Amazon’s profit outlook gets overshadowed by cloud computing results

Amazon.com forecast third-quarter sales above market estimates on Thursday but failed to live up to lofty expectations for its Amazon Web Services cloud computing unit after rivals handily beat expectations.

Shares fell by more than 2% in after-market trading after finishing regular trading up 1.7% to $234.11. Both Google-parent Alphabet and Microsoft posted big cloud computing revenue gains earlier this month.

AWS profit margins also contracted. Amazon said they were 32.9% in the second quarter, compared with 39.5% in this year’s first quarter and 35.5% a year ago. The second-quarter margin results were at their lowest level since the final quarter of 2023.

AWS, the cloud unit, reported a 17.5% increase in revenue to $30.9 billion, edging past expectations of $30.77 billion.

After strong growth from Microsoft and Google, “AWS is lingering at 17% growth,” said Gil Luria, a D.A. Davidson analyst. “That is very disappointing, even to the point where if Microsoft’s Azure continues to grow at these rates, it may overtake AWS as the largest cloud provider by the end of next year.”

The company expects total net sales to be between $174.0 billion and $179.5 billion in the third quarter, compared with analysts’ average estimate of $173.08 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Blockbuster cloud revenue growth at Microsoft and Alphabet’s Google raised expectations for AWS, the world’s largest cloud provider.

Both Microsoft and Alphabet cited massive demand for their cloud computing services to boost their already huge capital spending, but also noted they still faced capacity constraints that limited their ability to meet demand.

AWS represents a small part of Amazon’s total revenue, but it is a key driver of profits, typically accounting for about 60% of Amazon’s overall operating income.

While Amazon has poured billions into AI infrastructure, analysts have said the lack of a strong AI model from AWS is causing some concerns that the company could be trailing rivals in AI development, analysts said.

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have dampened the U.S. retail industry, leaving major retailers and consumer goods companies scrambling to protect their margins or resort to price increases, all while ensuring consumer demand remains intact.

Trump has said the levies will bring manufacturing power and jobs back to the U.S.

Investors have been closely watching Amazon’s e-commerce unit for any signs that tariff-related uncertainty has dashed consumer confidence. U.S. data showed consumer spending rose moderately in June.

Analysts had said Amazon’s focus on low prices, quick delivery and the sheer number of product categories has helped cement its position as the No. 1 e-commerce retailer for U.S. consumers, giving it an edge over rivals.

Amazon has said it was pushing suppliers to pull forward inventories to ensure supply and keep prices as low as possible. Still, prices for goods made in China and sold on Amazon.com have been rising faster than overall inflation, Reuters reported last month.

—Deborah Mary Sophia and Greg Bensinger, Reuters