What's Driving AMZN Stock Higher?

Core Insights - Amazon stock (NASDAQ: AMZN) has appreciated 16% over the last year, closely mirroring the NASDAQ's 14% increase, despite experiencing significant volatility [2][3] - The stock saw a peak above $240 in January, followed by a decline of over 30% to just below $170 by April, primarily due to trade policy impacts [2] - Since the start of 2024, AMZN stock has surged 43%, driven by strong revenue growth and strategic investments [3] Revenue Growth - Amazon's revenue grew by 13% since 2023, reaching $650 billion, with North America sales climbing by 10% and international sales by 9% [4][7] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) was the main growth driver, soaring by 19%, highlighting the effectiveness of Amazon's strategic diversification [4] Valuation and Profitability - Amazon's operating margin expanded by 72% since 2023, increasing from 6.4% to 11.0%, significantly enhancing overall profitability [6] - The price-to-sales (P/S) ratio increased by 30%, from 2.8x in 2023 to 3.6x currently, reflecting improved investor perception [6][7] Future Outlook - AWS is expected to remain vital for Amazon's expansion, although competition from Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud is intensifying [5] - Amazon anticipates low double-digit sales growth over the next three years, with notable increases in bottom-line growth expected due to strategic AI investments [10] - AI initiatives are projected to enhance various business segments, improving product recommendations and ad targeting, which could lead to higher conversion rates and average order values [9][10]