DHL is teaming with Shopify to expand international shipping for U.S.-based merchants.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The collaboration, announced Monday (Aug. 25), lets Shopify merchants access DHL ...

E-commerce Platform Policy - Shopify tightened rules against "hateful content" [1] - The policy change occurred roughly a year after removing a similar ban [1] Ethical Concerns - Users are selling racist merchandise using Shopify's e-commerce platform [1]

Economic Overview - The U.S. economy faced significant volatility with mixed signals, as major indexes like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones increased by 0.28% and 1.60%, while the Nasdaq Composite decreased by 0.62% [1] - The Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested the possibility of an interest rate cut as early as September during the Jackson Hole symposium [1] Labor Market Concerns - A slowing labor market is a primary concern for the Federal Reserve, with recent data showing a downward revision of job growth in May and June, and only 73,000 jobs added in July [2] - Despite strong Q2 GDP numbers, labor market and manufacturing data indicate a potential economic slowdown, presenting a dilemma for the Fed between supporting the job market and combating inflation [2] Zacks Research Performance - WisdomTree, Inc. shares increased by 28% since being upgraded to Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) on June 23, outperforming the S&P 500's 8.7% gain [4] - Hafnia Limited shares rose by 14.1% after a Zacks Rank 2 upgrade on June 25, also surpassing the S&P 500's 6.4% increase [5] - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks returned +20.65% in 2023, compared to +24.83% for the S&P 500 index [6] Focus List and Model Portfolios - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +10.91% in 2025 (through July 31) compared to +8.59% for the S&P 500 index [12] - The Top 10 portfolio has delivered a cumulative return of +2,220.4% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's +517.8% return [24] Sector-Specific Performance - Johnson & Johnson and The Hershey Company, part of the Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio, returned 17.2% and 16.8% respectively over the past 12 weeks, driven by investor interest in quality dividend stocks amid market volatility [19] - Mettler-Toledo International Inc. and PepsiCo, part of the Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio, saw returns of 18.6% and 15.7% over the past 12 weeks [15]

Employee & Revenue Performance - Shopify's revenue has grown by 91% since its peak employee count in 2022 [1] - Shopify's employee count decreased from 11,600 to 8,100 [1] - Shopify is generating 91% more revenue with 30% fewer employees [1] Work Ethic & AI Competition - Employees need to fully commit to their work to learn the product effectively [2] - Employees need to dedicate themselves to work to compete with AI that knows the product [2]

Group 1: Investment Principles - Building a strong portfolio requires starting with well-established companies that have robust operations [1] - Diversification is essential; relying on stocks from a single industry is not advisable [2] Group 2: Berkshire Hathaway - Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, is a diversified conglomerate with subsidiaries across various industries, including railroads, energy, insurance, and apparel [4][5] - The company has consistently produced impressive long-term returns, and its diversified operations allow it to navigate economic downturns effectively [5][6] - Greg Abel is set to succeed Buffett as CEO, and the company's philosophy is expected to endure beyond Buffett's tenure [5][6] Group 3: Shopify - Shopify is a leader in e-commerce, providing a platform for merchants to create online storefronts and market their products [8] - The company is experiencing rapid growth in gross merchandise volume and revenue, with significant potential for future growth in the e-commerce sector [9][10] - Despite not being profitable yet, Shopify's market position and growth opportunities make it a strong candidate for a core portfolio holding [10] Group 4: AbbVie - AbbVie is a pharmaceutical leader with a strong lineup of immunology products, including Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are projected to reach combined sales of $31 billion by 2027 [11][12] - The company has a robust pipeline to mitigate the impact of patent expirations, having returned to top-line growth after losing exclusivity for Humira in 2023 [13] - AbbVie offers a forward dividend yield of 3.2% and has a history of 53 consecutive years of dividend increases, making it a reliable income stock [14]

