Instacart Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
GTV grew 14% year-over-year and total revenue grew 14% year-over-year
GAAP net income of $111 million; Adjusted EBITDA of $313 million, up 19% year-over-year
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Instacart (NASDAQ: CART) today released financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
"Our business is performing incredibly well. We've meaningfully accelerated our growth over the past three quarters, including a strong Q2 where we grew GTV 14% year-over-year. We're attracting and engaging more customers across our marketplace and enterprise platform, which creates more value for retailers, brands, and shoppers," said Chris Rogers, CEO. "We're continuing to improve the customer experience on our leading online grocery marketplace, accelerate adoption of our enterprise technologies with retailers, and expand the breadth and depth of our advertising ecosystem. Together, these capabilities reinforce one another and give us further confidence in our runway ahead."
"Our Q2 results reflect broad-based strength across our platform and our operating model. In particular, we delivered double-digit GTV and total revenue growth, with advertising and other revenue up 16% year-over-year, once again outpacing GTV growth," said Emily Reuter, CFO. "We're continuing to drive efficiencies and reinvest in growth, all while continuing to deliver strong net income and expanding Adjusted EBITDA and operating cash flow year-over-year. We're also well on track to return the majority of free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases in 2026."
Second Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights
Three Months Ended June 30,
2025
2026
% Change
(in millions, except percentages)
GTV
$ 9,081
$ 10,351
14 %
Orders
82.7
90.3
9 %
Total revenue
$ 914
$ 1,043
14 %
GAAP gross profit
$ 678
$ 751
11 %
GAAP gross margin
74 %
72 %
GAAP gross profit as a percent of GTV
7.5 %
7.3 %
GAAP net income
$ 116
$ 111
(4) %
GAAP net income as a percent of total revenue
13 %
11 %
GAAP net income as a percent of GTV
1.3 %
1.1 %
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$ 262
$ 313
19 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin (1)
29 %
30 %
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of GTV (1)
2.9 %
3.0 %
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 203
$ 493
143 %
Free cash flow (1)
$ 187
$ 480
156 %
___________
(1)
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of GTV, and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information regarding our use of these measures and reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, see the section titled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the reconciliations presented at the end of this press release.
Operational Highlights
Third Quarter 2026 Financial Outlook
Our guidance continues to reflect the most up-to-date data available at the time we report earnings.
Starting with our Q3 2026 financial outlook below, we've widened our GTV and Adjusted EBITDA guidance ranges to reflect our increased operating scale. We expect to land within the GTV and Adjusted EBITDA guidance ranges we provide, with the midpoint being our best estimate of where we expect to land.
GTV
$10,300 - $10,550 million; $10,425 million at the midpoint.
Adjusted EBITDA
$320 - $340 million; $330 million at the midpoint.
Our GTV outlook represents 14% year-over-year growth at the midpoint and we continue to expect GTV to outpace orders growth. Our Adjusted EBITDA outlook represents 19% year-over-year growth at the midpoint.
For fiscal 2026, we remain committed to steady annual Adjusted EBITDA year-over-year growth at a rate that outpaces GTV growth. We continue to expect this rate of expansion to moderate year-over-year as we reinvest to accelerate across our multiple growth engines and lap some of the more significant operating expense efficiencies realized in 2024 and 2025.
We have not provided the forward-looking GAAP equivalent to our Adjusted EBITDA or a GAAP reconciliation as a result of the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, reconciling items such as stock-based compensation and related payroll tax expenses, certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, and reserves for sales and other indirect taxes. Accordingly, a reconciliation of this non-GAAP guidance metric to its corresponding GAAP equivalent is not available without unreasonable effort. However, it is important to note that these reconciling items could have a significant effect on future GAAP results.
Webcast and Conference Call Information
Instacart management will host a conference call to discuss the company's results at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) today. An audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.instacart.com/.
