single share or multiple shares depending on how much money you want to invest. The price per share changes throughout each trading day based on supply and demand, so the cost of one share is different at 9:30 a.m. than it is at 2 p.m.
You do not need to be an experienced investor to buy stock. Most brokerages have made the process straightforward for beginners, and many charge no commission to buy or sell shares. However, you should understand what you are buying before you hand over money.
Key Takeaways
- Uber stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker UBER and can be purchased through any online brokerage account.
- Stock ownership means you own a piece of the company, but the value of your shares rises and falls with the company's performance and market conditions.
- You can buy as little as one share, and most brokerages charge no commission to buy or sell.
- Stock prices change throughout the trading day, so the price you pay depends on when you place your order.
- Owning stock is different from using Uber's services — you are betting on the company's future profitability, not paying for a ride.
How Stock Ownership Works
When you own Uber stock, you own a fractional stake in the company's assets and future earnings. If Uber becomes more profitable and the business grows, the stock price typically rises, and your shares become worth more. If the company struggles or the market loses confidence in it, the price falls, and your shares are worth less.
You can sell your shares at any time during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays) and receive cash. You might sell because you need the money, because you think the price is about to drop, or because you have reached your investment goal. You might also hold the shares for years, betting that Uber will grow over time.
Some stocks pay dividends — regular cash payments to shareholders — but Uber does not currently pay dividends. The only way to make money from Uber stock is if the price rises and you sell it for more than you paid, or if you hold it long enough for the company to become significantly more valuable.
The Risks of Owning Uber Stock
Stock prices are unpredictable. Uber's share price could rise 20 percent in a month or fall 20 percent in a week. If you need the money soon, a sudden drop could force you to sell at a loss. If you can afford to wait out the ups and downs, you have a better chance of recovering from a temporary decline.
Uber faces real business challenges. The company operates in a competitive market with other ride-sharing services, regulatory pressure in different cities and countries, and pressure to control costs while paying drivers fairly. Any of these factors could hurt profitability and push the stock price down. Additionally, the ride-sharing business is sensitive to economic downturns — when people have less money to spend, they take fewer rides.
You could lose money. If you buy 10 shares at $50 each and the price drops to $30, you have lost $200. You can sell and lock in that loss, or hold and hope the price recovers. There is no may provide it will.
Where to Buy Uber Stock
You can buy Uber stock through any licensed brokerage. The major ones include Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Robinhood, Webull, and Interactive Brokers. Each has a slightly different interface and fee structure, though most now charge zero commission to buy or sell stocks.
The process is similar across all of them: you create an account, verify your identity, link a bank account or deposit money, search for UBER, and place an order. Some brokerages let you buy fractional shares — meaning you can invest $50 and own a portion of a share even if one full share costs more. Others require you to buy whole shares.
If you already have a retirement account like a 401(k) or IRA, you may be able to buy Uber stock inside that account through the brokerage that manages it. Buying inside a retirement account has tax advantages, but there are rules about when you can withdraw the money without penalties.
Market Hours and Order Types
Stock markets are open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. You can place orders outside these hours — before the market opens or after it closes — but they will not execute until the market opens the next trading day. These are called after-hours or pre-market orders, and the price you get may be different from what you see on your screen.
When you place an order, you choose between a market order and a limit order. A market order buys or sells when ready at whatever price the stock is trading at right now. A limit order lets you set a maximum price you are willing to pay (or a minimum price you are willing to accept if selling). If the stock never reaches that price, your order never executes.
For a beginner, a market order during regular trading hours is usually the simplest approach. You know the order will go through, and the price will be close to what you saw when you placed it.
Taxes and Long-Term Holding
When you sell Uber stock for a profit, you owe capital gains tax on the difference between what you paid and what you sold it for. If you hold the stock for more than one year before selling, you pay long-term capital gains tax, which is usually lower than short-term capital gains tax (the rate if you hold for one year or less). The exact tax rate depends on your income and where you live.
If you hold Uber stock in a retirement account like a traditional IRA or Roth IRA, you do not pay taxes on gains until you withdraw the money — or in the case of a Roth IRA, you may not pay taxes at all if you follow the rules. This is one reason people use retirement accounts for stock investing.
Keep records of what you paid for each share and when you bought it. Your brokerage will send you a tax statement at the end of the year, but you are responsible for reporting the information correctly.
Alternatives to Buying Individual Stock
If you are uncomfortable picking individual stocks, you can own Uber stock indirectly through an index fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that holds it. For example, many broad market index funds own Uber as part of a basket of hundreds of stocks. You buy one fund and own a tiny piece of many companies, which spreads your risk.
This approach is less exciting than picking a single stock you believe in, but it is less risky because a single company's failure does not wipe out your investment. Many financial advisors recommend this approach for beginners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need to start buying Uber stock?
You need enough to buy at least one share. The price varies daily but has ranged from roughly $20 to $80 per share in recent years. If your brokerage offers fractional shares, you can invest as little as $1 or $5. Check your brokerage's minimum deposit requirement — many have none.
Can I lose more money than I invested?
No. If you buy stock outright (not on margin or through options), the worst that can happen is the stock goes to zero and you lose your entire investment. You cannot owe money to the brokerage. However, if you borrow money to buy stock (called buying on margin), you can lose more than you invested.
Do I need to monitor my Uber stock every day?
No. If you are holding for the long term, checking the price once a month or once a quarter is fine. Checking every hour will not help you make better decisions and may tempt you to sell during normal price swings. Set a plan and stick to it.
What happens if Uber goes bankrupt?
If Uber went bankrupt, your stock would likely become worthless and you would lose your investment. However, Uber is a large, profitable company with significant assets, so bankruptcy is not a near-term risk. Smaller or struggling companies carry higher bankruptcy risk.
Is buying Uber stock the same as using the Uber app?
No. Using Uber to request a ride is a transaction between you and the company — you pay for a service. Buying Uber stock makes you a partial owner of the company. You are betting that the company will grow and become more valuable over time, not paying for individual rides.