E-commerce giant Amazon (AMZN -0.58%) released its first-quarter earnings on Tuesday, April 30. Cloud computing services led an all-around successful quarter by all accounts, with an EPS of $0.98, surpassing the analyst estimate of $0.84. Total revenue jumped 12.5% to reach $143.3 billion, beating forecasts of $142.65 billion.
This performance underscores Amazon's continued market strength and ability to outperform expectations.
| Metric | Q1 2024 | Analyst Estimates | Q1 2023 | Change (YOY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | $143.3 billion | $142.7 billion | $127.4 billion | +12.5% |
| Adjusted EPS | $0.98 | $0.84 | $0.31 | +216% |
| AWS revenue | $25.0 billion | N/A | $21.4 billion | +17% |
| Ad Services revenue | $11.8 billion | N/A | $9.5 billion | +24% |
| Operating income | $15.3 billion | N/A | $4.8 billion | 220% |
Analyst source: FactSet. YOY = Year over year. EPS = Earnings per share.
Amazon's business overview
Amazon is not just the leading online retailer. It's also a technology powerhouse with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and it's a significant player in digital advertising and streaming content creation. Its diversified business model allows it to tap into various revenue streams and adopt innovative technologies to stay ahead of the competition. The company is also known for its customer-centric approach, offering a vast selection, competitive prices, and fast delivery.
This quarter, Amazon focused on enhancing customer experience and technological innovation, particularly through AWS and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Improvements in fast and convenient delivery options and expanded product selections were also emphasized, demonstrating the company's commitment to customer satisfaction.
Quarter highlights
One of the quarter's standouts was the 17% year-over-year growth in AWS sales, reaching $25 billion. This growth highlights Amazon's strong position in the cloud computing domain. Additionally, the Advertising Services segment benefited from the bolstering of Amazon's Stores and Prime Video businesses, with revenue jumping 24% year over year to $11.8 billion. Part of that boost likely came from Amazon adding advertising inserts to its Prime Video service.
Amazon saw operating income improvements across all major segments. The North America segment's operating income jumped 455% year over year (from $0.9 billion to $5 billion), showcasing operational efficiencies. The International segment turned a $1.2 billion loss last year into a $903 million profit, an impressive turnaround facilitated by strategic market expansions. AWS's 84% operating income growth further solidified its profit-generating capability amid a competitive market.
The quarter was notable for implementing customer-focused enhancements, like improving delivery speed. Furthermore, technological advancements, notably in AWS's AI services, played a crucial role in driving innovation.
Looking ahead
Looking forward, Amazon remains optimistic about its financial trajectory, with a focus on long-term growth across its segments. Amazon expects overall revenue to be between $144 billion and $149 billion for Q2. That forecast was a little less than the consensus estimate from analysts polled by FactSet ($150.2 billion). The guidance miss is likely related to the company's plans to continue its investment in technology and infrastructure, particularly in AI and cloud computing services, to maintain its competitive edge.
Investors are encouraged to watch the developments in Amazon's diverse business sectors, especially AWS and advertising, for signs of sustained growth and profitability. The company's ability to innovate and efficiently penetrate new markets will be central to its success in the coming quarters.
