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Jeff Bezos Stepped Down as Amazon CEO 5 Years Ago, and the Stock Has Lagged the S&P 500 Since. Could Amazon's 15.3% Gain on July 31 Mark a Turning Point?

Amazon reported its strongest growth in five years in its second quarter, with Amazon Web Services delivering breakout results. The company has a lot of growth drivers that can send it higher.

By Jeremy Bowman·Aug 1·fool.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

Jeff Bezos Stepped Down as Amazon CEO 5 Years Ago, and the Stock Has Lagged the S&P 500 Since. Could Amazon's 15.3% Gain on July 31 Mark a Turning Point?
Jeff Bezos Stepped Down as Amazon CEO 5 Years Ago, and the Stock Has Lagged the S&P 500 Since. Could Amazon's 15.3% Gain on July 31 Mark a Turning Point?Image: fool.com

Amazon's stock has lagged the S&P 500 since Jeff Bezos stepped down as CEO five years ago. However, the company's recent 15.3% gain on July 31 may mark a turning point, driven by its cloud business and investments in grocery and faster delivery.

Why it matters

Amazon's performance is significant because it is one of the largest and most influential companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion. Its stock performance can have a ripple effect on the broader market.

Imagine you have a lemonade stand, and you're trying to sell lemonade to people walking by. Amazon is like a giant lemonade stand, but instead of selling lemonade, it sells things online. The company's cloud business is like a special machine that helps other companies sell things online too. Recently, Amazon's cloud business has been growing really fast, which is good news for the company.

Analysis

A $60B Vote of Confidence

Amazon's recent 15.3% gain on July 31 is a significant development, marking a turning point in the company's stock performance. The company's cloud business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), delivered breakout results, with revenue up 37% to $42.2 billion, its fastest rate in 18 quarters. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for cloud computing services, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Why Cursor?

One reason for investors to pause is the company's plans to spend $220 billion in capital expenditures this year. However, the shift in Prime Day from July to June this year, temporarily inflating revenue and adding approximately 500 basis points to its total growth, is likely not sustainable. The company guided to revenue growth of just 9%-12% in the third quarter, which may be a cause for concern.

The Road Ahead

Despite these challenges, Amazon's investments in grocery and faster delivery seem to be paying off. The company's focus on long-term thinking, customer satisfaction, and a 'Day One' mentality has helped it to maintain a strong competitive advantage in the market. With its strong growth drivers and increasing demand for cloud computing services, Amazon is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory.

Key points

  • Amazon reported its strongest growth in five years in its second quarter.
  • Amazon Web Services delivered breakout results, with revenue up 37% to $42.2 billion.
  • The company has a lot of growth drivers that can send it higher.
  • Amazon's investments in grocery and faster delivery seem to be paying off.
  • The company's focus on long-term thinking, customer satisfaction, and a 'Day One' mentality has helped it to maintain a strong competitive advantage in the market.
The Upside

Amazon's recent 15.3% gain on July 31 may mark a turning point in the company's stock performance. With its strong growth drivers and increasing demand for cloud computing services, Amazon is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory. The company's investments in grocery and faster delivery seem to be paying off, and its focus on long-term thinking, customer satisfaction, and a 'Day One' mentality has helped it to maintain a strong competitive advantage in the market.

The Downside

However, the company's plans to spend $220 billion in capital expenditures this year may be a cause for concern. Additionally, the shift in Prime Day from July to June this year, temporarily inflating revenue and adding approximately 500 basis points to its total growth, is likely not sustainable. The company guided to revenue growth of just 9%-12% in the third quarter, which may be a cause for concern.

Market signals

XAU
  • XAU Escalation drives safe-haven demand for gold, per the article's framing of investor reaction.

AI-generated analysis of potential market relevance. Not financial advice.

Originally reported at

fool.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsstock-marketamazonawscloud-computinggroceryfaster-delivery

Author

Jeremy Bowman

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Aug 1, 2026

Source

fool.com

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Topics

stock-marketamazonawscloud-computinggroceryfaster-delivery

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