Market Overview - US stock futures showed a cautious rebound after a week of losses, with S&P 500 futures rising 0.4% and Nasdaq 100 futures increasing by approximately 0.6% [1] - Despite the rebound, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are set for weekly losses, having entered negative territory for 2026 [2] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin climbed back above $65,000 after hitting a 16-month low, although it is on track for its worst weekly performance since 2022 [3] - Strategy (MSTR), significantly impacted by the crypto downturn, reported a quarterly loss but saw its stock rise over 6% as bitcoin prices recovered and the CEO downplayed debt concerns [4] Technology Sector - Amazon (AMZN) shares fell 8% following its earnings report, which included plans for a substantial increase in spending to at least $200 billion by 2026, despite a forecast for lower operating income [5] - Concerns about the impact of new AI tools on legacy tech were dismissed by Big Tech CEOs and analysts, contributing to a tentative risk-on sentiment in the market [2] Automotive Industry - Stellantis (STLA) announced a charge of over €22 billion ($26 billion) to scale back its electric vehicle (EV) initiatives, leading to a more than 20% drop in its shares [6] - The automotive sector is facing challenges, highlighted by a $60 billion loss for Chinese carmaker BYD this week, indicating broader issues in the EV market [6] Labor Market - The release of the January jobs report has been postponed to the following Wednesday, amid emerging signs of labor market troubles, including a drop in job openings to the lowest level since 2020 and a surge in layoff announcements [7]

US stocks turned higher early Friday, pointing cautiously to a rebound from a week-long tech bruising as Wall Street reassessed worries about the impact of AI disruption and the risks of hefty Big Tech spending. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) added roughly 0.4%, retracing earlier premarket losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also switched course, moving up 0.8% on the heels of sharp closing losses across the board on Thursday. Wall Street is looking to end ...

Core Insights - The article discusses Amazon's significant increase in capital expenditures (capex), projecting it to reach $200 billion by 2026, which is substantially higher than previous estimates of around $140 billion and consensus estimates of approximately $146 billion [2][5][4] - The acceleration of Amazon Web Services (AWS) growth to 24% is highlighted as a positive aspect, exceeding market expectations of 21-22% [2][3] - The competitive landscape among major tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Meta, is driving aggressive investments in compute resources to meet rising AI demand [7][19] Capital Expenditures - Amazon's capex for 2026 is projected at $200 billion, representing a 50% increase from 2025, which itself was a 60% increase from 2024 [3][4] - Analysts had previously estimated a much lower capex, indicating a significant upward revision in spending expectations [5][2] - The high capex is seen as necessary for Amazon to capture AI demand and maintain its competitive edge [4][19] AWS Growth - AWS growth has accelerated to 24%, which is a critical metric for evaluating the effectiveness of Amazon's increased spending [2][12] - Analysts expect AWS growth estimates to rise further due to the substantial capex commitment [12] - AWS margins have been solid, hovering around the mid-30% range, with potential for further improvement [12][13] Competitive Landscape - Major tech companies are competing for compute resources, which are essential for sustaining market advantages in the AI space [7][19] - Amazon's previous underinvestment in compute resources is acknowledged, emphasizing the need for increased spending to avoid falling behind competitors [9][19] - The demand for compute resources remains high, with companies like Nvidia experiencing sustained demand for their products [9][19] Long-term Outlook - The long-term growth potential for Amazon is supported by its high-margin businesses, including AWS and advertising, which are expected to drive significant operating margin expansion over the next 5 to 10 years [23][24] - Amazon is projected to exceed $1 trillion in annual revenue within the next decade, indicating substantial earnings potential [24] - The perception of Amazon as playing catch-up in the AI space is acknowledged, but the company is making progress in scaling its capabilities [25][28]

Core Insights - Amazon's stock has declined over 7% in extended trading after missing quarterly earnings estimates and announcing a significant increase in AI spending, which surprised investors [1][1] - The company plans to invest up to $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, exceeding analysts' expectations of approximately $160 billion [1][1] - CEO Andy Jassy expressed confidence in a "strong long-term return" on these investments, particularly highlighting the growth in Amazon Web Services (AWS) [1][1] Financial Performance - Amazon's total revenue for the fourth quarter reached a record $213.4 billion, driven by a 24% year-over-year growth in AWS revenue, which amounted to $35.6 billion [1][1] - Earnings per share for the quarter were reported at $1.95, slightly below analyst consensus [1][1] - The company anticipates first-quarter revenue between $173.5 billion and $178.5 billion, with analysts expecting $175.38 billion [1][1] Market Context - Amazon's stock performance has been notably weak among the "Magnificent Seven," with a year-to-date decline of about 4% as of Thursday's close [1][1] - Other major tech companies, including Microsoft and Google, have also faced stock declines following announcements of increased spending forecasts in AI [1][1]

