Business1 min read

Amazon projects fourth quarter sales below estimates

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In short

Fourth-quarter projected revenue is estimated between $240.0 billion and $247.0 billion, falling short of the $244.51 billion anticipated by Wall Street analysts. To counter inflation and higher gas prices, the company is attempting to attract shoppers by pushing into rural U.S. markets and accelerating global delivery services. In contrast to retail challenges, Amazon Web Services saw third-quarter revenue climb 39 percent to $46 billion, beating expectations and marking its fastest expansion in almost five years. Management is also holding its annual capital expenditure forecast steady at around $220 billion to fund heavy data center investments for artificial intelligence.

Key points

  • Rising household costs and inflationary pressures are expected to weigh heavily on consum…: Rising household costs and inflationary pressures are expected to weigh heavily on consumer spending throughout the vital holiday shopping period.
  • The company's cloud division provides an essential growth engine as enterprise demand for…: The company's cloud division provides an essential growth engine as enterprise demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure accelerates.
  • Expansion into rural areas and faster shipping options represent critical strategies for…: Expansion into rural areas and faster shipping options represent critical strategies for sustaining the core retail segment against macroeconomic strain.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Oct 29 : Amazon.com forecast fourth-quarter revenue largely below Wall Street estimates on Thursday, raising concerns over muted retail demand over the crucial holiday season as higher household costs amid rising inflation pressure consumer spending.

Shares of the company fell more than 7 per cent in extended trading.

It expects revenue of between $240.0 billion and $247.0 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of $244.51 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Revenue at Amazon Web Services rose 39 per cent to $46 billion in the third quarter ended September, compared with analysts' estimate for a 38.2 per cent increase to $45.61 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. AWS revenue recorded a 37 per cent jump in the second quarter.

The company also maintained its annual capital spending forecast of about $220 billion.

The downbeat fourth-quarter outlook signals US retailers could face pain in the holiday season, as consumers tighten shopping budgets amid higher gas prices and the rising cost of living.

Still, recent industry forecasts predict holiday sales will accelerate from last year. The…

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