DoorDash Instacart Deal Nears
DoorDash Instacart deal is in advanced talks and could close this week, prompting investor focus on valuation, timing and antitrust risk.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Reports said DoorDash was in advanced talks to acquire Instacart with possible announcement or close that week.
- The reported value was about $17 billion, a premium to Instacart's pre-report market cap near $13 billion.
- Sources cautioned talks were not finalized and could still fail, and no regulatory filing or agreement was disclosed.
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DoorDash Inc. (DASH) entered advanced talks on October 26, 2026, to acquire Instacart parent Maplebear (CART), with reports saying the companies could complete a transaction as soon as October 28. The deal would combine Instacart’s grocery marketplace with DoorDash’s delivery network.
Deal Terms and Strategic Implications
The potential acquisition would value Instacart at approximately $17 billion, a premium to its market capitalization of about $13 billion before the reports. The discussions remain advanced but are not finalized, and sources cautioned the deal could still fall apart. One report indicated the transaction could be completed or announced during the week of October 26, possibly as soon as October 28.
Instacart had been exploring a sale and held preliminary talks with potential buyers, including DoorDash and Uber. Reuters reported that talks with Uber were no longer active. Instacart declined to comment, while DoorDash and Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A combination would give DoorDash access to Instacart’s established grocery marketplace and retailer relationships, while adding DoorDash’s delivery network and customer base. No signed merger agreement, regulatory filing, or public agency action confirming the transaction has been disclosed. The reports flagged potential antitrust scrutiny as a factor that could influence timing and terms.
Earlier discussions between DoorDash and Instacart in 2021 reportedly valued Instacart between $40 billion and $50 billion, but those talks collapsed partly due to regulatory concerns. No current filings, approvals, or financing details have been made public.