Company Overview - Shopify has emerged as the leading e-commerce platform provider, known for its no-code, customizable site that allows non-programmers to easily set up and launch online stores [4] - The company has built a comprehensive ecosystem that supports online merchants with various ancillary tasks, including payments, email marketing, and AI tools, providing a competitive advantage [5] Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Shopify generated nearly $163 billion in gross merchandise volume, reflecting a 27% year-over-year increase, which resulted in over $5.0 billion in revenue, a 29% yearly surge [9] - Operating income rose by 51% due to controlled expense growth, while net income improved to $224 million from a loss of $102 million in the same period last year [10] - The company forecasts revenue growth in the mid-to-high 20s percentage range, which is expected to positively impact net income [10] Stock Performance and Valuation - Following its earnings report on August 6, 2025, Shopify's stock surged by 22%, although it has since retreated, remaining up over 80% year-over-year [1][2] - The stock's current P/E ratio is around 70, and the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 18, indicating that the stock is considered expensive by some valuation measures [11] - Despite high valuations, Shopify's growth potential may still attract buyers, as such valuations are common among tech-oriented growth stocks [11][12] Market Position and Future Outlook - Shopify's user-friendly sales platform and AI-focused support ecosystem have distinguished it from competitors, driving significant increases in gross merchandise value and revenue [12] - While the stock may face near-term struggles due to its high valuation, long-term growth investors may still find opportunities to profit by adding shares [13]

Group 1: Amazon - Amazon is positioned to be a significant beneficiary of artificial intelligence, despite its stock underperforming the broader market with only a 2% increase in 2025 compared to the S&P 500's 10% return [5][6] - The company reported second-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, yet its stock declined post-report due to market concerns about AI stock valuations and negative inflation indicators [6][7] - Amazon's strengths in AI are undervalued, with its share price increasing by only 37% over the past five years, while the S&P 500 saw a total return of 104% [7] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) maintains a leading position in the cloud data-center market, crucial for AI application development, and is expected to deliver profitable growth [8] - AI and robotics could significantly enhance Amazon's e-commerce operations, potentially leading to long-term margin improvements and substantial earnings growth [10] Group 2: Shopify - Shopify has shown strong performance, with a 31% revenue increase and a 21% rise in operating income in its second quarter, alongside a 27% increase in free cash flow [12] - The company holds a 12% share of the U.S. e-commerce market, which is expected to grow, providing organic growth opportunities [13] - Shopify is evolving into a total commerce platform, offering services beyond e-commerce, including payment processing and omnichannel solutions [13] - The company is expanding its market presence by capturing medium and large business segments, adding notable clients like Allbirds and Starbucks [14] - Shopify's European gross merchandise volume increased by 42% year-over-year in the second quarter, indicating strong global growth potential [15]

Core Insights - Amazon and Shopify represent two distinct approaches to capturing e-commerce growth, with Amazon being a vertically integrated giant and Shopify focusing on enabling merchants through a platform-as-a-service model [1][2] Amazon (AMZN) Overview - Amazon's second-quarter earnings showed net sales of $167.7 billion, a 13% increase, and operating income of $19.2 billion, up 31% year over year, indicating strong operational efficiency [4] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) generated $30.87 billion in revenue, an 18% year-over-year increase, maintaining its leadership in the cloud infrastructure market [4][9] - The advertising segment grew 23% year over year to $15.69 billion, positioning Amazon as the third-largest digital advertising platform globally [5] - Strategic initiatives include expanding same-day and next-day delivery, launching generative AI tools, and introducing Alexa+, with projected net sales for Q3 between $174 billion and $179.5 billion, reflecting 10-13% growth [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $6.7 per share, indicating a 21.16% increase from the previous year [7] Shopify (SHOP) Overview - Shopify's second-quarter revenues surged 31% year over year to $2.68 billion, with gross merchandise volume (GMV) increasing 31% to $74.75 billion [8] - International GMV grew 42% year over year, particularly in European markets, and the B2B segment saw GMV increase by 101% [10] - Shopify's free cash flow margin was 16% in Q2, with eight consecutive quarters of double-digit margins [8] - Recent product innovations include AI-driven tools that enhance commerce capabilities, although challenges include slowing monthly recurring revenue growth and profitability pressures [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $1.44 per share, reflecting a 10.77% increase from the previous year [11] Valuation and Performance Comparison - Amazon's forward P/E ratio is 30.61x, while Shopify's is significantly higher at 83.64x, indicating a more attractive risk-adjusted valuation for Amazon [12] - Year-to-date performance shows Amazon up 3.6% with stability, while Shopify has experienced higher volatility [14] - Amazon's mature business model generates substantial free cash flow, providing flexibility for capital allocation, contrasting with Shopify's reinvestment needs [14] Conclusion - Amazon is identified as the more compelling investment opportunity due to its diversification, stronger financial foundation, and attractive valuation, with multiple growth drivers across e-commerce, cloud computing, and advertising [16] - Investors are advised to monitor Amazon for entry points, while Shopify may require better entry opportunities due to its stretched valuation [16]