About Instacart
Instacart is a leading grocery technology company that partners with more than 2,200 retail banners – representing nearly 100,000 stores – to transform how people shop for the groceries they need from the retailers they trust, while creating flexible earning opportunities for shoppers. Through the Instacart Marketplace, Instacart Enterprise platform, and Instacart Ads ecosystem, the company powers ecommerce, fulfillment, in-store technology, AI offerings, and advertising for partners. For more information, visit www.instacart.com/company. Maplebear Inc. is the registered corporate name of Instacart.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and the accompanying oral presentation contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including without limitation statements regarding our financial outlook, including GTV, Adjusted EBITDA, transaction revenue, advertising and other revenue, cost of revenue, and orders, trends in our business and industry, our plans and expectations regarding growth, products, features, and partnerships, including expansion of our capabilities, services, and solutions, the expected benefits of AI and our AI offerings, our strategic priorities, investments, and initiatives, including international expansion, the expected benefits of a recent acquisition, our ability to drive sales and growth for our partners, and activity under our share repurchase program. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "toward," "will," or "would," or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release and the accompanying oral presentation are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to be materially different from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to forecast our performance; our ability to attract and increase engagement of customers, retailers, brands, and shoppers; the increasing scale, scope, and complexity of our business; evolving and uncertain macroeconomic conditions; our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and profitable growth; competition; and legal and regulatory developments; as well as other risks described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.
You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and the accompanying oral presentation on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Key Business Metrics
We use the following key business metrics to help us evaluate our business, identify trends affecting our performance, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions:
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We use the following non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP measures to assess performance, to inform the preparation of our annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, and to discuss our business and financial performance with our board of directors. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors about our business and financial performance, enhance their overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to metrics used by our management in their financial and operational decision making. We are presenting these non-GAAP financial measures to assist investors in seeing our business and financial performance through the eyes of management, and because we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in comparing results of operations of our business over multiple periods with other companies in our industry.
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA as a Percent of GTV, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), adjusted to exclude (i) provision for (benefit from) income taxes, (ii) interest income, (iii) other (income) expense, net, (iv) depreciation and amortization expense, (v) stock-based compensation expense, (vi) payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation, (vii) certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, net, (viii) reserves for sales and other indirect taxes, net, (ix) acquisition-related expenses, and (x) restructuring charges. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of total revenue.
Adjusted Cost of Revenue and Adjusted Cost of Revenue as a Percent of GTV. We define adjusted cost of revenue as cost of revenue excluding depreciation and amortization expense and stock-based compensation expense.
Adjusted Operations and Support Expense and Adjusted Operations and Support Expense as a Percent of GTV. We define adjusted operations and support expense as operations and support expense excluding depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, and payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation.
Adjusted Research and Development Expense and Adjusted Research and Development Expense as a Percent of GTV. We define adjusted research and development expense as research and development expense excluding depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, and payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation.
Adjusted Sales and Marketing Expense and Adjusted Sales and Marketing Expense as a Percent of GTV. We define adjusted sales and marketing expense as sales and marketing expense excluding depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, and payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation.
Adjusted General and Administrative Expense and Adjusted General and Administrative Expense as a Percent of GTV. We define adjusted general and administrative expense as general and administrative expense excluding depreciation and amortization expense; stock-based compensation expense; payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation; certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, net; reserves for sales and other indirect taxes, net; and acquisition-related expenses.
Adjusted Total Operating Expenses and Adjusted Total Operating Expenses as a Percent of GTV. We define adjusted total operating expenses as the sum of adjusted operations and support expense, adjusted research and development expense, adjusted sales and marketing expense, and adjusted general and administrative expense.
We exclude depreciation and amortization expense and stock-based compensation expense from our non-GAAP financial measures as these are non-cash in nature. We exclude payroll taxes related to the vesting and settlement of certain equity awards; certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, net; reserves for sales and other indirect taxes, net; acquisition-related expenses; and restructuring charges as these are not indicative of our operating performance.
