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

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

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.

Disney Brings TikTok Fan Content To Disney+

by News Editor

Disney is partnering with TikTok to bring fan-created videos directly into the Disney+ app, as streaming platforms increasingly compete with social media for audience attention.

The initiative will launch as a pilot programme in the United States over the coming months before expanding to additional markets.

Under the agreement, TikTok videos featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and other franchises will appear in “Verts,” Disney+’s short-form video feed introduced earlier this year. The partnership expands the platform’s library of short-form content while giving fan creators greater visibility within Disney’s streaming ecosystem.

Creators Become Part Of Disney’s Strategy

The collaboration also marks the launch of the Disney Creator Ambassador Program, which will give selected TikTok creators access to Disney’s content library, exclusive events, rewards and career opportunities.

The move reflects Disney’s growing focus on the creator economy after earlier plans to expand short-form content through a three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI. That initiative, which included a reported $1 billion investment tied to Sora, was abandoned after OpenAI shut down the video-generation platform in March.

Other streaming services, including Tubi and Peacock, have also partnered with TikTok creators to develop original content, highlighting a broader shift toward integrating social media talent into streaming platforms.

Strong Streaming Results

The announcement coincides with Disney’s third-quarter earnings. The company reported that operating income from its subscription video-on-demand business more than doubled to $712 million, up from $329 million a year earlier.

Disney also announced a restructuring of its operations, moving its consumer products business from the Experiences division to Studios.

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