Brew Markets Podcast: "Uber Wants Your Whole Trip & Big Tech’s CapEx Showdown"
Date: April 30, 2026
Host: Ann Berry
Podcast: Brew Markets (Morning Brew)
Episode Overview
In this episode, Ann Berry dives into two major themes: Uber’s ambitions to become a one-stop shop for all travel needs, and a deep-dive breakdown of big tech's massive capital expenditures (CapEx) in the AI infrastructure race, focused on earnings reports from Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Meta. The show also spotlights fast-moving market headlines, such as the explosive growth in GLP-1 drugs, the rising trend of "mini" food, and major movements among restaurant and travel stocks.
Uber’s Push to Be a Super App for Travel
Main Discussion [00:32-03:46]
- Uber-Expedia Partnership:
Uber has launched a new feature in its app, letting users book hotels via a partnership with Expedia Group (EXPE, market cap $31B). Vacation rentals from Expedia-owned VRBO are expected “later this year,” on top of 700,000+ hotels already bookable in the Uber app.
- Quote, Ann Berry [01:22]:
“This is Uber’s latest move to become a one stop super app shop for all things travel and mobility.”
- Uber One Member Benefits:
Members get discounted rates (20% off on 10,000 hotels), 10% Uber credits back, and—starting June—international perks. Uber One membership grew 55% year-over-year to 46M users by end of 2025.
- Quote, Ann Berry [02:14]:
“The premium subscription service typically costs just under 10 bucks per month in the US.”
- Travel Recommendations:
A new "travel mode" will provide dining and attraction recommendations tied to users’ travel locations.
- Strategic Fit:
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi (former Expedia CEO) is seen as leveraging his experience to guide Uber’s travel ambitions.
- Quote, Ann Berry [02:35]:
“Things going full circle.”
- Market Reaction:
Uber shares are down 10% YTD and barely moved on the news. Expedia stock nudged up 0.5%, as the market “pleased by the partnership,” giving Expedia broader distribution.
- Quote, Ann Berry [03:15]:
“Uber is certainly in need of a new stock catalyst…”
The Big Tech CapEx Showdown: Earnings “Ticker on a Sticker”
Main Discussion [03:59-15:24]
Ann and her co-hosts role-play as the four mega tech “hyperscalers,” reporting earnings as if from each company’s perspective.
Microsoft (MSFT) [04:42-07:16]
- Market Cap: $3.1T
- Revenue: $83B, up 18% YoY
- EPS: $4.27, beating by $0.21
- Cloud: Azure/cloud revenue $35B, up 40%
- CapEx: $32B for the quarter, up nearly 50%; projecting $190B CapEx for 2026—higher than expected due to pricier memory and components ($25B of that increase is from higher component prices)
- OpenAI Partnership: Now non-exclusive; resulted in a minor $14M net income reduction; described as “volatile.”
- Memorable moment [06:47]:
“Everyone wants to talk about OpenAI. My exclusive partnership with OpenAI has come to an end.”
- Market Reaction:
Shares down 4% for the day, down 15% YTD. Investor concerns: AI eating into legacy software business, CapEx burden.
- Quote [05:54]:
“There’s concern I’m losing my first mover advantage with that weak AI product. But there has been growth.”
Amazon (AMZN) [07:16-09:53]
- Market Cap: $2.8T
- Revenue: $182B, up 16% YoY
- EPS: $2.78, beating by $0.14
- Cloud: AWS revenue $38B, up 28% (fastest growth in 3+ years; $3B more than Microsoft)
- CapEx: Projecting $200B for this year—most aggressive spender. Free cash flow down 95% as a result; sitting on $1.2B cash.
- CEO Quote:
- Andy Jassy [08:14]:
“In times of very high growth, like now, when the capex growth meaningfully outpaces the revenue growth, free cash flow is challenged until these initial tranches of capacity are being monetized and revenue growth outpaces capex growth.”
- Other Highlights:
Advertising revenue is substantial—about half of AWS revenue; e-commerce focus still strong (“getting in the mud with Walmart”).
- Prime Day moved to June (from July) to compete directly with Walmart events.
- Market Reaction:
Shares up 1% for the day, up 15% YTD.
Alphabet (Google) [GOOG] [09:53-12:21]
- Market Cap: $4.2T (largest of the group)
- Revenue: $110B, up 22% YoY
- EPS: $5.11, beat by $2.50 (nearly double YoY)
- Cloud: $20B in cloud sales, up 63% YoY (smaller absolute value vs. MSFT/AWS, but highest growth rate and 33% operating margin)
- CapEx: Raised 2026 guidance by $5B, nearing $190B; projects significant increase into 2027.
