Tech

Amazon shares fall after big earnings miss

Key Points
  • Amazon reported a beat on revenue but a huge miss on earnings, driving the stock down roughly 3% in after hours trading.
  • Its revenue came in at $37.96 billion, beating street estimates of $37.18 billion.
  • But its EPS was only 40 cents per share, missing street estimates of $1.42 per share.
Amazon shares drop after big earnings miss
VIDEO0:3900:39
Amazon shares drop after big earnings miss

Amazon beat revenue estimates but fell short on earnings in the second quarter, as it continued to invest in areas of growth.

The company's shares fell more than three percent in after-hours trading.

Here are the most important numbers:

  • EPS: 40 cents per share vs. $1.42 per share expected, according to consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters
  • Revenue: $37.96 billion vs. $37.18 billion expected, according to Thomson Reuters
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) revenue: $4.1 billion vs. $4.08 billion expected, according to FactSet

"As investors, everyone knows that Amazon really doesn't care about the bottom line," Michael Yoshikami, founder of Destination Wealth Management, said on CNBC's "Closing Bell."

"What you're buying it for is top-line growth, revenue growth, market share — and I suspect when you go through the numbers you're going to see Amazon is making great progress," he said.

Sales jumped 25% year-over-year, but its profit took a big hit as the company keeps investing in a number of new areas, like video, fulfillment center and international expansion.

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The company indicated the investment cycle is likely to continue, as it gave third quarter operating income guidance in the range of a $400 million loss to $300 million profit. Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky said third quarter typically sees lower operating income because it has to prepare for the holiday peak season. Revenue guidance came in between $39.25 billion and $41.75 billion, right in-line with street estimates of $39.97 billion.

"Third quarter certainly has a healthy amount of investments and we'll continue to grow those areas," Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky said in a press call on Thursday.

Amazon Web Services remains the company's main growth driver, growing 42% year-over-year, and generating $916 million in operating income. That's more than double the North American business's $436 million in operating income. Its international business continues to lose money with an operating loss of $724 million.

There's been a lot going on at the company. Amazon announced its deal to buy Whole Foods for $14 billion last month. It's also launched a number of new Echo devices, as it's become an unexpected leader in the home voice assistant space. On Thursday, it announced the launch of a new Prime Now service in Singapore as well. It's also looking seriously at the health industry: CNBC reported that the company is exploring opportunities in health care technology and pharmaceuticals.

The results come as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos briefly surpassed Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates to become the richest person in the world on Thursday. Amazon's stock has been on an absolute tear over the past two years, nearly doubling in price in that period.

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