Speculation surrounding a potential public offering for Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, has intensified as recent analyst estimates place its valuation above $60 billion. This financial buzz follows significant operational expansion and growing market presence for the robotaxi pioneer, drawing notable attention from financial commentators.
TD Cowen analyst John Blackledge, in a May 2025 report, estimated Waymo's valuation to be closer to $60 billion, a figure that highlights the company's perceived growth potential. This comes after Waymo secured a $5.6 billion funding round in October 2024, which valued the company at over $45 billion, with Alphabet and other prominent investors participating. Other market indicators, such as pre-IPO trades on platforms like UpMarket, have suggested valuations potentially exceeding $100 billion.
The heightened financial interest coincides with Waymo's aggressive expansion of its robotaxi services. By the first quarter of 2025, Waymo reported providing 250,000 paid rides per week across its operational cities. The company has announced plans to launch services in Dallas by July 2025, Washington D.C. by March 2025, and Boston by May 2025, further extending its footprint beyond existing operations in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Martin Shkreli, a prominent figure known for his commentary on financial markets, reacted to the developments with a concise social media post. "wow, waymo $WAYM," Shkreli stated in a tweet, indicating a strong positive reaction to the company's perceived financial trajectory or the emergence of a public stock ticker. This sentiment underscores the growing anticipation for Waymo's future in the public market.
Despite the mounting speculation, Waymo has not officially announced plans for an initial public offering. However, industry analysts and investors widely expect Alphabet to eventually spin off the autonomous vehicle unit, with some projections suggesting a potential valuation of $350 billion to $850 billion by 2030 if it becomes an independent entity. Waymo's operational milestones, including logging over 100 million miles on public roads by mid-2025 and expanding its San Francisco Bay Area fleet to 800 vehicles, continue to fuel these optimistic outlooks.