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The specialty pet retailer brings delivery in as fast as an hour to pet lovers nationwide with no markups

, /PRNewswire/ -- Instacart (Nasdaq: CART), a leading grocery technology company in North America, and Petsense by Tractor Supply, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tractor Supply Company (Nasdaq: TSCO), today announced a new partnership making Instacart the exclusive same-day delivery partner for Petsense. Starting today, customers can shop Petsense's large assortment of pet foods and supplies through the Instacart App and website, with same-day delivery in as fast as an hour with no markups.

Petsense by Tractor Supply joins the Instacart Marketplace with no markups for delivery in as fast as an hour "Petsense has built a loyal following among pet owners who care deeply about the wellbeing of their animals," said Blake Wallace, Vice President of Commercial Partnerships. "We're thrilled to be Petsense's exclusive same-day delivery partner, making it easier than ever for customers to get the specialty products their pets love, whenever they need them."

"At Petsense, we believe that ensuring the health and happiness of your pets should be the easiest decision you make in a day," said Shawn Blankenship, Vice President of Petsense by Tractor Supply. "By partnering with Instacart to offer same-day delivery, customers can now receive our top-quality assortment of pet food and supplies in as little as an hour. This partnership represents our commitment to being the most convenient and dependable place to shop for your pets."

With over 130 stores nationwide, Petsense offers a carefully curated selection of boutique and specialty brands, many exclusive to their stores, chosen for their exceptional quality and commitment to pet health and well-being.

Petsense joins more than 2,200 national and local retail banners on the Instacart Marketplace. To welcome Petsense to the Instacart Marketplace, customers can take $10 off their first qualifying $50 Petsense purchase on Instacart* now through September 30 on Instacart.

To start shopping Petsense, customers can visit https://www.instacart.com/store/petsense/storefront or download the Instacart App on their mobile device.

About Instacart

Instacart is a leading grocery technology company that partners with more than 2,200 retail banners -- representing nearly 100,000 stores -- to transform how people shop for the groceries they need from the retailers they trust, while creating flexible earning opportunities for shoppers. Through the Instacart Marketplace, Instacart Enterprise platform, and Instacart Ads ecosystem, the company powers ecommerce, fulfillment, in-store technology, AI offerings, and advertising for partners. For more information, visit www.instacart.com/company. Maplebear Inc. is the registered corporate name of Instacart.

About Petsense by Tractor Supply

Petsense by Tractor Supply, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), is a pet specialty retailer focused on meeting the needs of pet owners, primarily in small and mid-size communities. Founded in 2005, Petsense by Tractor Supply specializes in providing a large assortment of pet food, supplies and services, such as grooming and training, and offering customers a tailored experience while providing the top-quality products they need at a price they love. Petsense by Tractor Supply carries a range of nationally recognized brands including Fromm, Orijen, Acana, Purina Pro Plan, Hill's Science Diet, Victor, Royal Canin, and NutriSource. Petsense by Tractor Supply is also committed to promoting responsible pet ownership through pet adoptions, community involvement and education. As of August 25, 2026, the Company operated 209 total Petsense stores across 23 states. For more information on Petsense by Tractor Supply, visit www.Petsense.com.

*$15 off for qualifying customers is valid through 9/30/2026 at 11:59PM PT and is valid only in the United States for your first Petsense order of $50 or more and purchased through Instacart, while supplies last. Discount will be applied to the total purchase price, and excludes taxes, service fees, special handling fees and/or other fees; offer cannot be applied to alcohol products. Deliveries subject to availability. In order to take advantage of this offer, customers must have a valid account on Instacart with a valid form of accepted payment on file. Only one offer per household. Instacart reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time. Offer may not be sold, copied, modified, transferred or used retroactively for prior purchases. Void where restricted or prohibited by law. Offer may not be combined with any other sale, promotion, discount, code, coupon, and/or offer. Offer has no cash value. Instacart is not a retailer or seller. Instacart may not be available in all zip or post codes.

SOURCE Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart

Contrarian Alert: 5 Downgraded Stocks That May Reward Long-Term InvestorsTractor Supply NASDAQ: TSCO said its second-quarter results came in below expectations as unusually weak May trends offset positive comparable sales in April and June, prompting the rural lifestyle retailer to lower its fiscal 2026 outlook, withdraw its long-term financial framework and announce the closure of about 75 underperforming Petsense stores.

Chief Executive Officer Hal Lawton said the company’s “underlying business remains healthy,” but that the quarter was pressured by a combination of higher fuel prices during the spring selling season and persistent drought in key southeastern markets. Those factors weighed on discretionary and project-oriented categories, including big-ticket items and hardlines spring goods.

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3 Retail Winners Using Cash Flow to Stay Ahead“Performance in our big ticket categories and hard lines spring goods during May alone reduced our Q2 comp sales by approximately two percentage points,” Lawton said, adding that needs-based businesses remained resilient.

