Amazon Set to Report Q3 Earnings: Should Investors Buy the Stock?

Core Insights - Amazon is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on October 30, with expected net sales between $174 billion and $179.5 billion, reflecting a growth of 10-13% year-over-year, despite a negative impact of approximately 130 basis points from foreign exchange rates [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings is $1.58 per share, indicating a growth of 10.49% from the previous year [2] Financial Performance - Current estimates for third-quarter earnings per share have shown a slight upward trend, with the latest estimate at $1.58 compared to $1.54 three months ago [3] - Amazon has a strong earnings surprise history, with a 26.32% surprise in the last quarter and an average surprise of 22.98% over the last four quarters [6] Business Segments and Growth Drivers - Amazon's e-commerce and cloud markets are benefiting from strong performance, with AWS revenues projected to grow 18.4% year-over-year to $32.49 billion, driven by AI infrastructure investments [9][11] - The advertising business generated $15.69 billion in the second quarter of 2025, representing a 23% year-over-year growth, supported by new innovations and expanded capabilities [14][15] - The online stores segment is estimated to generate $66.3 billion in revenues, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase, aided by enhanced product discovery tools and AI features [21][22] Strategic Initiatives - Amazon's Prime Day event in July 2025 resulted in record sales, with U.S. e-commerce sales reaching $24.1 billion, showcasing strong momentum [16] - The company expanded same-day grocery delivery to over 1,000 cities, integrating thousands of perishable items into its delivery network, which is expected to enhance customer engagement and competitive positioning [19][20] Market Position and Valuation - Amazon's shares have gained 3.6% year-to-date, underperforming compared to the broader Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and the S&P 500 index [23] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 3.14X, indicating a premium valuation compared to the industry average of 2.23X [27] Investment Thesis - Amazon presents a compelling buy opportunity ahead of its earnings report, driven by strategic initiatives in AWS, advertising, and grocery expansion, which are expected to support long-term shareholder value creation [30] - The convergence of multiple growth engines, including cloud computing, digital advertising, and e-commerce innovation, positions Amazon for robust growth [31]