Uber, Lyft Losses Keep Competitors at Bay

Uber, Lyft Losses Keep Competitors at Bay
The Uber application is seen on a mobile phone in London, Britain, on Sept. 14, 2018. Hannah McKay/Reuters
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SAN FRANCISCO—A fare war between Uber and Lyft has led to billions of dollars in losses for both ride-hailing companies as they fight for passengers and drivers.

But in one way it has been good for investors who snatched up the newly public companies’ stock: The losses have scared off the competition, giving the leaders a duopoly in almost every American city.