Will Tariffs Crush Amazon? Here's 1 Metric That Says It Will Be Just Fine

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is expected to withstand the impact of tariffs due to its diversified revenue streams, particularly from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and advertising, rather than relying solely on retail sales [1][9]. Revenue and Profit Breakdown - Amazon's revenue and operating profits over the past 12 months are as follows: - North America: Revenue of $387.5 billion and operating profit of $25 billion - International: Revenue of $142.9 billion and operating profit of $3.8 billion - AWS: Revenue of $107.6 billion and operating profit of $39.8 billion - AWS, while contributing only 17% of total revenue, accounts for 58% of operating profits due to higher margins compared to commerce divisions [3][6]. Impact of Tariffs on AWS - The potential impact of tariffs on AWS is uncertain, as cloud computing workloads are typically stable once established. However, a slowdown in client spending could affect AWS growth [4][5]. Advertising Revenue - Advertising has become a significant part of Amazon's revenue, constituting 15% of total revenue in Q4. The operating margin for this segment is not disclosed, but estimates suggest it could be around 30%, potentially generating about $5.2 billion in operating profits [6][7]. Economic Considerations - An economic slowdown could lead to reduced advertising budgets, but some companies may still invest in advertising for new products from other countries, which could mitigate the impact [8]. Long-term Outlook - Despite potential revenue impacts from tariffs, Amazon's overall profit structure remains robust, making it a viable long-term investment [9].