Amazon stock: Q3 earnings today, what to watch

Amazon stock is in focus today: Amazon reports Q3 2026 results after the US close, with a call at 5:00 p.m. ET and AWS growth as the key number.

Event: October 29, 2026
Primary source: October 29, 2026
Published here: October 29, 2026 at 02:30 PM UTC
Read: 2 min

What happened

Amazon (AMZN) reports third-quarter 2026 results today, 29 October, after the US market closes. The call starts at 5:00 p.m. ET (21:00 UTC). Amazon's own guidance is net sales of $197.0 billion to $202.0 billion.

Why it matters to you

Amazon stock has slipped since its big jump in July, and Bloomberg says the next move leans on cloud growth. AWS is Amazon's cloud arm. Last quarter it grew 37%. Analysts expect around 35% this time. If you hold Amazon directly or through a fund, today's numbers matter to you.

What to check and watch

Watch AWS growth, the operating income range of $22.5 billion to $26.5 billion, and any news on spending plans. Official numbers come only from Amazon's investor page. This is an overview, not advice to buy or sell.

Amazon investor relations: results and webcast

What is happening. Amazon announced on 15 October that it will discuss its third quarter 2026 results on Thursday, 29 October, at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET. The webcast is live, and the audio and slides stay online for at least three months. The report comes after the market closes, so the stock reacts only in the next session.

The starting point. In Q2 net sales rose 20% to $200.6 billion, and AWS rose 37% to $42.2 billion, its fastest growth in 18 quarters, according to Amazon. Operating income was $27.5 billion.

What Amazon promised for Q3. Net sales of $197.0 billion to $202.0 billion, or 9% to 12% growth against Q3 2025. Operating income of $22.5 billion to $26.5 billion. Prime Day was held in Q2 this year, and Amazon says that without Prime Day in both years Q3 growth would be nearly 400 basis points higher. A basis point is one hundredth of a percent.

What the market expects. Pepperstone puts the consensus for revenue at about $202 billion, just above the top of the guidance, and AWS growth at around 35%. It also says options markets imply a move of about 7.4% in either direction after the report. That is a market estimate, not a forecast from us.

Why the stock is in the spotlight. Bloomberg writes that Amazon shares had their best day since 2012 on 31 July, after Q2. Since then they are down more than 10% from an early August record. Bloomberg points to AI trade jitters, higher interest rates and competition from AI services.

What else to watch. Pepperstone notes that Amazon's 2026 capital spending plan is about $220 billion, raised from $200 billion. Any new change to it will draw attention.

What we do not know. The actual results. Whether AWS growth lands above or below 35%. How the stock reacts. We will not guess. Check Amazon's investor page after the release for the official figures.

Confirmed facts

Amazon will hold a conference call on its third quarter 2026 results on Thursday, 29 October 2026, at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET, webcast live.^[1]
The audio and slides of the call will be available for at least three months after the event.^[1]
Amazon is reporting after market hours on Thursday.^[5]
In Q2 2026 Amazon net sales increased 20% to $200.6 billion, compared with $167.7 billion in Q2 2025.^[2]
AWS segment sales increased 37% year over year to $42.2 billion in Q2, its fastest growth in 18 quarters.^[2]
Operating income in Q2 was $27.5 billion.^[2]
Q3 guidance: net sales between $197.0 billion and $202.0 billion, or growth of 9% to 12% compared with Q3 2025.^[2]
Q3 guidance: operating income between $22.5 billion and $26.5 billion, compared with $17.4 billion in Q3 2025.^[2]
Excluding the impact of Prime Day in both 2025 and 2026, Q3 2026 growth would be nearly 400 basis points higher.^[2]
Analysts expect AWS growth of around 35%.^[4]
Pepperstone says consensus revenue is around $202 billion and options markets imply a move of about 7.4% in either direction.^[4]
Pepperstone says the 2026 capital spending plan rose to about $220 billion from $200 billion.^[4]
Amazon shares had their best day since 2012 on 31 July and are down more than 10% from an early August record.^[3]
Bloomberg cites jitters about the AI trade, higher interest rates and competition from AI services such as Meta's Muse as weighing on sentiment.^[3]

Implications

ConfirmedAWS growth versus the roughly 35% analysts expect is the number Bloomberg and Pepperstone both single out.
Our readingAmazon's own guidance range sits below its Q2 operating income, so the margin line deserves a look.

Still unknown

The actual Q3 results and any new guidance.
Whether AWS growth beats or misses the roughly 35% expected.
How the stock moves after the report.

Who it affects

Global, United States, Canada. Anyone who owns or follows Amazon (AMZN) stock, directly or through a fund

Sources

Amazon.com, Inc. (Investor Relations): Amazon.com to Webcast Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call October 15, 2026 · official
Amazon.com, Inc. (Investor Relations): Amazon.com Announces Second Quarter Results July 30, 2026 · official
Bloomberg: Amazon's Ailing Stock Needs Booming Cloud Growth to Revive Rally October 29, 2026 · media
Pepperstone: Amazon Q3 2026 Earnings Preview October 23, 2026 · media
The Globe and Mail (StockStory): Amazon (AMZN) reports Q3: everything you need to know ahead of earnings October 27, 2026 · media

Cover as an image

Did this make it clearer?

Cover: Freekonomist graphic, a symbolic image, not a photo of the event. This is a news explainer, not financial advice.

Morning brief by email

The night's key moves and what matters today, in 2 minutes. One-click unsubscribe.