Amazon stock falls after earnings on $200 billion capex plan

Core Insights - Amazon's fourth-quarter earnings revealed two contrasting aspects: a profitable, streamlined operation and a company aggressively investing in future technologies [1][2] - CEO Andy Jassy announced a significant capital expenditure plan of approximately $200 billion by 2026, focusing on AI, chips, robotics, and low earth orbit satellites, which raised concerns among investors [2] - Despite strong quarterly performance, including revenue exceeding $211.4 billion and AWS achieving its fastest growth in 13 quarters, the market reacted negatively to the high spending plans [3][5] Financial Performance - Amazon's revenue for the quarter surpassed analyst expectations, while earnings per share were reported at $1.95, slightly below the anticipated $1.97 [3] - AWS showed robust growth, contributing to the overall positive financial results, with advertising revenue increasing by 23% and custom chips experiencing triple-digit growth [3] Market Sentiment - The current market environment is focused on evaluating the justification for large capital expenditures rather than just the financial results themselves [4] - Investors are becoming increasingly cautious about Big Tech's spending plans, particularly in AI infrastructure, with expectations of over $500 billion in spending by 2026 [4] - Amazon's guidance for future spending has led to skepticism, placing it in a less favorable category compared to peers who demonstrate a balance of spending and growth [5]