ZACKS·2025-12-02 21:51Group 1: Consumer Spending Trends - Black Friday spending reached approximately $11.8 billion, a record high compared to last year's $10.8 billion [1] - The strong consumer spending indicates continued consumer strength and robust demand for the holiday season, positively impacting the economy [1][12] Group 2: Amazon (AMZN) Insights - Amazon is a major beneficiary of the holiday shopping season, with millions of orders placed during this period [3] - The company had its strongest holiday season last year, and current consumer spending data suggests a favorable outlook for this year [3] - Despite disappointing stock performance in 2025, analysts have revised EPS expectations upward, anticipating 30% adjusted EPS growth on 12% higher sales [5] Group 3: Shopify (SHOP) Performance - Shopify reported record-breaking sales figures during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, with $14.6 billion in global sales, a 27% increase from 2024 [10] - Over 81 million consumers purchased from Shopify-powered brands, and more than 15,800 entrepreneurs made their first sale on the platform [10] - Shopify's growth story reflects its resilience during the pandemic era, continuing to thrive in the current market [9][13]