Singapore’s Grab bets on AI, new services to triple profit by 2028
#Grab Holdings#Artificial Intelligence#Southeast Asia Tech#Ride-hailing Profitability#Super-app Strategy#Financial Technology#EBITDA Growth#Autonomous Vehicles
📌 Key Takeaways
Grab aims to triple EBITDA to $1.5 billion by 2028 through AI and new services
The company announced its first-ever full-year net profit in 2025 after 14 years
Wall Street expectations for 2026 fell short, causing stock decline of over 15%
Grab plans to build its own AI agents rather than integrating with popular chatbots
No current plans for a second listing or merger with Indonesian rival GoTo
📖 Full Retelling
Singapore's Grab, Southeast Asia's top ride-hailing and delivery firm, announced on February 26, 2026, that it is betting on artificial intelligence and expansion of new services such as online groceries and financial products to triple profit by 2028, as the company shifts from subsidy-fueled expansion to a profitability push amid rising operating costs. Grab has set ambitious targets for the next three years, aiming to grow revenue by more than 20% annually and triple its EBITDA to $1.5 billion in 2028 from last year's level, according to President and Chief Operating Officer Alex Hungate. The Nasdaq-listed company recently achieved a significant milestone by announcing its first-ever full-year net profit in 2025, fourteen years after its founding following billions of dollars in fundraising. However, the company's forecasts for 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA fell short of Wall Street expectations, causing its stock to decline more than 15% this year, while competitors Uber and Lyft have also seen significant drops. Analysts from Huatai Securities have raised concerns that higher investments in autonomous vehicle partnerships and AI could weigh on profitability, while flagging risks including slower-than-expected user penetration improvement and macroeconomic volatility. Grab's strategy focuses on achieving efficiency through its main app and delivery network, bundling services like mobility, food delivery, and groceries at lower costs due to high user frequency. The company, operating in over 900 cities across Southeast Asia, is expanding its financial services offerings and leveraging data for more precise loan underwriting than traditional banks. Grab has also made strategic moves outside Southeast Asia, including acquiring a stake in U.S. wealth platform Stash, while maintaining that its primary cash use will be reinvesting in Southeast Asia to drive organic growth, though it remains open to select acquisitions.
🏷️ Themes
Digital Transformation, Profitability Strategy, Financial Services Expansion, AI Integration
Financial technology (abbreviated as fintech) refers to the application of innovative technologies to products and services in the financial industry. This broad term encompasses a wide array of technological advancements in financial services, including mobile banking, online lending platforms, dig...
Grab Holdings Inc. is a Singaporean multinational technology company headquartered in one-north, Singapore. It is the developer of a super-app for ride-hailing, food delivery, and digital payment services on mobile devices.
# Artificial Intelligence (AI)
**Artificial Intelligence (AI)** is a specialized field of computer science dedicated to the development and study of computational systems capable of performing tasks typically associated with human intelligence. These tasks include learning, reasoning, problem-solvi...
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Nvidia’s results beat estimates, but Wall Street wants more cash return Gold ticks up on softer dollar, markets eye US-Iran nuclear talks Nasdaq ends more than 1% higher as Nvidia rises pre-earnings, tech extends rebound Nvidia set to report strong results and guidance, analysts say (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Singapore’s Grab bets on AI, new services to triple profit by 2028 By Reuters Stock Markets Published 02/26/2026, 02:43 AM Updated 02/26/2026, 02:55 AM Singapore’s Grab bets on AI, new services to triple profit by 2028 0 UBER 2.03% LYFT -0.96% GRAB 1.45% GOTO 1.67% By Yantoultra Ngui and Jun Yuan Yong SINGAPORE, Feb 26 - Southeast Asia’s top ride-hailing and delivery firm, Grab , is betting on artificial intelligence and expansion of new services such as online groceries and financial products to triple profit by 2028, the company’s president told Reuters. Grab has set goals for the next three years of growing revenue by more than 20% each year and tripling EBITDA to $1.5 billion in 2028 from last year’s level, President and Chief Operating Officer Alex Hungate said in an interview at the company’s Singapore headquarters. Ride‑hailing in Southeast Asia has shifted from subsidy‑fuelled expansion to a profitability push, as companies contend with rising operating costs while looking to AI-optimised super‑apps to monetise bundling rides with deliveries and financial services. Nasdaq-listed Grab earlier this month announced its first-ever full-year net profit with its 2025 results, 14 years after it was founded and following billions of dollars in fundraising. However, the company’s forecasts for 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA fell short of Wall Street estimates, sending shares lower. The stock is down more than 15% this year, while Uber is down 11% and Lyft is down 31%. In a research note this week, Huatai Securities said higher investment in autonomous vehicle partnerships and AI could weigh on p...