Free Cash Flow. We define free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized internal-use software.
Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies, which reduce their usefulness as comparative measures. In addition, other companies may not publish these or similar measures. Further, these measures have certain limitations in that they do not include the impact of certain expenses that are reflected in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. We encourage investors and others to review our business, results of operations, and financial information in their entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure, and carefully consider our results under GAAP, as well as our supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand our business. Please see the tables included at the end of this press release for the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results.
MAPLEBEAR INC. DBA INSTACART
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited, in millions)
As of
December 31,
As of
June 30,
2025
2026
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 637
$ 757
Short-term marketable securities
50
93
Accounts receivable, net
1,127
979
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current
172
117
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
213
171
Total current assets
2,199
2,117
Long-term marketable securities
81
35
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, noncurrent
18
—
Property and equipment, net
218
218
Operating lease right-of-use assets
30
27
Intangible assets, net
71
66
Goodwill
393
412
Deferred tax assets, net
664
596
Other assets
14
39
Total assets
$ 3,687
$ 3,510
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 70
$ 62
Accrued and other current liabilities
634
631
Operating lease liabilities, current
3
3
Deferred revenue
211
232
Total current liabilities
917
929
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent
33
31
Other long-term liabilities
24
27
Total liabilities
974
988
Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock
196
200
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
—
—
Common stock
—
—
Additional paid-in capital
7,005
7,289
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1)
(7)
Accumulated deficit
(4,486)
(4,959)
Total stockholders' equity
2,518
2,322
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock, and stockholders' equity
$ 3,687
$ 3,510
Note: Due to rounding, numbers presented may not sum precisely to the totals presented.
MAPLEBEAR INC. DBA INSTACART
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in millions, except share amounts, which are reflected in thousands, and per share amounts)
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2025
2026
2025
2026
Revenue
$ 914
$ 1,043
$ 1,811
$ 2,062
Cost of revenue
236
292
462
573
Gross profit
678
751
1,350
1,489
Operating expenses:
Operations and support
66
74
140
148
Research and development
166
202
310
366
Sales and marketing
217
233
434
463
General and administrative
106
98
231
186
Total operating expenses
554
608
1,115
1,164
Income from operations
124
143
234
325
Other income (expense), net
3
(1)
3
(1)
Interest income
15
5
29
11
Income before provision for income taxes
142
147
266
335
Provision for income taxes
26
36
43
80
Net income
$ 116
$ 111
$ 222
$ 256
Accretion related to Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock
(2)
(2)
(5)
(5)
Net income attributable to common stockholders, basic
$ 114
$ 109
$ 218
$ 251
Accretion related to Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock
2
2
5
5
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted
$ 116
$ 111
$ 222
$ 256
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic
$ 0.43
$ 0.46
$ 0.83
$ 1.06
Diluted
$ 0.41
$ 0.45
$ 0.79
$ 1.02
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share
attributable to common stockholders:
Basic
262,588
234,928
262,511
237,089
Diluted
281,293
248,935
282,117
251,254
Note: Due to rounding, numbers presented may not sum precisely to the totals presented.