Sales rise, but comparable sales decline Net sales increased approximately 2% to $4.5 billion, driven by new store growth and partly offset by lower comparable store sales. Comparable sales declined approximately 1.5%, reflecting lower transaction counts, modest inflation and softer discretionary demand, particularly in big-ticket categories.

Tractor Supply’s 10% Culling: A Bruise, Not a BreakLawton said consumable, usable and edible categories remained positive during the quarter, while big-ticket sales declined in the mid-single digits, led by softness in spring and summer categories in May. Digital sales posted double-digit growth, supported by deliver-from-store performance, higher traffic and improved conversion.

Chief Financial Officer Kurt Barton said reported gross profit increased 2.6% to $1.68 billion, with gross margin expanding 11 basis points to 37.1%. On an adjusted basis, gross profit rose 3.0% to $1.69 billion, and adjusted gross margin expanded 24 basis points to 37.2% of net sales. Barton said disciplined product cost management and tariff refunds more than offset higher freight expense and investments in the company’s price-value position.

Reported SG&A expense increased 14.4% to $1.22 billion, including a $65.8 million charge tied to the Petsense business and $9.5 million in acquisition costs associated with VIP Petcare. Excluding those items, adjusted SG&A rose 7.3% and deleveraged by approximately 118 basis points as a percentage of sales, largely because of lower comparable sales. Adjusted operating income was $548.3 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.81.

Company cuts 2026 outlook Tractor Supply updated its fiscal 2026 guidance to reflect year-to-date performance and expectations for the remainder of the year. The company now expects:

Net sales growth of approximately 2.5% to 3.5%. Comparable store sales in the range of negative 1% to flat. Adjusted operating margin of 8.5% to 8.8%. Adjusted diluted EPS of $1.90 to $2.00. Barton said the company’s base case assumes modest sequential improvement in comparable sales in the second half as recent actions take hold and comparisons ease. However, he said guidance also reflects the possibility that current pressures persist.

For the second half, Barton said gross margin is expected to be below the prior year, with greater pressure in the third quarter than the fourth. Freight costs, including fuel, are expected to remain elevated, while tariff refunds are expected to provide less benefit than they did in the second quarter. The company also plans to open its 11th distribution center early in the fourth quarter, with start-up costs beginning in the third quarter and continuing into the fourth.

Pet strategy remains a focus Lawton said pet performance remains below where the company wants it to be, though trends improved sequentially from the first quarter and Tractor Supply continues to hold share. He said category resets are complete, including more localized assortments, greater exposure to premium nutrition and a stronger exclusive brand portfolio.

The company’s Freshpet rollout was in approximately 250 stores at the end of the second quarter, and Tractor Supply remains on track to expand it to at least 700 stores by year-end. During the question-and-answer portion of the call, Chief Merchant Seth Estep said more than 40% of Freshpet buyers were either new pet food buyers at Tractor Supply or reactivated buyers.

Tractor Supply also completed its acquisition of VIP Petcare during the quarter. Lawton said the acquisition adds relationships with about 1 million pets annually through a network of 2,500 veterinarians across 39 states and helps connect veterinary services, prescriptions and products across physical and digital channels.

The company is also moving to improve its value proposition through its “unbeatable price” campaign, clearer everyday value messaging and targeted promotions. Estep said customer survey results showed a roughly 180-basis-point year-over-year improvement in customers’ price-value perception of Tractor Supply, with sequential improvement in June and stronger results in July.

Petsense closures and capital reallocation Tractor Supply said it will close approximately 75 underperforming Petsense stores following a review of the business. Lawton said in response to an analyst question that those locations have negative four-wall cash flow, and that closing them will allow the company to redeploy capital into the core business.

Lawton said the remaining Petsense business is expected to be “strong” and profitable, while complementing the broader pet ecosystem that includes Allivet and VIP Petcare. He also said Petsense is not directly connected to the core Tractor Supply business and that the closures should not affect the company’s pet re-acceleration efforts in Tractor Supply stores.

The company also said it plans to open approximately 85 to 90 new stores in 2027, compared with a previous expectation of 100 new stores. Lawton said capital will be redeployed toward Project Fusion remodels, store relocations and Final Mile delivery.

Lawton described Project Fusion as one of the company’s most important initiatives to improve the existing store base, citing localization and expanded pet wash as elements contributing to performance. He also said Final Mile delivery remains a strong growth opportunity, with Tractor Supply completing as many Final Mile deliveries in the first half of 2026 as it did in all of 2025.

Long-term framework withdrawn Tractor Supply withdrew the long-term financial framework it introduced at its December 2024 Investor Day. Barton said the prior targets reflected the operating environment and assumptions at that time, but several underlying conditions have changed, including softer farm and ranch markets and pressure across key end markets.

“We no longer believe it is appropriate to anchor investors to the long-term financial algorithm we previously outlined,” Barton said. The company plans to provide an updated long-term framework with its fourth-quarter 2026 earnings announcement.

