CART
Instacart (Maplebear Inc.)
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$9.52B
5Y Perf.+35.4%
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Stock Comparison
CART vs AMZN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AMZN
Amazon.com, Inc.
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$2.96T
5Y Perf.+116.3%
CART vs AMZN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CART | AMZN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty Retail | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $9.52B | $2.96T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.86B | $742.78B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $485M | $90.80B |
| Gross Margin | 73.0% | 50.6% |
| Operating Margin | 15.8% | 11.5% |
| Forward P/E | 16.7x | 35.3x |
| Total Debt | $36M | $152.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $637M | $86.81B |
CART vs AMZN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CART
AMZN
| Stock | Sep 23 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instacart (Maplebea… (CART) | 100 | 135.4 | +35.4% |
| Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) | 100 | 216.3 | +116.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CART vs AMZN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CART leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Amazon.com, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CART
Instacart (Maplebear Inc.)
The Income Pick
CART carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.39
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, Low D/E 1.4%, current ratio 2.40x
- Beta 0.39, current ratio 2.40x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
AMZN
Amazon.com, Inc.
The Growth Play
AMZN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 12.4%, EPS growth 29.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.7%
- 7.2% 10Y total return vs CART's 19.3%
- 12.4% revenue growth vs CART's 10.8%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AMZN | 12.4% revenue growth vs CART's 10.8% |
| Value | CART | Lower P/E (16.7x vs 35.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CART | 12.6% margin vs AMZN's 12.2% |
| Stability / Safety | CART | Beta 0.39 vs AMZN's 1.51, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AMZN | +48.6% vs CART's -11.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CART | 12.0% ROA vs AMZN's 11.5%, ROIC 24.0% vs 14.7% |
CART vs AMZN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CART vs AMZN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCARTLAGGINGAMZN
AMZNAmazon.com, Inc.
1leads
CARTInstacart (Maplebear …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AMZNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CART4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CART6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CART6/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AMZN6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CART leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AMZN is the larger business by revenue, generating $742.8B annually — 192.2x CART's $3.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.6% (CART) to 12.2% (AMZN). On growth, AMZN holds the edge at +16.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.9B | $742.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $688M | $155.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $485M | $90.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $883M | -$2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +73.0% | +50.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +11.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +12.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.9% | -0.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.6% | +16.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +50.0% | +74.8% |
CART leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 25.1x trailing earnings, CART trades at a 34% valuation discount to AMZN's 38.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CART's 13.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AMZN's 20.7x.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.5B | $2.96T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.9B | $3.02T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.13x | 38.35x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.74x | 35.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.37x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.21x | 20.74x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.54x | 4.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.46x | 7.24x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.45x | 384.26x |
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AMZN delivers a 23.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $23 in annual profit, vs $17 for CART. CART carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AMZN's 0.37x.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +16.6% | +23.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.0% | +11.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +24.0% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +18.9% | +15.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 0.37x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$601M | $66.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $637M | $86.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $36M | $153.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 39.96x |
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AMZN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AMZN five years ago would be worth $16,632 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,931 for CART. Over the past 12 months, AMZN leads with a +48.6% total return vs CART's -11.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AMZN at 37.5% vs CART's 6.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.4% | +21.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -11.8% | +48.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.3% | +159.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.3% | +66.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.3% | +715.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.1% | +37.5% |
AMZN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CART and AMZN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CART is the less volatile stock with a 0.39 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AMZN's 1.51 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AMZN currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs CART's 75.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.39x | 1.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $53.50 | $278.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $32.73 | $183.85 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.2% | +98.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.6 | 80.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.9M | 45.6M |
Evenly matched — CART and AMZN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CART as "Buy" and AMZN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.6% upside for CART (target: $50) vs 11.6% for AMZN (target: $307).
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $49.70 | $306.77 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 94 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +14.6% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
CART leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). AMZN leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallInstacart (Maplebear Inc.) (CART)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CART vs AMZN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CART or AMZN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) is the stronger pick with 12. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 8% for Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART). Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART) offers the better valuation at 25. 1x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART) a "Buy" — based on 26 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CART or AMZN?
On trailing P/E, Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is the cheapest at 25. 1x versus Amazon. com, Inc. at 38. 3x. On forward P/E, Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) is actually cheaper at 16. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CART or AMZN?
Over the past 5 years, Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) delivered a total return of +66. 3%, compared to +19. 3% for Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMZN returned +715. 9% versus CART's +19. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CART or AMZN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Amazon. com, Inc. 's 1. 51β — meaning AMZN is approximately 291% more volatile than CART relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 37% for Amazon. com, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CART or AMZN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Amazon.
com, Inc. (AMZN) is pulling ahead at 12. 4% versus 10. 8% for Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Amazon. com, Inc. grew EPS 29. 7% year-over-year, compared to 1. 3% for Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ). Over a 3-year CAGR, CART leads at 13. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CART or AMZN?
Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 9% net margin versus 10. 8% for Amazon. com, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CART leads at 15. 4% versus 11. 2% for AMZN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CART leads at 73. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CART or AMZN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 35. 3x for Amazon. com, Inc. — 18. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CART: 23. 6% to $49. 70.
08Which pays a better dividend — CART or AMZN?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is CART or AMZN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39)). Amazon. com, Inc. (AMZN) carries a higher beta of 1. 51 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CART: +19. 3%, AMZN: +715. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CART and AMZN?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CART: 13.6% · AMZN: 16.6%)Net Margin>
%
(CART: 12.6% · AMZN: 12.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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