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Should You Buy Amazon Stock Before Oct. 31?
AmazonAmazon(US:AMZN) The Motley Foolยท2025-10-16 07:02

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is facing both challenges and opportunities as it approaches its third-quarter earnings release on October 31, with significant attention from investors on its performance across various business segments [1][3]. Digital Retail Challenges - The uncertainty surrounding the long-term impact of tariffs poses a potential risk to Amazon's online retail business, which could materially affect quarterly results [2][4]. - Amazon's third-party merchants account for 62% of unit sales, with 24% of revenue derived from seller fees, many of which involve goods imported from China, raising concerns about the impact of tariffs [5][6]. Cloud Computing Growth - Amazon Web Services (AWS) remains the leading player in cloud infrastructure, holding a 30% market share and experiencing a 17% year-over-year growth, contributing 18% of Amazon's total revenue and 53% of its operating income [7]. - The CEO believes that generative AI will serve as a significant catalyst for AWS, as more applications and data are expected to run within its infrastructure [8][10]. Advertising Revenue Expansion - Amazon's advertising segment is rapidly growing, with a 23% year-over-year increase in ad revenue, driven by live sports programming and Amazon Prime Video [8][9]. - The advertising business has evolved from a supplementary revenue stream to a major growth avenue, with initiatives including partnerships with Roku and expansion into platforms like Freevee and Twitch [9]. Investment Sentiment - A strong majority of analysts are bullish on Amazon, with 96% rating the stock as a buy or strong buy, and an average price target suggesting a 23% upside [11]. - Mizuho analyst has set a price target of $300, indicating potential gains of 38%, citing strong demand and additional AWS capacity as key drivers [12]. Valuation Perspective - Amazon's stock is currently trading at approximately 33 times trailing 12-month earnings, which is below its three-year average multiple of 76, suggesting it may be undervalued from a historical standpoint [13].