Uber Holds a 5.82% Stake in WeRide. Should You Buy WRD Stock Too?

On March 30, Uber Technologies (UBER) disclosed that it owned a 5.82% passive shareholding in WeRide (WRD), representing 56,618,266 shares in the company. WeRide stock went up about 7% on the news, indicating strong investor interest. However, this stake won’t come as a surprise to those who have been following the close relationship between the two countries.
UBER and WRD first started collaborating in September 2024. Back then, it was meant to be a strategic partnership to integrate WeRide’s autonomous vehicles onto Uber’s app. It was supposed to be carried out in the UAE first. By May 2025, Uber had decided to broaden this partnership and invested $100 million of its own money to expand the project to 15 cities over a period of 5 years.
By obtaining a 5.82% stake in the company, Uber has now deepened its relationship with the autonomous vehicle technology company. If an investor has followed the two companies’ journey together, they will know it only has positive implications for WeRide’s prospects, making the stock a buy.
About WeRide Stock
WeRide is an operator of self-driving technologies to provide transportation services. It has a license to operate in 40 cities across 12 different countries. Its products include Robotaxi, Robobus, Robosweeper, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Guangdong, China.
WeRide is down 44.5% in the last 12 months. An extremely poor performance, especially when Uber has traded relatively flat during this period. What’s worse is that the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (DRIV) has returned 42.6% in the same period. While this is disappointing to say the least, it does make the above news all the more exciting. If Uber is buying the company while it's cheap, why aren’t you?
One look at the consensus EPS growth rate gives a good idea of why the stock has struggled over the past year. Its earnings growth is negative at -215% for 2026. One would run away from any company that was tripling its losses in a single year. Yet Uber has done the exact opposite, and the earnings growth after 2026 contains the hint. WRD’s earnings are set to go up by 40% in 2027 and 50% in 2028.
This is an inflection point for a company involved in revolutionary technologies. What’s more, the firm has a cash position of just over a billion dollars, with minimal debt. WeRide is as attractive right now as an autonomous vehicles technology stock can be. It offers a great entry point at a time when earnings are down, and the people who know the industry are buying.
Lots of Positives in WeRide’s Earnings Report
WeRide announced its Q4 2025 earnings report on March 23, but there was a lot more to look forward to than just the sales and profit numbers. WRD reported a fleet size of more than 850 Robotaxis in China, now covering more than 1000 square kilometers. The utilization rates (daily orders per Robotaxi) now stand at a 6-month average of 15. And 1 in 40 Robotaxis now require remote assistance, a significant improvement from 1 in 10 a year ago. This shows that the technology is improving, further solidifying the potential for unit economics to show its magic when the company scales. There was also 900% year-over-year (YOY) growth in registered users in Q4 2025.
Management also pointed out the growth in the overseas business. Q4 2025 saw a 140% YOY growth in international revenue, now accounting for 31% of the total revenue. This is important because the overseas market allows WeRide better profitability, as per the management. In fact, the company’s Middle East subsidiary is already profitable on a standalone basis. So a partnership with Uber becomes even more significant in this backdrop.
What Are Analysts Saying About WeRide Stock
In early February, Macquarie initiated coverage of WeRide stock, assigning an “Outperform” rating and a $17.5 price target. The analyst points out that WeRide is different from other ride-hailing companies because it leverages collaboration with other companies (like Uber) for growth. The analyst’s price target suggests an 85% upside for investors buying at the current share price. Of the eight analysts that currently cover the stock on Wall Street, seven have a “Strong Buy” rating, and one has a “Moderate Buy,” with a mean price target of $14.97.
On the date of publication, Jabran Kundi did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com