Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) Upgraded by Zacks Research to “Hold” Rating

Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on LYFT. William Blair lowered Lyft to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 17th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Lyft in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Lyft from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on Lyft in a research note on Wednesday, June 17th. They issued an “underperform” rating on the stock. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on Lyft in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $19.43.

Lyft Price Performance

LYFT stock opened at $16.30 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.58. Lyft has a 52 week low of $12.46 and a 52 week high of $25.54. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $14.88 and its 200 day moving average is $14.53. The firm has a market cap of $6.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 2.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.80.

Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.14 by ($0.01). Lyft had a negative return on equity of 2.09% and a net margin of 43.82%.The business had revenue of $1.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.10 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Lyft will post 0.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Lyft news, Director Jill Beggs sold 2,093 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.76, for a total transaction of $28,799.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 30,092 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $414,065.92. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Stephen W. Hope sold 5,460 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.76, for a total value of $75,129.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 335,463 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,615,970.88. This trade represents a 1.60% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 81,749 shares of company stock valued at $1,221,950. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lyft

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in LYFT. Strs Ohio grew its stake in shares of Lyft by 4,527.6% in the fourth quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 440,405 shares of the ride-sharing company’s stock worth $8,531,000 after acquiring an additional 430,888 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Lyft by 58.0% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,720,478 shares of the ride-sharing company’s stock valued at $89,360,000 after acquiring an additional 2,467,010 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Lyft by 36.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,289,671 shares of the ride-sharing company’s stock worth $30,453,000 after purchasing an additional 613,494 shares during the last quarter. West Tower Group LLC raised its position in shares of Lyft by 207.6% in the 1st quarter. West Tower Group LLC now owns 138,432 shares of the ride-sharing company’s stock worth $1,841,000 after purchasing an additional 93,432 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OP Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in Lyft in the 1st quarter worth about $992,000. 83.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Lyft News

Here are the key news stories impacting Lyft this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Lyft reported second-quarter revenue of approximately $1.84 billion, up 16.1% year over year and ahead of the $1.81 billion analyst estimate. The company also reported record active riders, supported by demand for higher-value rides, international expansion, and partnerships. Lyft signals steady demand as second-quarter revenue tops estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter gross bookings climbed to about $5.5 billion. Lyft’s outlook for the current quarter calls for bookings growth that is slightly above Wall Street expectations, potentially signaling continued demand despite a more cautious growth trajectory. Lyft signals steady demand as second-quarter revenue tops estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Lyft highlighted record quarterly growth and profitability gains, but reported metrics were mixed. Investors will likely focus on whether higher-value rides and international operations can sustain growth while the company expands its platform. Lyft Reports Record Q2 Growth and Profitability Gains
• Negative Sentiment: Adjusted second-quarter earnings fell short of expectations. Zacks cited EPS of $0.29 versus a $0.39 consensus estimate; another report cited $0.13 versus $0.14. Although earnings improved from the prior year, the miss raises concerns about cost control and profit growth. Lyft Misses Q2 Earnings Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Management expects current-quarter bookings growth of roughly 15% to 19%, indicating a slowdown from the recent pace. That moderation may limit enthusiasm despite the revenue beat and slightly favorable bookings outlook. Lyft’s Bookings Climb, But Expects Growth to Moderate
• Negative Sentiment: Insider Lindsay Catherine Llewellyn sold 36,214 shares worth approximately $584,494 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Because the sale was scheduled in advance and the insider retained more than 817,000 shares, its impact is likely limited, but it may add modest sentiment pressure. Lyft Insider Sale

About Lyft

Lyft, Inc (NASDAQ: LYFT) operates a peer-to-peer ridesharing platform that connects passengers with drivers through a mobile application. Since its founding in 2012, the company has expanded beyond traditional ride-hailing to include bike and electric scooter rentals, while also offering rental cars and public transit options in select markets. Lyft’s platform uses GPS mapping and dynamic pricing algorithms to optimize driver-passenger matches and route efficiency.

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Lyft primarily serves urban and suburban markets across the United States and Canada.