Key Points Amazon stock is underperforming the Nasdaq Composite this year. The company is under pressure in its e-commerce and cloud computing divisions. Amazon lags behind other "Magnificent Seven" companies in a key measurement. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced Tuesday that it's cutting 14,000 corporate jobs, shedding roughly 4% of its workforce in a bid to shift more resources to artificial intelligence (AI) and other high-profile priori ...

Core Insights - Major corporations like Amazon and UPS are undergoing significant layoffs, driven by a shift towards AI-driven automation that is reshaping corporate structures [1] Amazon Job Cuts - Amazon is cutting up to 30,000 jobs, with 14,000 layoffs already confirmed this year [2][3] - The layoffs primarily affect corporate and mid-level management staff, as the company leverages AI technologies to enhance efficiency by automating repetitive tasks [3] - CEO Andy Jassy has linked the workforce reduction to the rapid adoption of AI, with plans to automate 75% of fulfillment processes by 2033, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of roles over the next decade [4] UPS Job Cuts - UPS has reduced its workforce by 48,000 roles this year, exceeding its initial estimate of 20,000 job cuts, including 14,000 positions from management [5] - These cuts are part of a significant strategic transformation aimed at increasing profitability and streamlining operations in response to declining revenues and market challenges [5] Impact on Management Roles - Companies are finding that AI can easily replace repetitive administrative tasks typically performed by management, leading to the elimination of middle-management roles [6] - While this shift offers cost savings and productivity gains, it raises concerns about the future of white-collar employment and the changing nature of managerial work in the AI era [6] Other Companies Announcing Layoffs - Other companies announcing layoffs include PricewaterhouseCoopers (5,600 cuts), Chegg (45% of workforce), Target (1,800 roles or 8% of corporate team), and Paramount Skydance (2,000 jobs) [7]

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. That's caused many to limit new work to only a few specific roles, if not pause openings entirely. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs spanning from President Donald Trump's barrage of new tariffs and shifts in co ...

Core Insights - Amazon is expected to report third-quarter earnings, with traders anticipating a significant stock price movement of about 6% in either direction by the end of the week [2][8] - The company's market capitalization of $2.4 trillion makes its stock highly influential in the U.S. equity market, with potential impacts on major indexes [3] - Amazon has been the worst-performing stock among the Magnificent Seven this year, with only a 5% increase since the start of the year [5] Earnings Report Expectations - Historically, Amazon's stock has moved an average of 4.7% following its last four earnings reports, with a notable decline of over 8% after disappointing cloud revenue growth in July [4] - The last positive earnings report was a year ago, driven by strong cloud and advertising growth [4] Business Challenges and Strategies - Amazon's retail segment is facing increased tariff costs and a cautious consumer base, while the cloud computing unit is investing heavily in data centers to support AI workloads [6][8] - The company announced a reduction of 14,000 corporate roles, part of a broader downsizing that could total up to 30,000 office jobs, nearly 10% of its white-collar workforce [7] - Infrastructure investments in the cloud exceeded $31 billion in the second quarter, about 20% more than expected, with ongoing capital expenditures anticipated to remain high [8]

Core Insights - Amazon is laying off 14,000 employees to reduce bureaucracy and invest in artificial intelligence, following a report about plans to replace 75% of its workforce with robots [1][4] - The layoffs are the largest in Amazon's history and are part of a broader trend among tech companies to cut jobs while investing in AI [3][4] - The global AI infrastructure market is projected to grow significantly, from $26.18 billion in 2024 to $221.40 billion by 2034, indicating a strong demand for AI-related investments [4] Group 1: Layoffs and Workforce Changes - Amazon's layoffs will primarily affect departments such as devices, advertising, Prime Video, HR, and Amazon Web Services, with potential future job cuts bringing total losses to 30,000 [3] - The company currently employs over 1 million robots, which constitute two-thirds of its human workforce, and aims to automate 75% of its operations [5] Group 2: AI Investment and Strategy - Amazon's CEO Andy Jassy has emphasized the need for rapid development of generative AI and AI agents, stating that the company has over 1,000 AI services and applications in progress [6] - The company could save $4 billion annually by 2027 through its automation plans in warehouses, highlighting the financial incentives behind the shift to AI [5]

Group 1 - Amazon MGM Studios is undergoing significant layoffs, with 14,000 jobs being eliminated across various sectors, attributed in part to advancements in AI [4] - Executives affected by the layoffs include Nathan Kitada, Senior Creative Executive, and Meggie Choi, Drama Series Executive, both of whom have been with the studio for over three years [1][2] - Donna Rosenstein, a veteran of 12 years at Amazon MGM Studios, is also leaving her position as Worldwide Head of Casting [3] Group 2 - The company anticipates further layoffs in 2026, indicating a strategy focused on removing layers, increasing ownership, and achieving efficiency gains [4] - The layoffs are part of a broader review of operations within Amazon, suggesting a shift in strategic focus [4]

