Maplebear Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NASDAQ:CART)

Maplebear Inc. (NASDAQ:CART) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Friday. Stock investors bought 27,162 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 247% compared to the average volume of 7,826 call options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Maplebear from $41.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Argus started coverage on Maplebear in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $52.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Maplebear from $65.00 to $50.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Maplebear from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on shares of Maplebear from $45.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Maplebear currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $51.38.

Maplebear Trading Up 9.2%

CART opened at $36.30 on Friday. Maplebear has a 1-year low of $32.73 and a 1-year high of $53.50. The company has a market cap of $9.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.83, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.00. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $41.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.85.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Maplebear news, General Counsel Morgan Fong sold 4,914 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.21, for a total transaction of $222,161.94. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel directly owned 404,940 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,307,337.40. This trade represents a 1.20% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 26.00% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Maplebear

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Maplebear by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,461,637 shares of the company’s stock valued at $245,664,000 after purchasing an additional 54,872 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners raised its position in Maplebear by 93.3% in the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,961,838 shares of the company’s stock valued at $179,261,000 after buying an additional 1,911,771 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in Maplebear by 114.7% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,792,673 shares of the company’s stock valued at $170,594,000 after acquiring an additional 2,026,567 shares in the last quarter. Viking Global Investors LP bought a new position in Maplebear during the 2nd quarter valued at $169,782,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Maplebear by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,526,124 shares of the company’s stock worth $158,640,000 after acquiring an additional 54,010 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.09% of the company’s stock.

Maplebear News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Maplebear this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company outlook and volume trends lifted investor sentiment — management flagged continued GTV and engagement momentum and issued upbeat guidance that helped ease competition concerns, a major reason for the bullish move. Instacart shares soar as upbeat forecast tempers competition fears
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Needham raised its price target to $55 and maintained a Buy, signaling upside for investors who focus on Street revisions. Needham raises price target to $55
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually large call‑option flow — traders bought ~27,162 calls (≈247% above average), indicating bullish speculation or hedging that can amplify intraday upside and liquidity.
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue growth was solid (revenue ~ $992M, +12% YoY and roughly in line/above estimates) even as profits and EPS showed pressure; mixed fundamental signal that could support longer‑term recovery if margins stabilize. Maplebear Q4 earnings report
• Negative Sentiment: EPS and profitability disappointed: GAAP EPS and net income declined year‑over‑year (EPS missed consensus), highlighting margin pressure despite higher revenue — a near‑term headwind for valuation. Quiver: Stock Rises on Q4 2025 Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Wells Fargo trimmed its price target (to $43) and moved to an equal‑weight stance, reducing near‑term Street support and contributing to volatility. Wells Fargo lowers price target to $43
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst downgrade(s) pushed the stock to a new 12‑month low in some sessions and insider selling activity noted by data providers may add to negative sentiment for cautious investors. Maplebear Hits New 12-Month Low After Analyst Downgrade

Maplebear Company Profile

Maplebear, Inc, doing business as Instacart, operates a leading online grocery and essentials marketplace that connects consumers, retail partners and personal shoppers through its digital platform. The company enables customers to order groceries, household items and specialty products for same-day or scheduled delivery, as well as in-store pickup. By integrating its technology with retailers’ existing inventory and point-of-sale systems, Maplebear streamlines the shopping experience and provides real-time availability and pricing.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, Maplebear has grown from a regional startup to a publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker CART.