Is Washington-Based Amazon a No-Brainer Buy for Long-Term Investors?

Core Insights - Amazon exemplifies resilience and innovation, evolving from an online bookstore to a global leader in e-commerce and cloud computing [1][2] - With a market capitalization of $2.3 trillion, Amazon is the fifth-largest publicly traded company and presents a compelling growth story for long-term investors [2] Company Evolution - Amazon started in 1995 as an online bookstore, quickly expanding its offerings to include music, DVDs, and third-party marketplace sales, which significantly boosted its e-commerce capabilities [3][4] - The introduction of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2002 marked a pivotal moment, alongside innovations like Amazon Prime and Kindle, solidifying its market position [4] AWS Significance - AWS is a major growth driver for Amazon, with the global cloud computing market projected to grow from $752 billion in 2024 to nearly $2.4 trillion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 20.4% [6] - In Q2 2025, AWS reported a profit margin of 32.9%, contributing over half of Amazon's net income of $18.16 billion, highlighting its critical role in the company's profitability [9] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Amazon's North American e-commerce generated net sales of $100.068 billion, while AWS's operating income was significantly higher at $10.160 billion, showcasing the disparity in profitability between segments [8] - Amazon's earnings per share increased to $1.71 from $1.29 year-over-year, indicating strong financial performance driven by AWS [9] Future Outlook - Amazon holds a 30% market share in cloud computing, leading competitors like Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, and plans to invest $100 billion in AI infrastructure, viewing it as a unique opportunity [11] - The company aims to expand its international e-commerce presence while enhancing its infrastructure and global selling programs, positioning itself for continued growth [11][12]