DoorDash plunges into loss on pricey grocery expansion

DoorDash's total expenses more than doubled to $1.34 billion, overshadowing a surge in revenue

Food-delivery firm DoorDash Inc's (DASH.N) loss widened more than expected in the second quarter as the U.S. upstart spent heavily to expand internationally and into a crowded market for grocery during the pandemic.

Shares of the company are trading more than 4% lower in the premarket after total expenses more than doubled to $1.34 billion, overshadowing a surge in revenue.

Demand for delivery of essentials has stayed strong during the health crisis, leading DoorDash to sign new partnerships with pet specialty retailer PetSmart Inc, grocer Albertsons Inc (ACI.N) and plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat Inc (BYND.O).

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DASH DOORDASH INC. 138.60 -0.28 -0.20%
ACI ALBERTSONS COMPANIES 21.36 -0.04 -0.21%
BYND BEYOND MEAT INC. 8.46 +0.17 +2.05%

RIDESHARE PRICES CONTINUE TO SPIKE NATIONWIDE AMID DRIVER SHORTAGE, HIGH DEMAND

The company has also increased its presence outside its core market of the United States by expanding into Canada, Australia and Japan.

While that helped the company beat revenue expectations with an 83% surge to $1.24 billion, its loss of 30 cents per share was wider than a Refinitiv IBES estimate of a 20 cents loss.

A DoorDash delivery worker walks his bike along the road in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, California. (iStock)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

The company said it expects full-year marketplace gross order value - a metric measuring the total value of all app orders and subscription fees - between $39 billion and $40.5 billion. It had forecast $35 billion to $38 billion earlier.

It also raised its outlook for core earnings.