4 Reasons to Buy Amazon Stock Now

Core Insights - The recent underperformance of Amazon's stock presents a buying opportunity as the company balances heavy infrastructure spending with improving profitability in cloud, advertising, and retail [1][2] Business Segments - Amazon's cloud computing business, AWS, is a significant profit driver, contributing over half of the total operating income in Q2 despite being less than one-fifth of total sales [3][4] - AWS revenue increased by 17.5% year over year to $30.9 billion in Q2, with an operating income of $10.2 billion, representing 53% of Amazon's total operating income [5] - Advertising services have emerged as a second profit pillar, with revenue rising 23% year over year to $15.7 billion in Q2, reflecting strong growth in sponsored products ads [6] Financial Strength - Amazon maintains a healthy balance sheet with $93.1 billion in cash and marketable securities, significantly exceeding its long-term debt of $50.7 billion, allowing for continued investment in AI and logistics [7] - The trailing-twelve-month operating cash flow stands at $121.1 billion, supporting heavy spending without straining the balance sheet [7] Customer Engagement - Amazon Prime membership is crucial for customer loyalty, with subscription services revenue increasing by 12% year over year to $12.2 billion in Q2, indicating strong member retention [8][9] - The Prime ecosystem enhances customer engagement across Amazon's services, contributing to revenue diversity and resilience [9] Valuation and Growth Potential - Amazon shares currently trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 34, which may appear high but could be justified if AWS and advertising continue to grow faster than the overall business [11] - The combination of high-margin revenue from AWS and advertising, a robust balance sheet, and a loyal Prime customer base positions Amazon for resilient growth [10][13]