Market Overview - The macro markets are reaching record highs, indicating a strong market sentiment [1] - There are discussions around whether the current market is in a bubble, with differing opinions on the valuation of stocks [2][5] Valuation Insights - There is a distinction between expensive stocks and valuable companies, with many firms showing strong profit margins and growth [3] - Current valuations are not irrational compared to historical peaks, such as Cisco's peak valuation of over 200 times earnings, while Nvidia is trading at less than 30 times earnings with a 30% year-on-year growth [4] AI and Market Sentiment - Concerns about a potential bubble in AI are addressed, with the assertion that AI will be a significant part of the new economy [7][8] - The current enthusiasm for AI is not viewed as irrational, contrasting with past market behaviors during events like the pandemic [6] Company-Specific Analysis - Nvidia is not considered overvalued, while Amazon is also viewed as fairly valued [10] - Apple is trading at 32-33 times earnings, which raises questions about its valuation despite showing better top-line growth [10][11] - The growth metrics for Apple are compared to the S&P 500, indicating that it needs to outperform the index to justify its valuation [11][12]

Core Insights - The rapid advancement of AI technology is creating a systemic shift in the technology landscape, with potential long-term impacts being underestimated while short-term effects may be overestimated [1][2] - Concerns about an AI bubble exist among investors, but evidence suggests that generative AI can enhance revenue across various sectors [2][3] - Companies are cautiously adopting AI, with many running pilot projects but facing hesitance in full-scale implementation due to comfort levels with the technology [3] Industry Impact - AI is reshaping labor and operational models, leading to significant job cuts in companies like Amazon, which is eliminating 14,000 corporate roles, while others like Chegg and UPS are exploring automation to replace or supplement human work [4] - Historical industrial shifts indicate that while technology displaces certain jobs, it also creates new opportunities in different sectors [4] Investment Considerations - The stakes for investors are high, as effective deployment of AI can lead to increased efficiency and growth, while misjudging investment strategies may result in companies falling behind [5] - Companies are encouraged to focus on growth beyond just revenue, emphasizing long-term innovation, customer experience, and investment in workers to drive sustainable success [5]

Market Overview - US stocks experienced mixed results last week, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rising slightly over 1.6%, while the Dow increased by 2% [2] - Both the DJIA and S&P 500 reached record levels on Friday, influenced by Q3 earnings season, dovish Federal Reserve commentary, and better-than-expected inflation data [2][12] Earnings Season Insights - The second week of Q3 earnings season showed mixed results, with initial strong performances from big banks followed by disappointing reports from regional banks and major tech companies [3] - High-profile disappointments included Tesla, which saw profits drop 37% year-over-year despite beating revenue expectations, leading to a 4% stock drop [4] - IBM reported better-than-expected earnings but showed slowing growth in its core cloud services, facing stiff competition from AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud [4] - Netflix missed earnings estimates due to a tax dispute, despite having a successful film, resulting in a 5% stock decline [4] Positive Earnings Reports - Honeywell exceeded analyst expectations due to strength in its aerospace division, resulting in a 4% stock increase [5] - American Airlines reported better-than-expected results driven by travel demand and provided strong guidance for Q4 and the full year [5] - Intel reported strong earnings driven by AI chip demand, leading to a 3% stock gain for the week [5] - The blended EPS growth rate for the S&P 500 increased to 9.2%, up from 8.5% the previous week, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of growth [5] Job Market Trends - Initial jobless claims rose to approximately 227,000, indicating an upward trend in unemployment applications [6] - Major corporations announced workforce reductions, including Meta (600 layoffs), Rivian (over 600 layoffs), and Target (1,800 corporate jobs) [6] - GM laid off over 200 employees, while Amazon plans to replace over half a million jobs with robots in the next seven years [6][14] Upcoming Earnings Reports - The upcoming week is expected to be significant for the Q3 earnings season, with major companies like Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, Apple, and Amazon reporting [7][8] - The "Magnificent 7" companies are anticipated to have a substantial impact on overall market growth, with expected YoY EPS growth of 14.9% compared to 6.7% for the rest of the S&P 500 [7] Conclusion - Despite mixed corporate earnings signals and layoff news, the market closed at record highs, driven by favorable inflation data [12] - The focus will shift back to corporate fundamentals as the "Magnificent 7" prepare to report, which will be crucial for sustaining market growth [12]

Amazon job cuts on Tuesday heavily impacted early to mid-level managers in the retail division, according to internal data obtained by Business Insider. Some employees are now worried Amazon Web Services could be next. More than 78% of the roles eliminated on Tuesday were held by managers assigned L5 to L7 designations, the internal data obtained by BI showed. This data focuses mostly on US operations. L5 is typically the starting point for managers at Amazon, with more seniority assigned to higher levels. ...