Grab stock in focus: HSBC flips to Buy as GRAB heads into a long U.S. market pause

Grab stock in focus: HSBC flips to Buy as GRAB heads into a long U.S. market pause

NEW YORK, January 17, 2026, 07:01 (EST) — Market closed

  • HSBC raised its rating on Grab to Buy from Hold, pointing to valuation opportunities following the recent selloff
  • GRAB closed a bit down on Friday; U.S. markets will reopen Tuesday following Monday’s holiday
  • Investors now turn their focus to Grab’s upcoming earnings, looking for signs of more stable margins and stronger demand

Grab Holdings Ltd (GRAB.O) heads into the extended U.S. market holiday after HSBC bumped its rating on the Southeast Asian ride-hailing and delivery firm to Buy, citing the recent dip in its shares. U.S. markets will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with trading resuming Tuesday.

That’s crucial since Grab’s shares have been struggling to find support. A new “buy” rating could shake up the opening trade of a shorter week. It might also trigger some short-covering amid thinner liquidity.

Investors are now focused on the upcoming numbers. Grab’s narrative hinges on minor changes in margins and incentives across mobility and deliveries, and whether it can sustain growth without overspending.

Grab ended Friday at $4.38, slipping 1 cent after fluctuating between $4.36 and $4.60 during the session. Volume hit around 65.6 million shares. In after-hours trading, the stock ticked up slightly to $4.41. By the close, Grab was still about 34% off its 52-week peak of $6.62.

HSBC upgraded its rating on Grab to Buy from Hold and raised the price target to $6.20, projecting where the stock might trade in the next year. Analyst Piyush Choudhary noted that after the recent selloff, Grab’s valuation looks “attractive,” with Street expectations now lower. TipRanks

The upgrade gave shares a boost early Friday, but they retreated by the close. This pattern has been typical for GRAB recently, as traders hold out for a stronger catalyst than just one broker’s note.

Grab runs a so-called superapp—combining ride-hailing, deliveries, and digital financial services all in one across Southeast Asia. The firm is pushing to boost margins amid fierce competition for drivers, merchants, and users in saturated markets.

Yet the upgrade loses weight if execution falters. Rivalry, especially from Indonesia’s GoTo, may push platforms to boost driver and consumer incentives. That, in turn, squeezes profits and weakens the case for “cheap valuation.”

In the coming week, traders will be keeping an eye on whether the stock can maintain its position around the mid-$4 range and if volume remains robust once trading resumes. Without prompt buying interest, the shares could slip back toward the lows that sparked the valuation controversy to begin with.

Grab plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results after the U.S. market closes on Feb. 11, with a conference call set for 7 p.m. Eastern.

Shan Ahmed Khan

Shan Ahmed Khan is a senior markets reporter at TS2.tech. His coverage ranges from stocks and technology to economic developments across global markets. He worked in investment research and market analysis before becoming a financial journalist and is a graduate of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

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