- Advertising:
$17B ad revenue (“pioneered and perfected” digital ads); still 70% of Alphabet’s total revenue—up 16%.
- Demand:
$462B cloud backlog, nearly doubled QoQ—demand outpacing supply.
- CEO Quote [11:09]:
“Our cloud revenue would have been higher if we were able to meet demand.”
- Search Still Dominant:
Search revenue up 19% (“Search still there” despite AI threatening to “eat” the business).
- Market Reaction:
Shares up 9% for the day, up 20% YTD, up 135% YoY.
Meta (META) [12:21-15:24]
- Market Cap: $1.5T (smallest of the four)
- Revenue: $56B, up 33% YoY (fastest growth quarter since 2020)
- EPS: $7.31, beat by $0.50
- CapEx: Raised 2026 forecast to $125-145B (up $10B), mainly for internal infrastructure, not public cloud (“selfishly sitting on my own pile of cloud”).
- User Growth:
Daily active users up 4% YoY, but down 5% QoQ—blamed on geopolitical disruption in the Middle East and Russia (restricted WhatsApp).
- Ads:
19% more ads delivered, 12% increase in ad rates, thanks to improved AI-driven engagement and targeting.
- AI Update:
Debuted “Musespark,” its first proprietary foundation model; CEO Mark Zuckerberg sees path to “personal superintelligence for billions.”
- Zuckerberg Earnings Call Quote [14:11]:
“We had a milestone quarter with strong momentum across our apps and the release of our first model from Meta Superintelligence Labs…”
- Legal Risks:
Meta faces multiple youth-safety lawsuits and potential “material loss.”
- Market Reaction:
Shares down 7% for the day, down 7% YTD.
Key Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Ann on Uber’s move:
“All of this to boost user engagement and ramp new revenue streams as Uber competes for a bigger share of consumers lifestyle spending.” [02:21]
- "Ticker on a Sticker" bit:
Engaging, playful breakdown where hosts pretend to be each tech giant (e.g., “I am Microsoft… sticker on!”).
- Microsoft on competition anxiety:
“There's concern I’m losing my first mover advantage with that weak AI product.” [05:54]
- Google on demand:
“Our cloud revenue would have been higher if we were able to meet demand.” [11:09]
- Meta on AI and legal pressure:
“Meta said its multiple youth safety related legal cases may ‘ultimately result in a material loss.’” [14:43]
Market Headlines Roundup
[16:23-19:56]
- Strong US labor market:
S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit record highs. [16:32]
- Oil Spike:
Brent crude surges to $126/barrel (4-year high) on Iran conflict risk; settles at $113.
- Eli Lilly (LLY):
GLP-1 drugs (weight loss shots) drive 10%+ jump in share price; Mounjaro sales double to $9B; Zepbound up 79% to $4B. [17:11]
- Magnum Ice Cream (MICC):
Shares up 15% post-spin from Unilever; “mini” ice cream lines fueling sales. [17:59]
- Chipotle (CMG):
Posts surprise uptick in same-store sales (+0.5%); loyalty program and menu innovation wins back customers post-inflation slump. [18:38]
- Royal Caribbean (RCL):
Shares gain over 4% on bookings rebound; full-year guidance tempered amid high fuel costs. [19:29]
Notable Timestamps
- Uber–Expedia move announced: 00:32–03:46
- Tech earnings “ticker on a sticker” start: 03:59
- Microsoft: 04:42
- Amazon: 07:16
- Alphabet: 09:53
- Meta: 12:21
- Market headlines: 16:23–19:56
Style and Tone
Ann Berry and guests keep the energy lively and conversational, peppering in humor (“ticker on a sticker”), competitive asides (Amazon v. Walmart), and relatable context (“getting in the mud”). Explanations are clear, keeping even complex CapEx discussions engaging for retail investors and market watchers.
Summary Takeaway
This episode underscores the “super app” war as Uber chases growth via travel—and how big tech’s AI ambitions are driving a generational CapEx arms race, with staggering investments that have Wall Street wondering: when will we see real returns? Meanwhile, consumer trends (mini foods, GLP-1 boom, loyalty programs) are reshaping market winners beyond tech.
(All timestamps MM:SS; major ads, intros, and outros omitted)