Honestly, if you’ve been watching the ticker lately, the cart stock price today feels like a bit of a rollercoaster that just hit a sharp dip. As of Saturday, January 17, 2026, the markets are closed for the weekend, but the vibe heading into the break was, well, heavy.
Instacart (which trades under the name Maplebear Inc. as CART) ended Friday’s session at $39.41. That’s a roughly 1% slide for the day, but that small number hides a much uglier week. We’re looking at a stock that has shed about 11.5% of its value since the ball dropped on New Year's Eve.
It’s a weird time for the grocery giant. One day they’re launching fancy AI "Data Hubs" at CES, and the next, they’re getting punched in the gut by a new partnership between their biggest retail partner and their fiercest delivery rival.
The Kroger-Uber Alliance: A Real Head-Scratcher for Investors
What’s actually driving the cart stock price today isn't just one thing, but if you had to point a finger, point it at Kroger. Earlier this week, news broke that Kroger is expanding its delivery reach through Uber Eats and Postmates.
Think about that for a second.
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Kroger is basically the crown jewel of the traditional grocery world. For years, Instacart was their primary digital lifeline. Now, Kroger is putting its full catalog of products—from nearly 2,700 stores—on Uber's platform. Investors are spooked. The fear is that the "moat" Instacart built around its grocery expertise is starting to look more like a puddle.
Why the market is acting so moody
- Market Share Erosion: If I can get my Kroger groceries on the same app I use to order sushi (Uber Eats), do I really need a separate Instacart subscription? That’s the question haunting the $39 price point.
- The FTC Shadow: Let’s not forget the $60 million settlement with the FTC back in December. While $60 million is a rounding error for a company this size, the "deceptive practices" label is sticky. It hurts brand trust.
- AI Backlash: They recently had to pull the plug on some AI-driven pricing experiments. Turns out, people (and regulators) really don't like it when an algorithm tries to guess how much they're willing to pay for a gallon of milk.
Understanding the Numbers (Without the Boredom)
If you look at the 52-week range, the cart stock price today is sitting much closer to its low of $34.78 than its high of $53.50. It’s a classic "falling knife" scenario for some, while others see a massive discount.
Most analysts—about 24 of them keep a close eye on this—are still technically "Buy" or "Moderate Buy." Their average price target is hovering around $53.29. That would be a 35% jump from where we are now.
But here’s the kicker: Wedbush recently came out with an "Underperform" rating and a target of $36. When the "smart money" is that divided, you know the situation is complex.
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The Bull Case: It’s Not All Doom and Gloom
Despite the price drop, Instacart isn't exactly broke. They’ve actually been beating earnings expectations fairly regularly. Their Q3 results showed they can still squeeze profit out of a tough market.
They also just launched something called "Data Hub." Basically, they’re telling big brands like Pepsi or Nestle, "Hey, we know exactly what people are buying in real-time. Want to buy that data to make your ads better?"
This shift from a "delivery company" to a "data and retail media company" is where the long-term value might live. Delivery has thin margins; data has fat ones.
The Reality of Competition in 2026
It’s no longer just Instacart vs. DoorDash. It’s Instacart vs. Amazon vs. Walmart vs. Every individual grocery chain that decides to build its own app.
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- Walmart is the 800-pound gorilla. Their "Walmart+" service is a direct threat because they own the inventory and the delivery.
- Amazon Fresh is finally finding its footing after years of stumbling.
- Labor costs are rising everywhere. Paying "shoppers" to pick and pack is getting more expensive by the month.
Honestly, the cart stock price today reflects a company in the middle of an identity crisis. Are they a logistics firm? A software provider for retailers? Or a data broker?
What to Watch Next Week
If you're holding or thinking about buying, keep your eyes on the volume. On Friday, about 6.5 million shares changed hands. That’s higher than the 3-month average of around 5 million. Higher volume on a down day usually means people are "capitulating"—basically throwing in the towel.
You should also look for any response from Instacart’s CEO, Fidji Simo, regarding the Kroger-Uber deal. If they can show that their partnership with Kroger remains "sticky" despite the Uber expansion, the stock might find a floor.
Actionable Insights for Your Portfolio
- Watch the $38 Support Level: If the cart stock price today breaks below $38 on Monday, the next stop could easily be that 52-week low of $34.
- Check the RSI: Technically speaking, the stock is starting to look "oversold." In plain English: it’s been beaten down so hard that a "dead cat bounce" (a temporary recovery) is likely.
- Diversify: If you’re heavy on gig-economy stocks (Uber, Lyft, DoorDash), adding more CART right now might be doubling down on a sector that’s currently under a regulatory microscope.
- Ignore the "Price Targets": Remember that analyst targets are often 12 months out. They don't mean the stock is going to $53 tomorrow; they mean the analyst thinks it might be worth that a year from now.
The grocery delivery war is far from over. Instacart has the first-mover advantage and some of the best data in the business, but as the cart stock price today shows, the market isn't rewarding potential—it’s demanding proof of survival.
Monitor the news cycle for any updates on the New York Attorney General’s inquiry into their pricing models. Regulatory wins or losses in early 2026 will likely dictate whether CART spends the rest of the year in the basement or starts climbing back toward the $50 mark. Keep a close eye on the Q4 earnings report expected in February, as that will be the first real look at how much the FTC settlement and competitive shifts actually hurt the bottom line.