Core Insights - Amazon Web Services (AWS) achieved its strongest quarterly growth rate in over three years, with a revenue of $35.6 billion in Q4 2025, representing a 24% year-on-year increase and the largest growth rate in 13 quarters [2][3] Revenue and Financial Performance - AWS's annual revenue run rate is $142 billion, with operating income rising to $12.5 billion in Q4 2025 from $10.6 billion in Q4 2024 [2] - AWS contributed 16.6% to Amazon's overall revenue of $213.4 billion in Q4 [7] Competitive Positioning - CEO Andy Jassy highlighted that AWS's 24% growth on a $142 billion run rate is more significant than competitors' higher percentage growth on smaller bases, emphasizing AWS's leadership in incremental revenue and capacity [3] - AWS has secured new agreements with major companies and government entities, including Salesforce, BlackRock, Perplexity, and the U.S. Air Force, which fueled the fourth-quarter growth [3] Market Trends and Customer Demand - A significant portion of AWS's business comes from enterprises transitioning from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud, alongside a boost from the AI sector due to AWS's comprehensive AI stack functionality [5][7] - AWS is seeing increased demand as customers run large AI workloads, which contributes to expanding their core AWS footprint [7] Infrastructure Expansion - In Q4, AWS added over a gigawatt of power to its data center network, indicating ongoing infrastructure growth [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $213.4 billion, a 12% increase year-over-year, excluding foreign exchange impacts [5][28] - Operating income was $25 billion, which included special charges that reduced operating income by $2.4 billion [28][29] - Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $11.2 billion [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - AWS revenue grew to $35.6 billion, with a growth rate of 24% year-over-year, marking the fastest growth in 13 quarters [7][35] - North America segment revenue was $127.1 billion, up 10% year-over-year, while the international segment revenue was $50.7 billion, up 11% year-over-year [30] - The company saw a 12% growth in worldwide paid units, the highest quarterly growth rate in 2025 [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expanded its grocery business significantly, achieving over $150 billion in gross sales, making it a large grocer in the U.S. [19] - Same-day delivery for Prime members increased by nearly 70% year-over-year, with significant growth in rural areas [20][21] - Advertising revenue grew 22% year-over-year, reaching $21.3 billion in the quarter [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI, chips, low Earth orbit satellites, and quick commerce as key growth areas [5][17] - Investments in AWS are expected to drive long-term returns on invested capital, with a focus on optimizing server capacity and developing custom silicon [35][44] - The company plans to expand its grocery delivery services and open over 100 new Whole Foods Market stores in the coming years [19][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the demand for AI services and the potential for significant growth in this area [44][60] - The company is optimistic about the future of its retail business, emphasizing the importance of speed of delivery and customer experience [75] - Management acknowledged the unpredictable nature of financial results due to various external factors, including economic conditions and customer demand [4] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest approximately $200 billion in capital expenditures, predominantly in AWS [17] - The company has launched new AI services and products, including Nova Forge and Trainium chips, to enhance its offerings [12][14] - The company achieved its fastest-ever delivery speeds for Prime members while reducing costs to serve [33] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Insights on long-term return on invested capital - Management discussed the strong demand for AI services and the expected long-term returns from investments in AWS, emphasizing the importance of monetizing capacity quickly [40][42][44] Question: Update on Project Rainier and financial guardrails - Management confirmed that Project Rainier is progressing well, with significant interest in Trainium chips, and discussed the importance of maintaining financial discipline during the investment cycle [49][51] Question: Changes in the AI market and relationships with companies like OpenAI - Management described the AI market as barbelled, with significant demand from both AI labs and enterprises, and expressed optimism about extending partnerships with companies like OpenAI [56][62] Question: Retail business efficiency and investment areas - Management highlighted the importance of expanding selection and improving delivery speed while also focusing on cost efficiencies in the retail business [72][74]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $213.4 billion, a 12% increase year-over-year, excluding foreign exchange impacts [5][28] - Operating income was $25 billion, which included special charges that reduced operating income by $2.4 billion [28][29] - Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $11.2 billion [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - AWS revenue grew to $35.6 billion, with a growth rate of 24% year-over-year, marking the fastest growth in 13 quarters [7][35] - North America segment revenue was $127.1 billion, up 10% year-over-year, while international segment revenue was $50.7 billion, up 11% year-over-year [30] - Advertising revenue reached $21.3 billion, growing 22% year-over-year [23][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company saw worldwide paid units grow by 12% year-over-year, the highest quarterly growth rate in 2025 [30] - The grocery segment achieved over $150 billion in gross sales, establishing the company as a significant player in the grocery market [19] - Same-day delivery for Prime members increased by nearly 70% year-over-year [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its capabilities in AI, chips, and quick commerce, aiming to build a more meaningful business [5][17] - Investments in AWS and custom