# Maplebear Inc. (CART) FY 2024 MD&A Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from Maplebear Inc.'s 10-K for fiscal year 2024. SEC filing source: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1579091/000157909125000015/cart-20241231.htm Accession: 0001579091-25-000015 Filing date: 2025-02-28 Report date: 2024-12-31 Extracted from a later financial-section MD&A body after the formal Item 7 span was a short reference. Confidence: high Company profile: /company/CART/ All MD&A years: /company/CART/mda/ Previous year: /company/CART/mda/fy2023/ (FY 2023) Next year: /company/CART/mda/fy2025/ (FY 2025) Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial 82 Table of Contents statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, and expenses and related disclosures. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities and the amount of revenue and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions, and any such differences may be material. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, which are described in Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following accounting policies involve a greater degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Revenue Recognition Instacart connects multiple parties to facilitate transactions. Our revenue consists of transaction revenue and advertising and other revenue and is recognized in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Transaction Revenue We generate revenue primarily from fees received from end users and amounts paid by retailers for our transaction service, net of any coupons, incentives, and refunds, as well as payments to shoppers. Our sole performance obligation to the retailer is to connect retailers with end users for the provision of goods by the retailer to the end user. Our sole performance obligation to the end user is to arrange for a shopper to provide fulfillment services to the end user. Each performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time, upon the transfer of control of the services. Advertising and Other Revenue We generate revenue from the sale of advertising to companies that are interested in reaching end users. Advertising products include Sponsored Product ads, display ads, coupons, and a variety of other online advertising services. Our performance obligation is to continually promote a brand over the duration of the contractual term. We recognize revenue in the amount that we have the right to invoice as advertising services are rendered, which occurs upon delivery of clicks, upon delivery of impressions, over the contract term on a fixed fee basis, or upon redemptions of coupons. We also offer software subscription services that enhance the omnichannel shopping experience to certain retailers and generate an immaterial amount of other revenue from software subscriptions. Revenue from our software subscription services is recognized ratably over the subscription period. Principal versus Agent Considerations As multiple parties are involved in a transaction between end users, retailers, and shoppers, judgment is required in determining whether we are the principal or agent for the goods and services provided to the end user or retailer in a transaction. We present revenue on a gross or net basis based on whether we control the goods or services provided to the end user or retailer and are the principal (gross), or we arrange for other parties to provide the goods or service to the end user or retailer and are an agent (net). Goods: We have determined that we are an agent for the retailer in the sale of goods to the end user as we do not control the goods at any time before they are transferred to the end user. We do not pre-purchase or otherwise obtain control of the goods and only benefit from our fee for arranging for the sale of goods by the retailer to the end user. We also do not take inventory risk and do not generally have discretion over pricing of the goods. Fulfillment services: We have determined that we are an agent for the end user in the procurement of fulfillment services from shoppers who are independent contractors. We do not control the fulfillment services provided as we do not pre-purchase services or otherwise direct shoppers to perform fulfillment services on our behalf. We do not promise fulfillment services to end users at any time. In addition, we are not primarily responsible for and do not have inventory risk for the fulfillment services. Although we have discretion in establishing the fees paid for the services, we believe this indicator does not alone provide persuasive evidence that we control the fulfillment services. We recognize as revenue the net amount we retain from both the retailer and the end user from a transaction after remitting the purchase value of the goods to the retailer and amounts owed to the shopper for their services. 83 Table of Contents In limited situations, through the third quarter of 2024, we utilized in-store shoppers to provide certain fulfillment activities for end users with the related costs of employees recorded within cost of revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. Advertising services: For certain advertising arrangements that involve third parties, we record advertising revenue on a gross or net basis based on whether we act as a principal or agent in the transaction, which is assessed on a contract by contract basis. When we act as the principal and control the services provided to the brand partner, we record revenue on a gross basis, recognizing fees from the brand partner as revenue and related payments to the publisher as cost of revenue. When we act as an agent and do not control the services, we record revenue on a net basis, representing only the net amount received from the brand partner after payments to the publisher. Revenue Share We generate revenue from partnerships with payment card issuers whereby shoppers use cards issued by the payment card issuers to pay for goods at the retailers’ point-of-sale. We earn a revenue share from the payment card issuers for transactions processed through these payment cards and record these amounts in the same period the underlying transaction takes place. Coupons, Refunds, and Incentives We offer several types of coupons and incentives to encourage use of our services, including customer appeasement credits, promotional coupons, and referral bonus coupons. In certain cases, we also provide refunds to retailers primarily in the form of price concessions. Refunds are accounted for as variable consideration and there is limited uncertainty in estimation given the short duration. In certain cases, end user fees received may be less than the amount of refunds, coupons, incentives, and shopper payments applicable to a particular transaction. This shortfall is recorded within revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. Loss Contingencies We are involved in various legal proceedings, claims and regulatory, non-income tax audits, or government inquiries and investigations that arise in the ordinary course of business. Certain of these matters include claims for substantial or indeterminate amounts of damages. We record liabilities to address potential exposures related to tax positions we have taken that have been or could be challenged by taxing authorities. In addition, we record liabilities associated with legal proceedings and lawsuits. These liabilities are recorded when we believe that it is both probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount can be estimated. We review the developments of each individual legal proceeding that could affect the amount of liabilities that have been previously recorded and the range of possible losses disclosed. We make adjustments to our liabilities and disclosures accordingly to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and updated information. Significant judgment is required to determine both the probability and the estimated amount of loss. These estimates have been based on our assessment of the facts and circumstances at each balance sheet date and are subject to change based on new information and future events. The outcomes of these legal proceedings are inherently uncertain. Therefore, if one or more of these matters were resolved against us for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, our results of operations and financial condition, including in a particular reporting period in which any such outcome becomes probable and estimable, could be materially adversely affected. Income Taxes We record a provision for income taxes for the anticipated tax consequences of our reported results of operations using the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes are recognized by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases as well as net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits for which future realization is uncertain. 84 Table of Contents Although we believe our assumptions, judgments, and estimates are reasonable, changes in tax laws or our interpretation of tax laws and the resolution of any tax audits could significantly impact the amounts provided for income taxes in our consolidated financial statements. We did not recognize certain tax benefits from uncertain tax positions within the provision for income taxes. We may recognize a tax benefit only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Due to uncertainties in any tax audit outcome, our estimates of the ultimate settlement of our unrecognized tax positions may change and the actual tax benefits may differ significantly from the estimates. Recent Accounting Pronouncements See Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.