Amazon (AMZN -1.93%) has been a stellar performing stock over the past few years, and its growth trajectory has taken it to a $2.37 trillion valuation at the time of this writing. Still, some investors believe there is significant upside in Amazon's stock, and that it could reach a $5 trillion market capitalization by the end of 2030. That's a 111% gain from today's levels, which would likely be a market-crushing return over the five-and-a- half-year assessment period. So, is the $5 trillion level a dream o ...

Apple (AAPL -0.22%) and Amazon (AMZN -1.42%) are two of the largest companies in the world and are both members of the "Magnificent Seven" group of stocks. Both companies have delivered excellent long-term returns for shareholders, but does either investment stand out as a better one to buy right now?Let's take a look at both companies and see which one is the best buy today. Both companies have relatively slow revenue growthAmazon and Apple aren't the pinnacle of growth for big tech. Each company has poste ...

Core Insights - Amazon's e-commerce business is not the primary profit driver, with other segments contributing more significantly to profits [1] - AWS generates the majority of Amazon's operating profits, accounting for 63% of operating profits in Q1 with a 40% operating margin [3][10] - The advertising segment is the fastest-growing part of Amazon's business, with an 18% year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 [6][10] Revenue Breakdown - Online stores generated $57.4 billion in Q1, growing 5% year-over-year, making up 37% of total revenue [2] - Third-party seller services brought in $36.5 billion, with a 6% growth, accounting for 23% of total revenue [2] - AWS revenue was $29.3 billion, growing 17% year-over-year, representing 19% of total revenue [2] - Advertising services generated $13.9 billion, with an 18% growth, making up 9% of total revenue [2] Profit Contribution - AWS and advertising services combined accounted for an estimated 86% of Amazon's operating profits in Q1 [10] - If advertising services are assumed to have a 30% operating margin, they would have generated approximately $4.2 billion in operating profits, contributing about 23% to total operating profits [9][10] Future Outlook - AWS is expected to continue strong growth due to the increasing demand for cloud computing, particularly in AI infrastructure [4][5] - Advertising growth may face challenges during economic downturns, but Q1 figures suggest resilience, and potential shifts in product pricing could lead to increased advertising needs [11][12]

Financial Performance - Amazon reported Q1 2025 earnings of $1.59 per share, exceeding estimates by 17.78% and showing a year-over-year increase of 40.7% [1] - Net sales for the quarter reached $155.7 billion, a 9% increase from the previous year, slightly above expectations [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 net sales is $693.74 billion, indicating an 8.74% growth from the prior year [2] Future Guidance - For Q2 2025, Amazon expects net sales between $159.0 billion and $164.0 billion, representing a growth of 7-11% compared to Q2 2024 [1] - The company's operating income guidance for Q2 is between $13.0 billion and $17.5 billion, which is below the market expectation of $17.7 billion, leading to a 5% drop in after-hours trading [1] Market Challenges - The cautious second-quarter guidance is attributed to uncertainties surrounding tariffs on Chinese imports, affecting pricing strategies and consumer demand [6] - Despite these challenges, management noted that they have not yet observed a decline in demand, with some categories experiencing increased buying [6] Business Segments Performance - Amazon Web Services (AWS) continues to show strong growth, with a 17% year-over-year increase, reaching a $117 billion annualized revenue run rate [8] - AWS operating income rose 23% to $11.5 billion, with operating margins of 39.5% [8] - Advertising services also performed well, growing 19% year-over-year to $13.9 billion, showcasing Amazon's ability to monetize its consumer base [9] AI Investments - Amazon's investments in artificial intelligence (AI) are accelerating, with the AI business achieving a multi-billion dollar annual revenue run rate and triple-digit percentage growth year-over-year [11] - The company has introduced new AI models and expanded access to its Nova foundation models, positioning itself competitively in the AI space [12][13] Competitive Landscape - Competition in the AI sector is intensifying, with advancements from major tech companies like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Google [14] - Amazon's stock has underperformed year-to-date, declining 12.9%, compared to the broader Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and S&P 500 [15] Valuation Concerns - Amazon's forward 12-month Price-to-Sales ratio is 2.79X, significantly higher than the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry average of 1.86X, raising questions about near-term upside potential [19] - Free cash flow has decreased to $25.9 billion for the trailing 12 months, down from $50.1 billion the previous year, reflecting aggressive capital investments [20][21] Investment Perspective - Maintaining positions in Amazon shares is considered prudent for current investors due to the company's long-term growth trajectory and leadership in cloud computing [24] - Prospective investors may consider waiting for a better entry point, especially with tariff concerns potentially causing volatility [24][25]