silicon are expected to drive long-term returns on invested capital [41][43] - The company plans to open over 100 new Whole Foods Market Stores and expand grocery delivery services [19][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the demand for AWS services and the potential for AI to transform customer experiences [44][46] - The company is optimistic about the growth of its Trainium and Graviton chips, which are expected to enhance price performance and drive revenue [50][52] - The management highlighted the importance of maintaining competitive pricing and improving customer experience in retail [38][70] Other Important Information - The company achieved its fastest-ever delivery speeds for Prime members while reducing costs to serve [33] - The introduction of new features like "Add to Delivery" has significantly improved customer convenience [21][22] - The company is actively working on expanding its AI capabilities and partnerships, including with OpenAI [61][62] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: Insights on long-term return on invested capital - Management discussed the ongoing investments in AWS and AI, emphasizing the strong demand and potential for long-term returns [41][42] Question: Update on Project Rainier and financial guardrails - Management confirmed strong growth in Trainium and clarified the ongoing commitment to AI investments while maintaining financial discipline [50][54] Question: Changes in the AI market and relationships with companies like OpenAI - Management described the AI market as barbelled, with significant opportunities for enterprises to leverage AI, and expressed optimism about extending partnerships with AI companies [57][62] Question: Retail business efficiency and investment areas - Management outlined the dual focus on expanding selection and improving delivery speed while also identifying areas for cost savings [72][74]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $213.4 billion, a 12% increase year-over-year, excluding foreign exchange impacts [5][29] - Operating income was $25 billion, which included special charges that reduced operating income by $2.4 billion [29] - Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $11.2 billion, reflecting strong growth [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - AWS revenue grew to $35.6 billion, with a growth rate of 24% year-over-year, marking the fastest growth in 13 quarters [6][35] - The North America segment revenue was $127.1 billion, up 10% year-over-year, while the international segment revenue was $50.7 billion, up 11% year-over-year [30] - The company saw a 12% increase in worldwide paid units, the highest quarterly growth rate in 2025 [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expanded its grocery business significantly, achieving over $150 billion in gross sales, making it a large grocer [19] - Same-day delivery for Prime members increased by nearly 70% year-over-year, with significant adoption of perishable grocery services [20][33] - Advertising revenue grew 22% year-over-year, reaching $21.3 billion in the quarter [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI, chips, and quick commerce as key growth areas, with strong demand already observed [5][6] - Investments in AWS and custom silicon are expected to drive long-term returns on invested capital [41][44] - The company plans to expand its grocery offerings and improve delivery speeds, aiming to enhance customer experience [19][33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the unpredictability of results due to various external factors, including economic conditions and customer demand [4] - The company remains optimistic about the future, particularly in AI and cloud services, expecting continued strong demand [44][46] - Management emphasized the importance of customer experience and operational efficiency as key drivers for long-term value creation [39] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest approximately $200 billion in capital expenditures, predominantly in AWS [17] - The launch of Amazon Leo aims to provide connectivity in underserved areas, with significant interest from enterprise customers [27][37] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on long-term return on invested capital - Management discussed the strong demand for AI services and the expected long-term returns from current investments, emphasizing the importance of operational efficiencies [41][42][44] Question: Update on Project Rainier and financial guardrails - Management expressed excitement about the growth of Trainium and its applications, noting that the project is progressing well and has significant interest [51][52][56] Question: Changes in the AI market and relationships with companies like OpenAI - Management described the AI market as barbelled, with significant opportunities in enterprise production workloads and expressed optimism about extending partnerships with AI companies [59][60][64] Question: Retail business efficiency and investment areas - Management highlighted ongoing investments in expanding selection and improving delivery speeds while also identifying areas for cost efficiencies [73][75]

Let's get to some earnings now because Amazon's fourth quarter results are just hitting the wire. You can see we're dropping initially here a quick 8%. Q4 EPS $1.95%.The street was at a $1.96%. Uh looks like Q4 net sales I see 213.39% billion. The estimate was 211.49% billion.Uh Q4 AWS net sales XFX up 24%. The estimate was 21%. Just to break that out, it looks like that was 35.58% billion.The street was at 34.88% billion. Q4 operating margins 11.7%. That looks smack in line with what the street was looking ...

Amazon, controlled by billionaire Jeff Bezos, said profits grew by 31pc last year - Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg Amazon shares plunged on Thursday night, continuing a tech industry sell-off, after it outlined a $200bn (£148bn) spending surge on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Andy Jassy, the company’s chief executive, said the tech giant’s capital expenditure would grow by around 60pc this year as its giant cloud computing business attempts to keep ahead of rivals. The spending plans came ...