Instacart and DoorDash Competition Intensifies
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy CART?
Source: stocktwits
- Analyst Ratings: According to Koyfin, Instacart has a consensus rating of 'Buy,' with 17 out of 33 analysts rating it 'Buy' or higher, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth potential.
- Advertising Revenue Growth: Instacart's advertising revenue reached $99.2 million in Q4, up 12% from $70 million last year, demonstrating that the diversification of its ad ecosystem has strengthened the company's revenue stability.
- Stock Price Volatility: Instacart's shares jumped nearly 15% in after-hours trading on Thursday, with the first-quarter gross transaction value forecasted between $10.13 billion and $10.28 billion, reflecting investor optimism about its future performance.
- Market Competition Pressure: Despite Instacart's stock declining 34% over the past year, DoorDash's shares also fell 20%, highlighting intensified competition between the two companies amid consumer spending pressures, particularly in the 2026 market environment.
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Analyst Views on CART
Wall Street analysts forecast CART stock price to rise
22 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
8 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 32.930
Low
40.00
Averages
51.62
High
66.00
Current: 32.930
Low
40.00
Averages
51.62
High
66.00
About CART
Maplebear Inc., doing business as Instacart, is a grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The Company partners with more than 1,800 national, regional, and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 100,000 stores across North America on the Instacart Marketplace. The Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade technology products and services to power their e-commerce experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores, provide advertising services, and glean insights. With Instacart Ads, thousands of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands - from category leaders to emerging brands - partner with the Company to connect directly with consumers online, right at the point of purchase. The Company, through its Instacart Health, provides tools to increase nutrition security and make healthy choices easier for consumers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Maplebear Inc Reports Strong Growth Amid Challenges
- Performance Growth Highlight: Maplebear Inc (NASDAQ:CART) reported its strongest GTV growth in three years with a 14% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by a 16% rise in orders, indicating robust market demand and potential for further market share expansion.
- Share Buyback Confidence: The company successfully repurchased $1.1 billion worth of shares in Q4, demonstrating strong confidence in its business performance, which not only enhances investor trust but may also positively impact stock prices.
- AI Execution Acceleration: Maplebear Inc is leveraging AI to boost average output per engineer by nearly 40% and accelerate new project development four times faster, a strategy that will significantly enhance operational efficiency and market competitiveness.
- Advertising Ecosystem Expansion: Advertising revenue grew by 10% in Q4, with the number of advertising brands increasing from 7,000 to 9,000, showcasing the company's successful expansion in the advertising business, which is expected to support future performance despite ongoing macro uncertainties.
See More
Instacart and DoorDash Competition Intensifies
- Analyst Ratings: According to Koyfin, Instacart has a consensus rating of 'Buy,' with 17 out of 33 analysts rating it 'Buy' or higher, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth potential.
- Advertising Revenue Growth: Instacart's advertising revenue reached $99.2 million in Q4, up 12% from $70 million last year, demonstrating that the diversification of its ad ecosystem has strengthened the company's revenue stability.
- Stock Price Volatility: Instacart's shares jumped nearly 15% in after-hours trading on Thursday, with the first-quarter gross transaction value forecasted between $10.13 billion and $10.28 billion, reflecting investor optimism about its future performance.
- Market Competition Pressure: Despite Instacart's stock declining 34% over the past year, DoorDash's shares also fell 20%, highlighting intensified competition between the two companies amid consumer spending pressures, particularly in the 2026 market environment.
See More
Maplebear Inc. Reports Record GTV Growth in Q4 2025
- Strong GTV Growth: Maplebear Inc. achieved a record Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of $9.85 billion in Q4 2025, marking a 14% year-over-year increase, which is the highest growth in three years, indicating robust market performance and rising customer demand.
- Advertising Revenue Increase: Advertising and other revenue grew by 10% year-over-year, reflecting the company's competitive position in the advertising ecosystem and its appeal on Instacart and other platforms, thereby enhancing revenue diversification.
- Share Repurchase Program: The company repurchased $1.1 billion worth of shares in Q4 alone, totaling $1.4 billion for 2025, demonstrating management's confidence in future growth while creating value for shareholders.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: CFO Emily Maher projected Q1 2026 GTV to range between $10.25 billion and $10.275 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 11% to 13%, underscoring the company's strategic commitment to expanding market share and improving profitability.
