Lyft CEO Defends Q4 Results as Stock Slides 15%

Risher says consumer demand remains strong despite disappointing rider metrics

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Lyft CEO David Risher defended the company's fourth-quarter results on Wednesday, telling CNBC that consumer demand remains strong despite disappointing ridership numbers that sent the stock down 15%. Risher highlighted Lyft's record profits, cash generation, and plans for autonomous vehicle rollouts as signs of the company's strength.

Why it matters

Lyft's fourth-quarter results and outlook are closely watched as a barometer for the broader ride-sharing industry. The company's ability to maintain consumer demand and execute on growth initiatives like autonomous vehicles will be key to its long-term success.

The details

Lyft reported 29.2 million active riders for the quarter, falling short of the 29.5 million expected by analysts. Total rides of 243.5 million also missed estimates of 256.6 million. However, Risher said Lyft saw record profits, generated over $1 billion in cash, and experienced strong demand during the Super Bowl. The company issued soft first-quarter guidance but touted its partnerships with Waymo, Baidu, and others for its planned autonomous vehicle rollout starting in 2026.

  • Lyft launched teen accounts on Monday, more than two years after rival Uber.
  • Lyft plans to start bringing autonomous vehicles onto the roads in places like Nashville in 2026.

The players

David Risher

The CEO of Lyft who defended the company's fourth-quarter results and said consumer demand remains strong.

Waymo

An autonomous driving company that Lyft has partnered with for its planned autonomous vehicle rollout.

Baidu

A Chinese technology company that Lyft has partnered with for its planned autonomous vehicle rollout.

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What they’re saying

“We have record profits, generated over a billion dollars in cash, and that's a result of our customer-obsessed strategy, which just keeps working and growing the company. So, love what we're seeing, and really no softness on the consumer side at all.”

— David Risher, CEO (CNBC)

What’s next

Lyft plans to start bringing autonomous vehicles onto the roads in places like Nashville in 2026.

The takeaway

Despite disappointing rider metrics, Lyft's CEO remains confident in the company's ability to maintain strong consumer demand and execute on growth initiatives like autonomous vehicles, highlighting the company's record profits and cash generation as signs of its underlying strength.