Instacart (Maplebear Inc.) (NASDAQ:CART) is one of the best debt-free mid-cap stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On February 12, Instacart (Maplebear Inc.) (NASDAQ:CART) delivered impressive fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results that affirmed accelerating growth and improving profitability. Instacart (Maplebear Inc.) (CART) in a Phase of Robust Growth and Improving Profitability The company delivered a 12.3% year-over-year increase in revenue in the fourth quarter to $992 million, while adjusted ...

Maplebear Inc. (NASDAQ:CART) is one of the best stocks under $50 to invest in. On February 13, Needham raised its price target for Instacart from $50 to $55 and maintained a Buy rating. The firm noted that the company’s ongoing execution serves as a positive indicator against competition concerns. On the same day, Cantor Fitzgerald lowered its price target on Instacart to $47 from $54 while keeping an Overweight rating. The firm noted that Instacart reported a record 14% GTV growth in Q4 2025 and exceeded ...

Investors and analysts alike swiftly recognized the disruptive potential of ChatGPT when OpenAI publicly released it in November 2022. Generative AI quickly transformed from a novelty to a genuine tool that helps people be more productive by simplifying workflows and providing analysis. But disruption can be difficult for affected industries. Much as ridesharing impacted the taxi industry or streaming services upended cable television, generative AI is threatening to draw revenue away from more establishe ...

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 - US stock futures showed mixed signals following a broad market sell-off, with S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures near flatline, while Nasdaq 100 futures also remained little changed after significant selling pressure on tech stocks [1] - The market is reacting to a cooler-than-expected inflation reading, which is influencing expectations regarding Federal Reserve interest rate policies [1][2] Inflation Data - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicated a 0.2% increase in consumer prices for January compared to the previous month, and a 2.4% increase year-on-year, which was lower than economists' expectations [2][5] - The core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose by 0.3% month-on-month and 2.5% year-on-year, aligning with expectations [6] Federal Reserve Outlook - The inflation readings have shifted traders' outlook for potential rate cuts, now pricing in a 51% chance of at least one 25 basis-point cut by the June meeting, while the March meeting is expected to maintain current rates with less than 10% likelihood of a cut [7] Company Earnings and Stock Movements - Rivian's stock surged nearly 20% following a fourth-quarter earnings beat, with the company on track to deliver its R2 midsize model before summer [5][15] - Applied Materials saw its stock climb over 10% after beating Wall Street expectations, contributing to a year-to-date increase of 27% [4][16] - Pinterest shares fell about 20% due to a revenue forecast that fell short of analysts' estimates, raising concerns about AI risks to its platform [4][17] - DraftKings stock dropped 17% after missing analyst expectations for guidance, while Roku's stock rose 15% after beating fourth-quarter earnings estimates [8][9] AI Impact on Market Sentiment - Concerns about AI disruption have affected various sectors, including real estate and logistics, leading to a sell-off in tech stocks, particularly the "Magnificent Seven" megacaps [3] - Conversely, fears surrounding AI have benefited Asian stocks, particularly chipmakers, as global funds shift preference towards hardware producers with strong pricing power [11][12][13]

Core Insights - Instacart reported quarterly earnings of 30 cents per share, which fell short of the Street estimate of 52 cents per share [2] - Quarterly revenue reached $992 million, surpassing the analyst estimate of $974.08 million [2] Financial Performance - In Q4, Instacart achieved its strongest quarterly Gross Transaction Value (GTV) growth in three years, with GTV increasing by 14% year-over-year [2] - Orders increased by 16% during the same period [2] - The company generated $971 million in operating cash flow for the full year 2025 [2] - Instacart repurchased $1.4 billion of shares in 2025, including $1.1 billion in Q4 alone [2] Stock Performance - Maplebear stock (CART) gained 15.82%, reaching $38.50 in extended trading [3]

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]

Maplebear Inc. connects North American households with personal shoppers through its technology-driven grocery delivery platform.On February 4, 2026, Provident Investment Management, Inc. sold out its entire stake in Maplebear (CART +1.46%).What happenedAccording to a recent SEC filing dated February 4, 2026, Provident Investment Management, Inc. liquidated its holdings in Maplebear, selling 489,560 shares. The estimated transaction value is approximately $18.00 million, based on the average share price dur ...

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates a year-over-year decline in earnings for Maplebear (CART) despite higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2025 [1] Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is expected to show earnings of $0.52 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 1.9% [3] - Revenues are projected to reach $972.77 million, which is an increase of 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year [3] Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 2.95% over the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4] - The Most Accurate Estimate for Maplebear is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -15.61% [12] Earnings Surprise Prediction - A positive Earnings ESP is a strong indicator of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 [10] - Maplebear currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3, making it challenging to predict a beat on the consensus EPS estimate [12] Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Maplebear was expected to post earnings of $0.50 per share but exceeded expectations with earnings of $0.51, resulting in a surprise of +2.00% [13] - Over the past four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times [14] Conclusion - Maplebear does not appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider other factors when making decisions regarding the stock ahead of the earnings release [17]

We came across a bullish thesis on Maplebear Inc. on Compounding Your Wealth’s Substack by Sergey. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on CART. Maplebear Inc.'s share was trading at $36.08 as of February 3rd. CART’s trailing and forward P/E were 20.77 and 15.70 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Sysco (SYS) Soars 11% on Upbeat Outlook Maplebear Inc., doing business as Instacart, engages in the provision of online grocery shopping services to households in North America. CART delive ...