*
Uber One boosts cross-platform usage and customer
retention
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Q4 gross bookings forecast exceeds Wall Street
expectations
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Delivery segment posts 29% sales rise, outpacing mobility
segment
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CEO sees potential for higher cross-platform usage
Nov 4 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies ( UBER ) on Tuesday
forecast fourth-quarter gross bookings above expectations as its
membership program drives up demand for both rides and
deliveries heading into the holiday season.
The ride-hailing leader also beat Wall Street estimates for
revenue in the third quarter as students returned to school and
stricter return-to-office mandates boosted commutes within
cities.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the Uber One program was
encouraging customers to book more food and grocery deliveries,
underscoring increased potential for the services the company
offers outside ride-hailing.
The delivery segment posted a 29% sales rise in the
July-September quarter, outpacing the 20% increase in mobility
revenue and flat growth in the freight division.
Consumers who use more than one of Uber's ( UBER ) services have 35%
higher retention and spend three times more than others,
Khosrowshahi said. Only about 20% of active users in markets
with rides and delivery use them together, though top-performing
countries already surpass that level.
Uber ( UBER ) forecast gross bookings - or the total dollar value of
rides, deliveries and other services - of between $52.25 billion
and $53.75 billion for the fourth quarter. Analysts expect $52
billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
It expects current-quarter adjusted EBITDA - a profitability
metric keenly watched by investors - of between $2.41 billion
and $2.51 billion, marginally below expectations of $2.48
billion.
Uber ( UBER ) will replace adjusted EBITDA with adjusted profit
forecasts starting from its guidance for the first quarter of
next year, adopting a practice typical of more mature firms.
Gross bookings in the third quarter ended September 30 were
$49.74 billion, compared with estimates of $48.73 billion.
Revenue rose 20% to $13.47 billion, beating estimates of $13.28
billion.
Uber's ( UBER ) stock has gained about 65% this year on the back of
strong quarterly results and its growing dominance in the
ride-hailing sector.
(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika
Syamnath)