Amazon stock: Q3 earnings today, what to watch

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.

Hechos confirmados

• 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]

Implicaciones

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

Todavía no se sabe

• 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.

A quién afecta

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

Fuentes

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