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Amazon’s AI Bets and Cost-Cutting Measures Pay Off, Boosting Stock by 5%

Shares of Amazon surged over 5% in after-hours trading on Thursday after the company reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings. Amazon announced earnings per share of $1.43, alongside revenue reaching $158.9 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $1.14 per share and $157.2 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.

Key Financial Highlights

  • North American Sales: Amazon’s North American segment recorded a 9% year-over-year sales increase, totalling $95.5 billion.
  • AWS Growth: Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s cloud unit, posted $27.5 billion in revenue, marking a 19% rise compared to the same period last year.
  • Stock Movement: Although Amazon’s stock initially fell over 3% on Thursday before earnings were released, it rebounded significantly in after-hours trading. So far, Amazon shares are up almost 24% year-to-date.

Background on Amazon’s Strategy

Amazon’s recent efforts include major cost-cutting moves, guided by CEO Andy Jassy, to streamline operations since 2022. This restructuring has led to over 27,000 layoffs and the closure of initiatives such as Amazon’s telehealth and same-day delivery services. Despite these reductions, Amazon is doubling down on other key areas, like a $52 billion investment in nuclear energy to support data centers in Virginia, Mississippi, and Ohio. The company is also moving forward with **Project Kuiper**, aiming to build a satellite network of 3,236 units to broaden internet access worldwide—a venture projected to involve over $10 billion in launch costs across five years, according to analysts from Wedbush Securities.

Amazon’s Market Reach

July’s Prime Day achieved “record-breaking sales,” while the introduction of Amazon’s AI-powered shopping assistant, **Rufus** was rolled out to U.S. customers last month. Notably, Amazon had slightly missed expectations in the previous quarter and cautioned that intense news cycles could distract customers—a factor cited by CFO Brian Olsavsky during the second-quarter earnings call. Despite these challenges, the company’s annual revenue is expected to remain strong.

Noteworthy Figures

Amazon’s market capitalization has reached $1.96 trillion, making it the fifth-largest company globally, trailing behind Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos, who served as Amazon’s CEO until 2021, holds a net worth of $204.1 billion, much of which is tied to Amazon’s stock. Market fluctuations ahead of Amazon’s earnings report momentarily decreased Bezos’ wealth by around $6 billion. Bezos ranks as the second-richest American, after Elon Musk, on the Forbes 400 list.

Cyprus Beer Deliveries Fall 2.3% In First Nine Months Of 2026

Beer deliveries in Cyprus fell by 1.2% year on year in September, as growth in domestic demand failed to offset a sharp decline in exports, according to the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).

Domestic Market Remains Resilient

Total beer deliveries reached 4.32 million litres in September, down from 4.37 million litres a year earlier. Domestic deliveries increased by 2.4% to 4.29 million litres, compared with 4.19 million litres in September 2025, highlighting the importance of local consumption to the sector.

Exports Drop Sharply

Exports fell by 84.4% year on year to 28,577 litres, from 183,503 litres in September 2025. The decline highlights the volatility of Cyprus’s beer exports, where relatively small volumes can lead to substantial percentage changes.

Deliveries Decline Month On Month

Compared with August 2026, total beer deliveries decreased by 2.2%, from 4.42 million litres. Domestic deliveries rose by 1.5% month on month to 4.29 million litres, up from 4.22 million litres, while exports dropped by 85.1% to 28,577 litres, compared with 192,313 litres in August.

Year-To-Date Deliveries Remain Below 2025 Levels

Between January and September 2026, total beer deliveries amounted to 33.60 million litres. Of this volume, 32.37 million litres went to the domestic market, while 1.23 million litres were exported.

Overall deliveries were approximately 2.3% lower than in the same period of 2025. Domestic deliveries remained broadly stable, declining by around 0.6% year on year, according to Cystat’s monthly percentage changes.

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