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Amazon misses with Q3 revenue of $110.8B, up 15% YoY, vs $111.6B est., net income of $3.2B, down from $6.3B YoY, AWS net sales of $16.1B, up 39%; stock down 4%+

SEATTLE—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

About Amazon

Context & Ripple Effects

Amazon entered the quarter after a Q2 revenue miss alongside 27% sales growth, a sharp slowdown from the 37% sales increase in Q3 2020. The latest results extend that deceleration while AWS continues to grow materially faster than the company overall.

The following year's Q3 coverage shows the split persisted: consolidated revenue again grew 15%, while AWS growth slowed to 27% and net income declined. That makes this quarter an early marker of a more demanding growth-and-profit comparison period for Amazon.

First-order effects

  • Amazon missed the reported revenue estimate, and its shares fell more than 4% as net income dropped to $3.2 billion from $6.3 billion a year earlier.
  • AWS generated $16.1 billion in net sales, up 39%, making it Amazon's fastest-growing reported business in the quarter.

Second-order effects

  • Amazon's investor narrative shifts toward whether AWS growth can counterbalance slower consolidated sales growth and the year-over-year profit decline.
  • The contrast with Q3 2020's 37% companywide sales growth raises the performance bar for Amazon's retail operations, while AWS becomes a larger focus in quarterly valuation reactions.

Third-order effects

  • If the divergence persists, Amazon's earnings profile becomes more dependent on cloud growth than on broad companywide sales expansion.
  • The later Q3 2022 results—15% overall revenue growth and 27% AWS growth—suggest the issue is not a one-quarter reset but a longer normalization in growth rates.

The trend: Amazon is moving into a slower-growth phase in which AWS's relative expansion increasingly anchors the company's financial narrative.

Discussion

  • @timbray Tim Bray on x
    AWS growth 39% compared to ~15% across Amazon, while maintaining reported margin of ~30%. Amazon growth ex AWS is ~12%, margin slightly negative. AWS op income $4.883B other Amazon $-31M. So yeah, AWS is generating just over 100% of Amazon profits. https://twitter.com/...
  • @somospostpc Alex Barredo on x
    > Operating income decreased to $4.9 billion in the third quarter, compared with $6.2 billion 2020Q3 > Net income decreased to $3.2 billion in the third quarter, or $6.12 per diluted share, compared with $6.3 billion, or $12.37 per diluted share, 2020Q3 https://twitter.com/...
  • @lamonicabuzz Paul R. La Monica on x
    Amazon missed on earnings and sales. $AMZN down 2.5% after hours so far.
  • @annierpalmer Annie Palmer on x
    In non-meta news, the nation's largest online retailer warned it could break even in the current quarter amid steep costs tied to labor and supply chain issues https://www.cnbc.com/...
  • @danielnewmanuv Daniel Newman on x
    I wouldn't call this a “Bad Miss” on revenue. #Earnings were a bit weak. Investments in growth including facilities, raising wages, and higher cost of goods likely culprits in capex intensive business. $AMZN https://www.cnbc.com/...
  • @thestalwart Joe Weisenthal on x
    Wow, $AMZN says it's possible that in Q4 it could have up to $140 billion in sales, but thanks to surging costs, it could have $0 profit. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
  • @jordannovet Jordan Novet on x
    on a percentage basis, AWS contributed more than 100% of Amazon's overall operating income. it happened on the regular in 2014-2017 this hadn't happened since Q1 2020 https://www.cnbc.com/...
  • @seyedoption Seyed Option on x
    But dont worry this market will run this up %10 tomorrow lol https://twitter.com/...
  • @spencerchen Spencer Chen on x
    Beautifully timed exit for Bezos... https://twitter.com/...
  • @scottmelker @scottmelker on x
    Amazon getting completely smoked after hours. Epic miss on earnings. https://twitter.com/...
  • @danielnewmanuv Daniel Newman on x
    Outstanding growth for @awscloud is one very bright spot amidst the @amazon earnings miss. Amazon Web Services: 🔺️39% AWS earnings Q3 2021 https://cnbc.com/...... $AMZN #cloud
  • @jonerlichman Jon Erlichman on x
    Amazon's third quarter revenue: 2021: $111 billion 2020: $96 billion 2019: $70 billion 2018: $57 billion 2017: $44 billion 2016: $33 billion 2015: $25 billion 2014: $21 billion 2013: $17 billion 2012: $14 billion 2011: $11 billion 2010: $8 billion 2009: $5 billion
  • @asymco Horace Dediu on x
    @loghound I was just told today that Amazon's earnings are a dial they choose to turn and that they don't want much of that.
  • @fshakir Faiz on x
    what a screwed up world where Amazon makes $111 billion in a quarter (!!!) rather than $112 billion, and it's “disappointing” and sad for the investor class https://twitter.com/...
  • @dee_bosa Deirdre Bosa on x
    In addition to: ecommerce, streaming, cloud, advertising, grocery and logistics.... Amazon also becoming a bigger player in gaming: “New World... became highest-played new game this year on Steam...On Twitch...most-watched game during its launch week by hours watched”
  • @asymco Horace Dediu on x
    Amazon's sales were up 15%. Shares down 4% AH.
  • @thestalwart Joe Weisenthal on x
    $AMZN talking about how labor costs, and other constraints are really going to take a bite. Some great stuff form @spencersoper on the TLIV blog.. The stock is declining after hours. https://www.bloomberg.com/... https://twitter.com/...
  • @shiraovide Shira Ovide on x
    Really hard to know how much of Amazon's serious growth slowdown is comparisons to a bonkers 2020 vs. supply constraints vs. labor shortages vs people shopping more in stores vs. ???? But yeah: https://www.bloomberg.com/...