This Washington-Based Company Could Be a Smart Buy for Growth Investors

Core Insights - Amazon's stock is considered a smart buy due to its strong demand and growth potential, particularly in its core businesses like e-commerce and cloud computing [5][7][15] - The company's cloud-computing arm, Amazon Web Services (AWS), is experiencing significant demand, with performance obligations reaching $195 billion, up nearly 25% year-over-year [10][15] - Despite recent challenges, such as an AWS outage, Amazon's overall importance in the global market remains high, indicating resilience and ongoing relevance [3][4] Financial Performance - Amazon's market capitalization stands at $2,605 billion, with a current stock price of $244.63, reflecting a 9.77% increase [6] - AWS generated 69% of Amazon's operating income in the second quarter of 2025, highlighting its critical role in the company's profitability [7][9] - The gross margin for Amazon is reported at 49.61%, indicating strong profitability [6] Growth Potential - The demand for AWS is driven by generative AI applications, with CEO Andy Jassy noting that the segment has "more demand than we have supplied for at the moment" [10] - Capital expenditures (capex) for Amazon reached $31 billion in the last quarter, with expectations to maintain this level to meet rising demand for AI applications [14] - The company is well-positioned for continued growth, as trends indicate strong future demand for both e-commerce and cloud services [15]