See More
Multiple Companies Shine in After-Hours Trading
- Applied Materials Earnings Beat: California-based semiconductor equipment company Applied Materials reported adjusted earnings of $2.38 per share and revenue of $7.01 billion, both exceeding analyst expectations, leading to an 11% stock price increase that reflects strong market demand and profitability.
- Coinbase Trading Volume Surge: Coinbase announced a total trading volume of $5.2 trillion in 2025, up 156% year-over-year, and despite missing fourth-quarter revenue expectations, its stock rose nearly 2%, indicating robust performance in the crypto market.
- Rivian Delivery Forecast Upgrade: Electric truck manufacturer Rivian expects vehicle deliveries for 2026 to range from 62,000 to 67,000 units, representing a 47% to 59% increase compared to 2025, resulting in a 14% stock price surge that reflects market confidence in its growth potential.
- Airbnb's Upbeat Guidance: Airbnb reported fourth-quarter earnings of $0.56 per share on $2.78 billion in revenue, falling short of analyst expectations, yet the company anticipates full-year revenue growth of at least low double digits, leading to a stock increase of about 2%, showcasing market confidence in its future growth.
See More
Instacart Reports Mixed Q4 Earnings with Strong Revenue Growth
- Earnings Performance: Instacart reported quarterly earnings of $0.30 per share, missing the market estimate of $0.52, indicating pressure on profitability; however, quarterly revenue reached $992 million, exceeding analyst expectations of $974.08 million, showcasing the company's resilience in revenue growth.
- Annual Growth Highlights: In Q4 2025, Instacart achieved its strongest Gross Transaction Value (GTV) growth in three years, with a year-over-year increase of 14% and a 16% rise in orders, which not only enhances market competitiveness but also provides financial flexibility for future investments and shareholder returns.
- Cash Flow and Buybacks: The company generated $971 million in operating cash flow for 2025 and repurchased $1.4 billion in shares, including $1.1 billion in Q4 alone, reflecting confidence in its value and commitment to shareholders.
- Stock Price Dynamics: According to Benzinga Pro, Instacart's stock gained 15.82% to $38.50 in Thursday's after-hours trading, indicating a positive market reaction to the company's earnings report and an increase in investor confidence.
See More
Instacart Reports Strong Q4 Growth with Nearly $1B Revenue
- Significant Revenue Growth: Instacart's Q4 total revenue reached $992 million, a 12% increase over the expected $970 million, with transaction revenue up 13% and ad revenue up 10%, showcasing the company's strong market performance.
- Improved Customer Retention: The new customer retention rate hit its highest level since early 2023, with 10 million customers placing orders in December alone, indicating the success of the company's customer acquisition and retention strategies.
- Profit Constraints: Despite revenue growth, Instacart's earnings per share fell to $0.30 due to a $60 million settlement with the FTC, down from $0.53 a year earlier and below the expected $0.52, reflecting compliance risks impacting profitability.
- Optimistic Outlook: Instacart anticipates a GTV increase of 11% to 13% in Q1, reaching between $10.125 billion and $10.275 billion, with adjusted EBITDA expected to rise 15% to 19%, demonstrating the company's confidence in future growth.
See More
Maplebear Inc Reports Strong Growth Amid Challenges
- Performance Growth Highlight: Maplebear Inc (NASDAQ:CART) reported its strongest GTV growth in three years with a 14% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by a 16% rise in orders, indicating robust market demand and potential for further market share expansion.
- Share Buyback Confidence: The company successfully repurchased $1.1 billion worth of shares in Q4, demonstrating strong confidence in its business performance, which not only enhances investor trust but may also positively impact stock prices.
- AI Execution Acceleration: Maplebear Inc is leveraging AI to boost average output per engineer by nearly 40% and accelerate new project development four times faster, a strategy that will significantly enhance operational efficiency and market competitiveness.
- Advertising Ecosystem Expansion: Advertising revenue grew by 10% in Q4, with the number of advertising brands increasing from 7,000 to 9,000, showcasing the company's successful expansion in the advertising business, which is expected to support future performance despite ongoing macro uncertainties.
See More
Instacart and DoorDash Competition Intensifies
- Analyst Ratings: According to Koyfin, Instacart has a consensus rating of 'Buy,' with 17 out of 33 analysts rating it 'Buy' or higher, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth potential.
- Advertising Revenue Growth: Instacart's advertising revenue reached $99.2 million in Q4, up 12% from $70 million last year, demonstrating that the diversification of its ad ecosystem has strengthened the company's revenue stability.
