Technology

Amazon Nears All-Time High, in Apple's Shadow

Wikimedia Commons

As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) surges back toward its all-time high due to the wild success of the new iPhone 7, Amazon has quietly reached its and lingers, ready to break out again.

In the past year, Amazon’s shares are up 42%, compared to 2% for Apple and 8% for the S&P 500. In a way, Apple’s stock success can be considered less than modest because of the sell-off of its shares a year ago. It has only returned to level.

The disappointment with Apple’s lack of revenue growth caused the market to lose faith. Amazon has not had any similar problem over the same period.

In the latest quarter, Amazon flexed its muscles, both in e-commerce and cloud computing:

Net sales increased 31% to $30.4 billion in the second quarter, compared with $23.2 billion in second quarter 2015. The favorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter on net sales was $166 million.

Operating income was $1.3 billion in the second quarter, compared with $464 million in second quarter 2015.

Net income was $857 million in the second quarter, or $1.78 per diluted share, compared with $92 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in second quarter 2015.

Amazon Prime has been a success, both in making the shopping at Amazon “sticky” with free shipping and becoming dominant in the vast new world of video streaming.

Apple may dominate the news now, but side by side over the past year, Amazon is the winner.

Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.