$DASH jumps 12% on Q1 EPS beat and Q2 GOV guidance above estimates; $50M driver relief for gas costs

DoorDash ($DASH) shares jumped 12% Wednesday after the food delivery giant posted first-quarter 2026 results that beat earnings expectations and issued stronger-than-expected Q2 order growth guidance, reassuring investors that heavy platform investment is generating durable demand.

Earnings per share came in at $0.42, topping the $0.36 analyst consensus. Revenue reached $4.04 billion, up 33% year over year from $3.03 billion, though slightly below the $4.14 billion estimate. Total orders rose 27% to 933 million, just under the 954 million forecast. The mixed top-line picture was more than offset by stronger profitability and a Q2 GOV beat.

For Q2 2026, DoorDash guided marketplace gross order value (GOV) of $32.4-$33.4 billion, topping the $32.43 billion analyst estimate. EBITDA guidance of $770-$870 million had a midpoint slightly below consensus ($830 million), but markets zeroed in on the GOV beat as the cleaner demand signal for the core delivery business.

A near-term cost headwind stands out: DoorDash expects a $50 million charge from its driver relief program, designed to cushion the impact of skyrocketing gas prices — a direct consequence of Iran war-related Strait of Hormuz disruptions — on its contractor workforce. The cost is a reminder that energy-price volatility from the conflict is reaching even the digital gig economy.

DoorDash spent billions in 2025 acquiring new delivery markets and AI capabilities. Q2 and Q3 2026 results will be the first full-quarter tests of whether those acquisitions inflect unit economics. Next earnings expected August 2026. Source: CNBC.

Not investment advice. Verify all figures with primary sources before acting.