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Amazon profit rises as AWS growth hits 18-quarter high

Amazon profit rises as AWS growth hits 18-quarter high
Photo: bbc.co.uk

Amazon said second-quarter profit and sales rose as AWS growth hit 37%.

Why it matters: The report gives investors a read on consumer demand, retail margins and AWS momentum. Amazon also signaled more aggressive AI and cloud infrastructure spending.

  • Amazon said AWS revenue rose 37% year over year, the fastest pace in 18 quarters, according to AP and Amazon's earnings materials.
  • The company raised its 2026 capital spending target to $220 billion from $200 billion.
  • Amazon said the higher spending is tied to AI, chips, robots and satellites.
  • AP reported Amazon shares rose more than 9% in after-hours trading after the results.

Amazon reported stronger second-quarter profit and sales, but the main investor signal was AWS. Cloud revenue rose 37% from a year earlier, the fastest growth rate in 18 quarters, according to AP and Amazon's earnings release.

The company also lifted its 2026 capital spending plan to $220 billion from $200 billion, a move Amazon said reflects heavier investment in AI, chips, robots and satellites. That raises the bar for proving that infrastructure spending is translating into faster enterprise growth.

AP reported the stock rose more than 9% in after-hours trading, suggesting investors focused on the AWS acceleration and the higher spending target rather than the broader earnings details.

By the numbers

  • 37% - AWS revenue growth year over year, the fastest pace in 18 quarters
  • $220 billion - Amazon's revised 2026 capital spending target, up from $200 billion
  • 9%+ - Amazon's after-hours share gain, according to AP

Yes, but: This brief focuses on the headline earnings signal and capex guidance, not a full breakdown of all reported financials.

Based on reporting from

  • AP News
  • BBC Business
  • CNBC

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