The ride-hailing company's stock price has roughly doubled this year, climbing 45.64% year-to-date, as investor optimism grows. This is supported by record profitability announced in the past week and ongoing partnerships in autonomous vehicles. A major investor, PAR Capital, is rapidly growing its exposure to the company. A key strategic insight is the company's proactive shift toward supporting autonomous vehicle fleets, which it hopes will offset long-term risks from technological disruption and competition, despite facing safety concerns.