Despite the revised outlook, Barton said Tractor Supply remains in a strong financial position, with healthy cash flow, a strong balance sheet and financial flexibility. He said share repurchase activity is expected to be toward the high end of the company’s original guidance range of $375 million to $450 million, and that Tractor Supply remains committed to returning capital to shareholders through a growing dividend.

About Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:TSCO)Tractor Supply Company NASDAQ: TSCO is a specialty retailer focused on products for the home, farm, ranch and outdoors. The company operates a network of physical retail locations complemented by an e-commerce platform, offering a one-stop source of supplies and equipment for customers with rural and suburban lifestyles. Its merchandise assortment targets a range of needs, from animal and livestock care to maintenance, outdoor power equipment, and seasonal products.

Product categories include animal feed and supplies, pet products, fencing and fencing supplies, equine equipment, lawn and garden tools, work clothing and footwear, and small agricultural and outdoor power equipment.

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Key Takeaways Tractor Supply's Q2 revenues are projected to rise 4.6% y/y to $4.6 billion in sales this quarter.TSCO's EPS is expected to increase 4.9% to 85 cents, even as SG&A expenses rise 7.6% in Q2.Tractor Supply's gross margin is expected to expand 60 basis points to 37.5%, supporting profit growth. Tractor Supply Company (TSCO - Free Report) is likely to register increases in the top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter 2026 results on June 23, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $4.6 billion, indicating a 4.6% jump from the year-ago reported figure.

The bottom line of the leading rural lifestyle retailer in the United States is expected to have risen year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has been moved down by a penny to 85 cents in the past 30 days, indicating a 4.9% rise from the year-ago period’s reported figure.

Tractor Supply has a negative trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.7%, on average. In the last reported quarter, this Brentwood, TN-based company’s earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.4%.

Key Factors Likely to Impact TSCO’s Q2 ResultsTractor Supply’s second-quarter 2026 results are expected to reflect higher expenses for a while. The company expects an increase in SG&A expenses due to deleveraged fixed costs and an accelerated store opening cadence. On the last reported quarter’s earnings call, management anticipated higher SG&A deleverage in the first half, owing to the timing of store openings, more normalized incentive compensation and the lapping of earlier strategic investments.

Our model indicates a 7.6% year-over-year increase in SG&A expenses for the second quarter, with the SG&A expense rate rising 50 basis points to 21.7%. Depreciation and amortization expenses are expected to increase 5.2% year over year.

Tractor Supply also faces headwinds from soft discretionary spending, pressured rural consumer demand and cautious big-ticket purchases. Persistent inflation and interest rates are weighing on traffic and ticket sizes, while weather volatility impacts seasonal categories. Margin pressure from elevated labor, freight and promotional activity remains concerning. Slower farm income trends and increased competition add to near-term uncertainty.

However, Tractor Supply has been gaining from consistent market share expansion and positive customer trends. In addition, the company benefits from the execution of its everyday low-price strategy. Tractor Supply is focused on its Life Out Here lifestyle assortment and convenient shopping format to attract customers and expand market share. The strategy is essentially based on five key pillars, which include customers, digitization, execution, team members and total shareholder return.

Our model indicates a 6.5% year-over-year increase in gross profit for the second quarter, with the gross margin increasing 60 basis points to 37.5%. Operating profit is expected to increase 5% year over year.

Tractor Supply is focused on its growth initiatives, which include the expansion of its store base and the incorporation of technological advancements to induce traffic and drive the top line. The major Life Out Here 2030 strategy aims to strengthen community engagement, drive traffic and enhance customer satisfaction through improved store accessibility and relevance. The company's store expansion efforts are key parts of its strategy to deliver sustainable growth in both urban-edge and rural markets.

What Does the Zacks Model Unveil for TSCO?Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Tractor Supply this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Tractor Supply has an Earnings ESP of -2.52% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) at present.

Valuation & Price Performance of TSCO StockFrom a valuation perspective, Tractor Supply stock trades at a premium relative to the Zacks Retail - Miscellaneous industry. The company has a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 13.55X, below the industry’s average of 14.3X. However, the stock trades below the historical benchmarks, with a five-year high of 27.91X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

TSCO shares have lost 33% in the past three months compared with the industry's 16.9% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings EstimatesHere are a few companies that have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:

Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.98% and sports a Zacks Rank of 1 at present. URBN’s earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 are pegged at $1.72 per share, suggesting 8.9% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for its quarterly earnings has moved up by a penny in the past 30 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Urban Outfitters’ quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.65 billion, which suggests growth of 9.5% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. URBN has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.2%, on average.

Somnigroup International Inc. (SGI - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.43% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The consensus estimate for Somnigroup’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 58 cents per share, implying growth of 9.4% from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

For Somnigroup’s quarterly revenues, the consensus mark is pegged at $1.9 billion, which indicates an increase of 0.4% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. SGI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.8%, on average.

Tapestry Inc. (TPR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.84% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.87 billion, implying 8.6% growth from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

The consensus estimate for Tapestry earnings is pegged at $1.24 per share, suggesting 19.2% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. TPR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.6%, on average.