DoorDash shares were up about 3% when Wall Street opened on Thursday, buoyed by outlook for Q1 2026, which was seen as robust. The group expects gross order value (GOV) of between $31bn and $31.8bn, above the $29.61bn forecast by analysts, banking on resilient demand for meal delivery, groceries and everyday consumer goods.

In Q4 2025, DoorDash posted a 32% rise in total orders, versus 19% in the same period a year earlier. The group also attracted a record number of new consumers, with stronger engagement from new cohorts.

In a competitive environment dominated by Instacart and UberEats, DoorDash aims to stand out with an aggressive expansion strategy. The company plans a complete overhaul of its technology system in 2026 to unify its brands, including Wolt and Deliveroo, under a single platform. The project will involve several hundred million dollars in investment in new products and technology infrastructure.

Those outlays will weigh on its short-term profitability, however: DoorDash is targeting EBITDA of between $675m and $775m for the current quarter, below the $798m expected by the market.