MAPLEBEAR INC. DBA INSTACART
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in millions)
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2025
2026
2025
2026
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
$ 116
$ 111
$ 222
$ 256
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense
21
32
40
62
Stock-based compensation expense
105
142
172
221
Impairments of long-lived assets and other assets
5
—
11
6
Provision for bad debts
5
3
9
6
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets
3
1
5
2
Deferred income taxes
1
29
(1)
67
Other
(5)
1
(5)
3
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business acquisitions:
Accounts receivable
(67)
113
(31)
141
Prepaid expenses and other assets
18
29
46
21
Accounts payable
(10)
14
(12)
(8)
Accrued and other current liabilities
10
18
32
(34)
Deferred revenue
1
1
18
20
Operating lease liabilities
(2)
—
(6)
(1)
Other long-term liabilities
1
—
—
—
Net cash provided by operating activities
203
493
501
762
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of marketable securities
(82)
(9)
(144)
(13)
Maturities of marketable securities
47
3
127
15
Purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized internal-use software
(16)
(13)
(34)
(29)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
(105)
(29)
(105)
(29)
Other investing activities
(1)
—
(1)
—
Net cash used in investing activities
(157)
(49)
(156)
(56)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
(6)
(4)
(14)
(8)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
2
1
6
4
Changes in advances from payment card issuer
(5)
3
43
34
Repurchases of common stock
(121)
(324)
(210)
(683)
Other financing activities
—
(2)
—
(2)
Net cash used in financing activities
(129)
(327)
(175)
(655)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents
5
(3)
5
(3)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents
(77)
115
176
47
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period
1,703
758
1,449
827
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents - end of period
$ 1,625
$ 874
$ 1,625
$ 874
Note: Due to rounding, numbers presented may not sum precisely to the totals presented.
MAPLEBEAR INC. DBA INSTACART
KEY BUSINESS METRICS AND RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
(unaudited, in millions, except percentages)
Three Months Ended June 30,
2025
2026
GTV
$ 9,081
$ 10,351
Orders
82.7
90.3
Net income
$ 116
$ 111
Provision for income taxes
26
36
Interest income
(15)
(5)
Other expense (income), net
(3)
1
Depreciation and amortization expense
21
32
Stock-based compensation expense
105
142
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (1)
5
6
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, net (2)
6
(13)
Reserves for sales and other indirect taxes, net (3)
—
1
Acquisition-related expenses
—
3
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 262
$ 313
Net income as a percent of GTV
1.3 %
1.1 %
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of GTV
2.9 %
3.0 %
Total revenue
$ 914
$ 1,043
Net income as a percent of total revenue
13 %
11 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin
29 %
30 %
(1)
Represents employer payroll taxes related to the vesting and settlement of certain equity awards.
(2)
Represents certain legal, regulatory, and policy expenses, including those related to worker classification, as well as non-recurring intellectual property matters and regulatory settlements.
(3)
Represents sales and other indirect tax reserves, net of abatements, for periods in which we were unable to collect such taxes from customers. We believe this adjustment is useful for investors in understanding our underlying operating performance because in these cases, the taxes were not intended to be a cost to us but rather are to be borne by the customers.
Note: Due to rounding, numbers presented may not sum precisely to the totals presented.
MAPLEBEAR INC. DBA INSTACART
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
(unaudited, in millions, except percentages)
Three Months Ended
Jun. 30,
Sep. 30,
Dec. 31,
Mar. 31,
Jun. 30,
2025
2025
2025
2026
2026
Cost of revenue
$ 236
$ 247
$ 275
$ 281
$ 292
Depreciation and amortization expense
(15)
(20)
(20)
(24)
(26)
Stock-based compensation expense
(2)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(3)
Adjusted cost of revenue
$ 218
$ 225
$ 253
$ 255
$ 262
Cost of revenue as a percent of GTV
