Instacart stock pops 14% on revenue beat, rosy guidance

Core Insights - Instacart shares increased by 14% in after-hours trading following a strong fourth-quarter revenue report and positive guidance [1] - The company reported a 12% year-over-year revenue growth, with net income of $81 million, equating to 30 cents per share, and adjusted EBITDA of $303 million, exceeding expectations [1][6] Financial Performance - Revenue reached $992 million, surpassing the expected $974 million [6] - Gross transaction value grew by 14% year-over-year to $9.85 billion, exceeding the estimate of $9.54 billion, marking the strongest growth in three years [3] - Total orders amounted to 89.5 million, beating the estimate of 87.8 million [3] Future Guidance - For the first quarter, Instacart anticipates gross transaction value between $10.13 billion and $10.28 billion, ahead of the $9.97 billion estimate [4] - The company expects adjusted EBITDA to be between $280 million and $290 million, compared to the $277 million expected [4] Strategic Initiatives - CEO Chris Rogers highlighted that the company's technology and customer-focused approach are driving growth and engagement [2] - The finance chief noted strong gains in the enterprise platform, with 70 net new retailers added last year contributing to robust gross transaction value [4] - Instacart is also seeing contributions from future growth drivers, including investments in infrastructure, international markets, and artificial intelligence [5]