New York, Feb 11, 2026, 15:32 EST
Shares of DoorDash Inc dropped over 5% on Wednesday, continuing their recent slide as investors digested new remarks about the delivery firm’s valuation ahead of next week’s earnings report. By 3:17 p.m. EST, the stock had fallen 5.3% to $175.87, slipping from an opening price of $185.64.
DoorDash is set to release its earnings on Feb. 18, and investors will be watching closely for evidence that order volume and margins remain steady despite ongoing growth investments. 1
The wider context hasn’t been kind. U.S. retail sales unexpectedly held steady in December, showing no growth instead of the 0.4% gain experts predicted, Reuters reported Tuesday. This kept markets jittery as they awaited more economic updates. Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott, described the retail figures as “bad news is good news,” but cautioned that “nobody wants to get too far above their risk budget” ahead of the postponed U.S. payrolls report. 2
Benzinga highlighted DoorDash’s trailing price-to-earnings ratio at 93.76, well above the industry average of 50.21. The P/E ratio shows how much investors are paying per dollar of profit. The stock has dropped 16.23% in the past month, continuing a longer period of decline. 3
Yahoo Finance flagged negative returns over the past week, month, and three months in a valuation note on Wednesday, even though the company reported increases in revenue and net income. The note described the multiple as rich. 4
On Wednesday, Simply Wall St highlighted a significant disconnect between DoorDash’s current share price and a consensus target hovering around $275.76, while also noting the company’s recent slowdown in momentum. The analysis pointed out DoorDash’s P/E ratio of 92.7, far above the hospitality sector’s average of 21.8, emphasizing how heavily the stock still relies on optimistic growth forecasts. 5
DoorDash faces stiff competition from Uber Technologies’ Eats unit and grocery delivery service Instacart, all while the industry comes under fire for fees and worker compensation. Last month, a federal judge in New York shot down DoorDash and Uber’s attempt to block new city tipping rules. These laws now require delivery apps to let customers tip at checkout, with a suggested minimum of 10%. 6
A commentary on TMAStreet described the stock’s recent drop as investors gearing up for earnings, closely watching demand indicators and cost control. 7
Stocks trading at high multiples have little room for error if customers pull back, promotions ramp up, or investments in new products and technology weigh on profits. Any unexpected costs—like shifts in worker pay or new tipping rules in major cities—could shake up expectations once more.
DoorDash enters Feb. 18 with its valuation debate resurfacing, while the market continues to react to consumer data.
