These ride-sharing IPOs will grab attention

Article Excerpt

Ride-sharing firms Uber and Lyft will likely launch their initial public offerings sometime in 2019. These firms connect riders with privately operated taxi cabs through a smartphone app. A passenger opens the app, enters their destination, and sees the approximate fare for their trip. If they agree to the price, the driver nearest to them will then be alerted to the passenger’s location and pick up the “call.” The cars belong to the drivers, who collect a portion of the fare. This business model frees Uber and Lyft from the high cost of buying and maintaining a fleet of vehicles. These two IPOs will undoubtedly attract huge media attention. To help prepare investors, here’s a closer look at these two ride-sharing firms. UBER, based in San Francisco, California, was founded in March 2009. It now offers ride-sharing services in over 600 cities in 65 countries. In the U.S., it has about 70% of the market. Uber has already attracted more than $22 billion in funding…