Core Viewpoint - Shopify's recent stock price decline is perceived as profit-taking following a strong earnings report, rather than a fundamental downturn in the company's performance [2][9]. Group 1: Earnings Performance - Shopify's Q2 earnings were exceptional, marking the second-highest revenue in its history, excluding seasonal holiday quarters [3]. - The company returned to profitability after a previous loss, indicating that earlier financial struggles were likely temporary [4]. - Shopify ended the quarter with billions in cash and minimal debt, positioning itself for continued investment in growth areas such as platform development and AI tools [4]. Group 2: Analyst Support - Analysts remain optimistic about Shopify, with Citigroup maintaining a Buy rating and raising its price target to $195, suggesting nearly 40% upside from current levels [5][6]. - Other firms like Evercore ISI and KeyCorp have also expressed positive sentiments regarding Shopify's international expansion and B2B initiatives, which are expected to enhance long-term growth and profitability [6][7]. - The consensus among analysts is that Shopify is still in the midst of its growth trajectory, with any current dips viewed as buying opportunities [7]. Group 3: Market Conditions - The broader market environment is favorable for growth stocks, with indices at or near highs, supporting the bullish outlook for Shopify [8]. - The recent stock weakness is interpreted as profit-taking rather than a shift in market sentiment, as evidenced by quick rebounds in stock price following dips [9][10]. - Technical indicators suggest strong underlying demand for Shopify shares, with potential for the stock to test previous highs around $160 [10].

Core Insights - Shopify is experiencing growth driven by its Subscription solutions segment, which generated $656 million in revenue for Q2 2025, accounting for 24.5% of total revenues, reflecting a 16.5% year-over-year increase [1][10] - The extension of the paid trial period to three months for standard plans is enhancing merchant engagement and business success [2] - Shopify's platform caters to a wide range of merchants, including enterprise clients like Canada Goose and Starbucks, indicating its broad market appeal [3] Subscription Solutions Performance - Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) reached $185 million in Q2 2025, marking a 9.5% year-over-year increase, with Shopify Plus contributing 35% of MRR [4][10] - The growth in MRR is attributed to new merchants joining and existing merchants upgrading to higher-tier plans [4] Competitive Landscape - Shopify faces significant competition from Commerce.com and Wix.com in the e-commerce sector [5] - Commerce.com reported Subscription solutions revenue of $63.7 million in Q2 2025, up 3% year-over-year, showcasing its competitive positioning [6] - Wix.com achieved Creative Subscriptions revenue of $345.5 million in Q2 2025, reflecting an 11% year-over-year growth, indicating its strong market presence [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - Shopify's stock has increased by 29.1% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 11.8% return [8] - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 14.71X, significantly higher than the sector's 9.75X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 earnings is 34 cents per share, a slight decline from the previous estimate, while the estimate for 2025 earnings is $1.44 per share, indicating a 10.77% year-over-year growth [13]