Amazon(US:AMZN) The Motley Fool·2025-12-10 11:30Core Viewpoint - Amazon's stock has underperformed in 2025, rising only 6% compared to the S&P 500's 16% increase, but there are expectations for a strong rebound in 2026 driven by its cloud computing and advertising services [1][2]. Business Segments - Amazon's e-commerce division, while the largest by revenue at $67.4 billion, grew only 10% year over year in Q3, making it the third-slowest-growing segment [4]. - Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced a significant growth of 20% year over year in Q3, contributing 66% of Amazon's operating income despite accounting for only 18% of total revenue [8][9]. - Advertising services have become Amazon's fastest-growing segment, with a 24% increase in ad revenue in Q3, indicating a positive trend heading into 2026 [9]. Future Outlook - The success of AWS and advertising services is expected to drive Amazon's stock performance in 2026, with potential for market-beating returns if Q3 results continue [10]. - Amazon's stock is currently valued at nearly 30 times next year's earnings, which is a premium compared to its historical valuation, posing a risk if the stock underperforms again [11][13]. - Despite the valuation concerns, if Amazon maintains strong performance, it is considered a stock worth buying now [13].