New York, January 26, 2026, 21:09 EST — Market closed
- Uber shares slipped 0.4%, closing at $81.98 on Monday.
- On January 26, New York City rolled out new checkout tipping rules for delivery apps.
- Investors are eyeing Uber’s February 4 earnings as an early indicator of delivery demand and cost trends.
Shares of Uber Technologies Inc slipped 32 cents, or 0.4%, to close at $81.98 on Monday as investors digested a new set of New York City regulations targeting food delivery apps.
New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection announced that changes to delivery worker regulations took effect on Jan. 26. Now, restaurant and grocery apps must include a tip option before or at checkout, recommending at least a 10% tip or allowing a custom amount. The agency called out tactics that concealed or delayed tipping prompts—practices it said cost workers $550 million—as now illegal. Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine stressed the city won’t allow “multi-billion-dollar corporations [to] exploit hardworking deliveristas.” The minimum pay rate will jump to $22.13 an hour on April 1, up from $21.44, the department added. (New York City Government)
DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart pushed back in court, trying to secure a temporary halt to the new rules. But federal judges in Manhattan shot down their bid for a preliminary injunction. The companies responded by announcing plans to appeal. DoorDash and Uber argued the tip prompt might increase “tipping fatigue,” with a DoorDash spokesperson labeling it “bad policy.” Instacart slammed the ruling as “a step in the wrong direction for New York workers and families.” (Reuters)
With U.S. markets closed, traders are heading into Tuesday searching for early hints that the New York rollout might turn into a heavier regulatory burden for gig platforms. This kind of local battle can trigger copycat measures in other regions—or it might not.
For Uber, these shifts hit a space where price sensitivity runs deep. A slight bump in the default tip at checkout might seem minor, but it can alter how often customers press “order” and speed up how fast couriers accept jobs.
Uber plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a conference call set for 8 a.m. Eastern, the company announced. Investors will be watching closely for updates on delivery order trends and any impact from new city regulations on costs. (Uber Investor Relations)
Separately, Uber informed investors it will overhaul its adjusted profit reporting from 2026 onward, replacing adjusted EBITDA—a common metric that excludes certain expenses—with new non-GAAP profit figures the company says better align with standard accounting. The ride-hailing giant also intends to switch its segment metric to segment operating income. (SEC)
The near-term risk is clear: if customers cut back on orders after spotting a bigger suggested tip, platforms might have to offer incentives just to keep couriers working. That squeeze on margins could hit even before any wider regulatory changes take effect.
Uber’s stock faces a critical moment in the next session, as investors watch to see if New York’s move remains a one-off or sparks a wider trend. The key date to watch is Feb. 4.
