Instacart Launches New Agentic Assistant, Analysts See Positive Outlook
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 09 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CART?
Source: seekingalpha
- Market Potential Boost: Analyst Josh Beck from Raymond James highlights that Instacart's embedded agentic assistant, Cart Assistant, is viewed as an “underappreciated tailwind” for the e-commerce market, expected to enhance the shopping experience in the complex grocery sector.
- Earnings Forecast Upgrade: Reflecting optimism about the embedded agentic assistant, Beck raises Instacart's 2026 order growth/gross transaction value (GTV) forecast from $41.5 billion to $42.1 billion, and increases the 2027 estimate from $45.9 billion to $47.7 billion, indicating strong growth potential.
- Price Target Setting: Beck sets a price target of $50 for Instacart, representing a 26% upside from Wednesday's closing price, demonstrating confidence in the company's competitive moat and agentic opportunities.
- Positive Stock Reaction: Instacart shares rose over 2% ahead of Thursday's open, indicating a favorable market response to the product launch and analyst rating upgrade, further solidifying its position in the e-commerce sector.
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Analyst Views on CART
Wall Street analysts forecast CART stock price to rise
25 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
9 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 41.290
Low
36.00
Averages
50.83
High
66.00
Current: 41.290
Low
36.00
Averages
50.83
High
66.00
About CART
Maplebear Inc., doing business as Instacart, is a grocery technology company in North America, which works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The Company enables more than 2,200 retail banners to grow by providing technology that can accelerate the digital transformation of their entire business both online and in-store. The key pillars of the Company’s technology are Instacart Marketplace, Instacart Enterprise platform, and Instacart Ads. Through Instacart Marketplace, it helps retailers serve their customers’ needs as to how and where they want to shop by supporting a wide array of fulfillment options, shopping occasions, and categories. Instacart Enterprise platform is an end-to-end technology solution that powers retailers across all aspects of their business. The Company also owns Instaleap, a global enablement and fulfillment solutions services platform that empowers retailers to streamline and scale their online operations.
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.
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- International Footprint Expansion: This acquisition strengthens Instacart's presence in key markets such as Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, fostering collaborations with major grocery retailers and increasing market penetration.
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- Uber's Strategic Shift: Uber's announcement of over $10 billion investment in acquiring autonomous vehicles signifies a major strategic pivot, highlighting the substantial capital influx into AI-driven technologies and bolstering confidence across the tech industry.
- Expedia's Stock Volatility: Expedia's shares rose by 4%, despite an 8.7% decline year-to-date; investors who purchased $1,000 worth of shares five years ago would see their investment grow to $1,514, indicating long-term potential despite current economic and geopolitical challenges.
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See More
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- Market Integration: Instaleap has established partnerships with nearly 100 food retailers outside North America, including notable brands like Cencosud, Continente, and SPAR, which enhances Instacart's integration capabilities in the global market and promotes diversification of its products and services.
- Technological Advantage: The specialized technology solutions offered by Instaleap will complement Instacart's existing product portfolio, expected to enhance customer shopping experiences both online and in-store, thereby driving business growth for retailers and increasing consumer satisfaction.
- Strategic Vision: Instacart's Chief Commercial Officer, Ryan Hamburger, stated that the acquisition will accelerate international expansion to meet the growing omnichannel needs of global retailers, further solidifying its leadership position in the global grocery retail market.
See More
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- International Expansion Strategy: Instacart's acquisition of global service platform Instaleap aims to enhance its market share in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, leveraging Instaleap's partnerships with nearly 100 retailers to further expand its international business.
- Technology Integration Advantage: The solutions provided by Instaleap focus on improving online operational efficiency for retailers, supporting order management and logistics, which is expected to enhance Instacart's overall service capabilities, thereby improving customer experience and market competitiveness.
- Transaction Volume Growth: Instaleap has completed over 100 million transactions to date, demonstrating its strong influence in global markets, and Instacart can capitalize on this opportunity to accelerate its international business growth by utilizing Instaleap's technology and market expertise.
- Commitment to Continuous Innovation: Instacart plans to operate Instaleap as a wholly-owned subsidiary to ensure service continuity and gradually expand its enterprise technology product line to meet the growing demands of retail partners, further solidifying its market position.
See More
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- Subsidiary Operations: Instaleap will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Instacart, providing grocery technology that addresses core retailer needs, including marketplace integrations and fulfillment solutions, further enriching Instacart's enterprise offerings.
- International Footprint Expansion: This acquisition strengthens Instacart's presence in key markets such as Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, fostering collaborations with major grocery retailers and increasing market penetration.
- Strategic Implications: By integrating Instaleap's technological capabilities, Instacart can not only enhance service efficiency but also accelerate business growth globally, capitalizing on the burgeoning online grocery market opportunities.
See More
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- Diversified Business Strategy: The launch of the airport pickup service coincides with Airbnb's grocery delivery pilot with Instacart in select U.S. cities, a partnership with CookUnity for chef-prepared meals, and a relaunch of Airbnb Experiences, demonstrating the company's proactive approach to expanding its business scope.
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