Business
Amazon exceeds profit and revenue expectations thanks to strong cloud growth.
Amazon significantly exceeded both earnings and revenue expectations in the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to strong growth in the AWS cloud segment.
The world's largest online retailer Amazon significantly exceeded analysts' expectations with its financial results in the third quarter of 2024. The company achieved earnings per share (EPS) of $1.43, compared to $0.96 in the same quarter last year, surpassing the projected $1.14. Revenue increased by eleven percent to $158.9 billion, exceeding the expected $157.28 billion.
The performance of the cloud segment AWS (Amazon Web Services), which is considered the company's profit gem, is particularly noteworthy. AWS's operating income increased by almost 50 percent to $10.4 billion, while revenue rose by nearly a fifth to $27.5 billion compared to the previous year. This strong growth in the cloud division significantly contributed to the above-average overall result.
In its operating business, Amazon recorded a profit of $17.4 billion, representing an increase of more than half compared to the previous year. This impressive development is mainly due to the increased demand for cloud services and improved efficiency in operational processes. CEO Andy Jassy emphasized in his statement: "Our continuous investments in AWS are paying off and strengthening our position as a leading provider in the cloud market. We remain focused on innovation and customer satisfaction to secure further growth.
For the fourth quarter, Amazon expects revenue between $181.5 billion and $188.5 billion, as well as an operating profit between $16 billion and $20 billion. This forecast is at the upper end of analysts' estimates and underscores the company's confidence in continued strong performance, particularly in the areas of cloud and e-commerce.
The positive quarterly figures led to a strong reaction from investors. In after-hours trading, Amazon's shares on the NASDAQ temporarily rose by 5.46 percent to $196.35. This price increase reflects investors' confidence in the company's long-term growth strategy, despite the existing challenges in the global market environment.