Strategic Partnership And Strong Earnings Boost Maplebear (CART) Stock

Core Insights - Maplebear Inc. (NASDAQ:CART) is recognized as one of the top 12 mid-cap AI stocks favored by hedge funds, indicating strong investor interest in the company [1] - The company reported Q4 earnings, achieving revenue of $992 million, which exceeded Wall Street estimates by $18 million, although the EPS of $0.3 fell short of expectations of $0.52 [1] - Following the earnings announcement, Maplebear's shares increased by over 13% [1] Partnership and Business Expansion - On February 10, Maplebear entered a strategic partnership with Toast (NYSE:TOST) to enhance its presence in the U.S. restaurant and retail sectors [2] - The partnership will enable Toast's retail customers to link their in-store inventory with the Instacart marketplace, creating new sales opportunities and improving online reach [2] - This collaboration will also bolster Maplebear's B2B same-day delivery platform, allowing restaurants to order essential items with delivery within an hour [3] Future Plans and Market Outlook - A pilot launch of the partnership is scheduled for early this year, with a nationwide rollout expected by 2026 [3] - Benchmark has lowered its price target for Maplebear from $60 to $53 while maintaining a Buy rating, reflecting a positive outlook despite the adjustment [3]