2.6 %
2.7 %
2.8 %
2.7 %
2.8 %
Adjusted cost of revenue as a percent of GTV
2.4 %
2.5 %
2.6 %
2.5 %
2.5 %
Operations and support expense
$ 66
$ 62
$ 71
$ 74
$ 74
Depreciation and amortization expense
—
—
(1)
(1)
(1)
Stock-based compensation expense
(4)
(3)
(4)
(3)
(5)
Adjusted operations and support expense
$ 61
$ 58
$ 67
$ 70
$ 68
Operations and support expense as a percent of GTV
0.7 %
0.7 %
0.7 %
0.7 %
0.7 %
Adjusted operations and support expense as a percent of GTV
0.7 %
0.6 %
0.7 %
0.7 %
0.7 %
Research and development expense
$ 166
$ 169
$ 170
$ 164
$ 202
Depreciation and amortization expense
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
Stock-based compensation expense
(58)
(56)
(55)
(46)
(84)
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (1)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(4)
(4)
Adjusted research and development expense
$ 103
$ 109
$ 112
$ 111
$ 113
Research and development expense as a percent of GTV
1.8 %
1.8 %
1.7 %
1.6 %
2.0 %
Adjusted research and development expense as a percent of GTV
1.1 %
1.2 %
1.1 %
1.1 %
1.1 %
Sales and marketing expense
$ 217
$ 206
$ 214
$ 230
$ 233
Depreciation and amortization expense
(2)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(3)
Stock-based compensation expense
(18)
(13)
(16)
(10)
(22)
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (1)
(1)
(1)
—
(1)
(1)
Adjusted sales and marketing expense
$ 197
$ 191
$ 195
$ 217
$ 208
Sales and marketing expense as a percent of GTV
2.4 %
2.3 %
2.2 %
2.2 %
2.3 %
Adjusted sales and marketing expense as a percent of GTV
2.2 %
2.1 %
2.0 %
2.1 %
2.0 %
MAPLEBEAR INC. DBA INSTACART
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS (CONTINUED)
(unaudited, in millions, except percentages)
Three Months Ended
Jun. 30,
Sep. 30,
Dec. 31,
Mar. 31,
Jun. 30,
2025
2025
2025
2026
2026
General and administrative expense
$ 106
$ 87
$ 163
$ 88
$ 98
Depreciation and amortization expense
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Stock-based compensation expense
(23)
(7)
(21)
(19)
(27)
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (1)
(1)
(1)
—
(1)
(1)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, net (2)
(6)
(2)
(78)
(1)
13
Reserves for sales and other indirect taxes, net (3)
—
1
1
—
(1)
Acquisition-related expenses
—
—
(1)
(1)
(3)
Adjusted general and administrative expense
$ 74
$ 78
$ 63
$ 65
$ 79
General and administrative expense as a percent of GTV
1.2 %
1.0 %
1.7 %
0.9 %
0.9 %
Adjusted general and administrative expense as a percent of GTV
0.8 %
0.8 %
0.6 %
0.6 %
0.8 %
Total operating expenses
$ 554
$ 525
$ 619
$ 556
$ 608
Depreciation and amortization expense
(6)
(6)
(6)
(6)
(6)
Stock-based compensation expense
(103)
(79)
(96)
(78)
(139)
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (1)
(5)
(3)
(3)
(6)
(6)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, net (2)
(6)
(2)
(78)
(1)
13
Reserves for sales and other indirect taxes, net (3)
—
1
1
—
(1)
Acquisition-related expenses
—
—
(1)
(1)
(3)
Adjusted total operating expenses
$ 434
$ 436
$ 436
$ 463
$ 468
Total operating expenses as a percent of GTV
6.1 %
5.7 %
6.3 %
5.4 %
5.9 %
Adjusted total operating expenses as a percent of GTV
4.8 %
4.8 %
4.4 %
4.5 %
4.5 %
(1)
Represents employer payroll taxes related to the vesting and settlement of certain equity awards.
(2)
Represents certain legal, regulatory, and policy expenses, including those related to worker classification, as well as non-recurring intellectual property matters and regulatory settlements.
(3)
Represents sales and other indirect tax reserves, net of abatements, for periods in which we were unable to collect such taxes from customers. We believe this adjustment is useful for investors in understanding our underlying operating performance because in these cases, the taxes were not intended to be a cost to us but rather are to be borne by the customers.
Three Months Ended
Jun. 30,
Sep. 30,
Dec. 31,
Mar. 31,
Jun. 30,
2025
2025
2025
2026
2026
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 203
$ 287
$ 184
$ 268
$ 493
Purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized internal-use software
(16)
(15)
(12)
(16)
(13)
Free cash flow
$ 187
$ 272
$ 171
$ 253
$ 480
Note: Due to rounding, numbers presented may not sum precisely to the totals presented.
SOURCE Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart