By Daniel Wiessner Feb 26 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday moved to scrap a rule long opposed by business groups for making it harder to classify workers as independent contractors rather than ‌employees, who can cost a company more. The U.S. Department of Labor released a proposal to repeal the ‌2024 rule, which it said was legally flawed and had deprived many workers of the flexibility that comes with independent contracting. The rule, which the ​department stopped enf ...

DoorDash shares jump as delivery demand fuels growth forecast | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]A DoorDash delivery person is pictured on the day they hold their IPO in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., December 9, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]Feb 19 (Reuters) - Food delivery firm DoorDash's [(DASH.O), opens new tab] shares surged about 11% premarket on Th ...

Core Insights - DoorDash is expected to report adjusted EPS of 58 cents per share on revenue of nearly $4 billion, despite being down nearly 30% in 2026 [1][2] - Analysts anticipate a core growth rate of over 20%, potentially exceeding 30% due to acquisitions [3][4] - Investors are focused on the company's investment cycle and its impact on margins, with expectations that margins can still rise despite ongoing investments [5][6] Company Performance - DoorDash has successfully diversified its operations beyond the U.S. through acquisitions in Eastern and Western Europe, as well as expanding into grocery and pharmacy delivery [8][9] - The company maintains a leading market share in the U.S. by effectively executing its strategy to onboard more merchants and improve delivery times [10][11] Investment Outlook - Evercore ISI has an outperform rating on DoorDash with a price target of $360, indicating significant upside potential [11][12] - The company is investing in AI and robotics for delivery, which could enhance productivity, although the timeline for fully autonomous delivery remains uncertain [14][15][16] Market Context - The stock has seen a downturn of nearly 40% from its all-time highs, with options markets pricing in a potential $20 move in either direction following earnings [19][20] - A bullish call diagonal strategy is being considered by traders, indicating a positive sentiment towards the stock's performance in the near term [21][24]

Core Viewpoint - Instacart's shares surged by 19% following an optimistic first-quarter forecast, alleviating concerns about competition in the online grocery delivery market [1] Company Performance - Instacart reported a gross transaction value (GTV) of $9.85 billion for the fourth quarter, marking a 14% increase year-over-year, the strongest growth in three years [1] - The company anticipates first-quarter GTV to be between $10.13 billion and $10.28 billion, surpassing Wall Street estimates [1] Competitive Landscape - Instacart is competing against major players like Walmart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, which are expanding their grocery offerings [1] - The company has adjusted its Instacart+ service by lowering the minimum order value to $10 to attract smaller basket orders, a strategy to counteract aggressive competition [1] - Instacart continues to dominate in larger basket orders over $75, which constitute approximately 75% of the U.S. digital grocery market [1] Valuation Metrics - Instacart's forward price-to-earnings multiple stands at 14.44, significantly lower than DoorDash's 45.71, indicating a more favorable valuation relative to its competitor [1]

Market Overview - The Nasdaq 100 has declined by more than 1.5%, with significant losses from major companies like Apple, Applovin, and Cisco [2] - A notable drop in a closely watched software ETF, down nearly 3%, indicates a reversal of recent gains [2] - Bitcoin has also seen a decline of 3%, approaching $65,000 per token, reflecting a broader sell-off in risk assets [2] Technology Sector - The tech sector experienced a sell-off due to profitability concerns, which has raised alarms about potential broader risks in the market [3] - Cisco's recent quarterly report revealed a weak margin outlook, contributing to Wall Street's anxiety regarding the tech industry's future [4][91] Commodities and Energy - Precious metals, including gold, have fallen, attributed to traders liquidating positions to cover equity losses [5] - Oil prices have been volatile, influenced by developments in U.S.-Iran relations and ongoing tensions in the energy market [6][7] - U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright's visit to Venezuela highlights potential opportunities for U.S. companies like Chevron to expand operations, with expectations of increased production over the next 18 to 24 months [20][104] U.S. Government and Venezuela Relations - The U.S. government is engaging with Venezuela to improve business conditions, with discussions around new licenses for oil companies to operate in the country [18][19] - The U.S. aims to reduce the influence of adversarial nations like China and Russia in Venezuela, promoting a more favorable environment for American companies [24][25] Banking Sector - The banking sector is facing pressure, with regional banks trading lower despite a strong year-to-date performance [71] - There is a narrative around AI's impact on the banking industry, with banks viewing it as a potential tailwind rather than a headwind [76] - M&A activity in the banking sector is expected to continue, driven by the need for scale to compete with non-bank competitors [81][84] Cisco's Performance - Cisco's stock has dropped significantly due to a weak profit margin outlook, overshadowing previous strong performance [91][100] - The company faces challenges from high memory prices, which have impacted margins more than anticipated [93] - Analysts suggest that Cisco's position in the public sector remains strong, despite potential cutbacks in government spending [97]

And we're about 2 minutes away from the end of the trading day. Bailey Lipschultz and Katie Greifeld Romaine Bostick is still on the line here to join us, though, in this simulcast suits or something, some level, something like that. You know, I talked to him yesterday.It looks like he's having a pretty good time. But anyway, that's Carol Massar. Sitting next to her is Tim Sandvik.And Carol, you take a look at this market action. It's ugly out there and it looks like the S&P 500 are going to finish just aro ...

Instacart issued a strong outlook for the start of 2026 that far exceeded analyst expectations, signaling sustained demand for its grocery delivery services https://t.co/ltnbIYSZE6 ...

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]

Core Insights - The food-delivery platform, also known as Maplebear, reported a net income of $81 million, which translates to 30 cents per share, indicating a decline from the previous year's net income of $148 million, or 53 cents per share [1] Financial Performance - The company's net income decreased by 45% year-over-year, from $148 million to $81 million [1] - Earnings per share also fell by 43% from 53 cents to 30 cents [1]

Core Insights - Instacart forecasts strong growth in gross transaction value (GTV) and core profit for the current quarter, driven by demand for essential goods and an expanding advertising business [1] - The company reported a 14% increase in GTV for the fourth quarter, reaching $9.85 billion, surpassing estimates [1] - Instacart's advertising revenue exceeded $1 billion in 2025, with a significant increase in active brands [1] Financial Performance - For the current quarter, Instacart expects GTV between $10.13 billion and $10.28 billion, indicating an 11% to 13% year-on-year growth [1] - Adjusted earnings before tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are projected to be between $280 million and $290 million, slightly above analysts' expectations [1] - In the fourth quarter, adjusted core profit was $303 million, exceeding estimates of $292.2 million [1] Market Dynamics - The demand for essentials has increased as consumers seek affordable options amid inflation, contributing to a 16% rise in orders [1] - Instacart faces heightened competition from Amazon and Kroger, which may impact its market share [1] - The company has launched an app on OpenAI's ChatGPT, indicating a move towards technological integration in its services [1]