Grab Reports Record Profitability and Raises Full-Year Outlook
Grab achieved a record $237 million in adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2026, marking the first time all three of its core business segments turned a profit. The company raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA forecast to $790–$800 million, reflecting strong growth and improved financial performance. Despite rising investment in driver supply and new products, Grab remains on track to meet long-term targets, including a planned share buyback completion within 12 months.
Grab reported record adjusted EBITDA of $237 million for Q3 2026, marking the first time all three of its core business segments—ride-hailing, deliveries, and financial services—achieved profitability simultaneously. This milestone followed a 73% year-over-year increase and was driven by strong growth in on-demand gross merchandise value (GMV), which rose 22% on a constant-currency basis, and a record 57 million monthly transacting users. The company raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA forecast to $790–$800 million, up from the prior range of $720–$740 million, reflecting improved operational efficiency and sustained demand. Despite ongoing fuel cost pressures, Grab expanded its active driver base by 20% year over year and continued investing in new products like GrabMall, the GXS Credit Card, and OVO Pinjaman, a consumer lending service in Indonesia. The financial services segment posted its first profitable quarter with $12 million in adjusted EBITDA, while AI tools—deployed to nearly 500,000 drivers and merchant partners—showed measurable impact: AI-using drivers earned over 10% more per hour, and merchants saw average earnings rise by 20%.
The leadership team, including CEO Anthony Tan and CFO Peter Oey, emphasized strategic reinvestment despite profitability. They cited the upcoming festive season in Southeast Asia as a key opportunity to capture market share through targeted marketing and supply expansion. The company also reaffirmed long-term goals, including a com
Grab’s earnings milestone could signal a broader shift in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, where platform companies are increasingly proving that profitability is achievable even amid volatile input costs and competitive pressures. The success of AI-driven tools in boosting driver and merchant earnings may influence how other gig economy platforms approach automation and user retention, potentially raising expectations for efficiency across the sector. Comparable to Uber’s 2019 pivot toward profitability after years of losses, Grab’s current trajectory suggests that sustained investment in technology and supply can yield financial returns without sacrificing growth ambitions. However, the long-term viability of its AI initiatives and new product lines—especially those tied to financial services and retail—remains uncertain, particularly if macroeconomic headwinds intensify. Investors may watch closely for how Grab balances reinvestment with shareholder returns, especially as it nears