- Stock Price Volatility: Instacart's shares jumped nearly 15% in after-hours trading on Thursday, with the first-quarter gross transaction value forecasted between $10.13 billion and $10.28 billion, reflecting investor optimism about its future performance.
- Market Competition Pressure: Despite Instacart's stock declining 34% over the past year, DoorDash's shares also fell 20%, highlighting intensified competition between the two companies amid consumer spending pressures, particularly in the 2026 market environment.
See More
Maplebear Inc. Reports Record GTV Growth in Q4 2025
- Strong GTV Growth: Maplebear Inc. achieved a record Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of $9.85 billion in Q4 2025, marking a 14% year-over-year increase, which is the highest growth in three years, indicating robust market performance and rising customer demand.
- Advertising Revenue Increase: Advertising and other revenue grew by 10% year-over-year, reflecting the company's competitive position in the advertising ecosystem and its appeal on Instacart and other platforms, thereby enhancing revenue diversification.
- Share Repurchase Program: The company repurchased $1.1 billion worth of shares in Q4 alone, totaling $1.4 billion for 2025, demonstrating management's confidence in future growth while creating value for shareholders.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: CFO Emily Maher projected Q1 2026 GTV to range between $10.25 billion and $10.275 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 11% to 13%, underscoring the company's strategic commitment to expanding market share and improving profitability.
See More
Multiple Companies Shine in After-Hours Trading
- Applied Materials Earnings Beat: California-based semiconductor equipment company Applied Materials reported adjusted earnings of $2.38 per share and revenue of $7.01 billion, both exceeding analyst expectations, leading to an 11% stock price increase that reflects strong market demand and profitability.
- Coinbase Trading Volume Surge: Coinbase announced a total trading volume of $5.2 trillion in 2025, up 156% year-over-year, and despite missing fourth-quarter revenue expectations, its stock rose nearly 2%, indicating robust performance in the crypto market.
- Rivian Delivery Forecast Upgrade: Electric truck manufacturer Rivian expects vehicle deliveries for 2026 to range from 62,000 to 67,000 units, representing a 47% to 59% increase compared to 2025, resulting in a 14% stock price surge that reflects market confidence in its growth potential.
- Airbnb's Upbeat Guidance: Airbnb reported fourth-quarter earnings of $0.56 per share on $2.78 billion in revenue, falling short of analyst expectations, yet the company anticipates full-year revenue growth of at least low double digits, leading to a stock increase of about 2%, showcasing market confidence in its future growth.
See More
Instacart Reports Mixed Q4 Earnings with Strong Revenue Growth
- Earnings Performance: Instacart reported quarterly earnings of $0.30 per share, missing the market estimate of $0.52, indicating pressure on profitability; however, quarterly revenue reached $992 million, exceeding analyst expectations of $974.08 million, showcasing the company's resilience in revenue growth.
- Annual Growth Highlights: In Q4 2025, Instacart achieved its strongest Gross Transaction Value (GTV) growth in three years, with a year-over-year increase of 14% and a 16% rise in orders, which not only enhances market competitiveness but also provides financial flexibility for future investments and shareholder returns.
- Cash Flow and Buybacks: The company generated $971 million in operating cash flow for 2025 and repurchased $1.4 billion in shares, including $1.1 billion in Q4 alone, reflecting confidence in its value and commitment to shareholders.
- Stock Price Dynamics: According to Benzinga Pro, Instacart's stock gained 15.82% to $38.50 in Thursday's after-hours trading, indicating a positive market reaction to the company's earnings report and an increase in investor confidence.
See More
Instacart Reports Strong Q4 Growth with Nearly $1B Revenue
- Significant Revenue Growth: Instacart's Q4 total revenue reached $992 million, a 12% increase over the expected $970 million, with transaction revenue up 13% and ad revenue up 10%, showcasing the company's strong market performance.
- Improved Customer Retention: The new customer retention rate hit its highest level since early 2023, with 10 million customers placing orders in December alone, indicating the success of the company's customer acquisition and retention strategies.
- Profit Constraints: Despite revenue growth, Instacart's earnings per share fell to $0.30 due to a $60 million settlement with the FTC, down from $0.53 a year earlier and below the expected $0.52, reflecting compliance risks impacting profitability.
- Optimistic Outlook: Instacart anticipates a GTV increase of 11% to 13% in Q1, reaching between $10.125 billion and $10.275 billion, with adjusted EBITDA expected to rise 15% to 19%, demonstrating the company's confidence in future growth.
See More
