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Instacart reportedly discussed selling itself with DoorDash and Uber

Policy1 min read

Grocery delivery company Instacart may sell itself to a bigger rival. Multiple news reports say it has talked with DoorDash and Uber about a possible deal.

What happened

News reports say Instacart has hired an investment bank to help it look at its choices, including a sale. The Information reported that Instacart held acquisition talks with DoorDash. Bloomberg reported that Instacart also talked with Uber, but Uber reportedly walked away from those talks. Bloomberg said these are early talks and may not lead to a sale. Instacart has not yet commented.

Key numbers

  • Instacart's market value (market cap) is more than $13 billion.
  • Its stock price is up 25% so far this year.
  • On Friday, Instacart's share price jumped more than 9.2% after the reports.
  • Uber and DoorDash stock fell on the same day.

Why a company might sell

Instacart delivers groceries from stores to people's homes. A company can sell itself to a bigger company, which then owns it. Sellers often try to sell when their stock price is high. The article says Instacart may see this as a good time to sell, before the grocery delivery market gets more crowded and competitive.

Why it matters

If a deal happens, a big food delivery company could grow even larger and gain more customers. It could also change how groceries get delivered to people. For now, though, nothing is certain, and the talks may end without a sale.

What to watch

  • Whether Instacart confirms talks or announces a deal.
  • Whether DoorDash or another company makes an offer.
  • Whether Uber returns to the talks.
  • How the stock prices of Instacart, Uber, and DoorDash move next.

Glossary

Instacart
A company that delivers groceries from local stores to people's homes.
DoorDash
A food and item delivery company that is a possible buyer of Instacart in these reports.
Uber
A ride-hailing and delivery company that reportedly talked with Instacart but walked away.

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