U.S. Retail Sales Up 3.1% in November, Benefiting Amazon and Others
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 18 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AMZN?
Source: Fool
- Retail Sales Growth: U.S. retail sales increased by 0.6% month-over-month and 3.1% year-over-year in November, indicating robust consumer spending that is likely to further stimulate investment and expansion in the retail sector.
- E-commerce Performance: Amazon's nonstore retail sales rose by 7.2% in November, reinforcing its position as a leader in e-commerce, which is expected to enhance its market share and profitability, particularly driven by growth in cloud computing and advertising.
- Sports Goods Sales Recovery: Sporting goods stores saw a 7.8% sales increase, benefiting companies like Nike and Dick's Sporting Goods, with insider buying by Nike's CEO and board members reflecting confidence in the company's recovery in North America and Europe.
- Beauty Industry Outlook: e.l.f. Beauty is poised for growth as health and personal care store sales rose 6.7% year-over-year, with its market share expanding and the successful acquisition of Rhode expected to contribute to long-term growth potential.
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Analyst Views on AMZN
Wall Street analysts forecast AMZN stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AMZN is 294.69 USD with a low forecast of 250.00 USD and a high forecast of 340.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
47 Analyst Rating
46 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 222.690
Low
250.00
Averages
294.69
High
340.00
Current: 222.690
Low
250.00
Averages
294.69
High
340.00
About AMZN
Amazon.com, Inc. provides a range of products and services to customers. The products offered through its stores include merchandise and content it has purchased for resale and products offered by third-party sellers. The Company’s segments include North America, International and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It serves consumers through its online and physical stores and focuses on selection, price, and convenience. Customers access its offerings through its websites, mobile apps, Alexa, devices, streaming, and physically visiting its stores. It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablet, Fire TV, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero, and develops and produces media content. It serves developers and enterprises of all sizes, including start-ups, government agencies, and academic institutions, through AWS, which offers a set of on-demand technology services, including compute, storage, database, analytics, and machine learning, and other services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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See More
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- Advertising Revenue Surge: Amazon's advertising services have achieved an annual revenue run rate of $85 billion, with Q4 ad revenue increasing by 22% year-over-year, positioning the company favorably as brands shift ad spending to digital platforms.
- Cloud Services as Profit Engine: Amazon Web Services (AWS) saw a 24% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, contributing roughly half of the company's profits, with investments in custom chips and data center capacity keeping it at the forefront of AI service delivery.
- Booking Holdings' Sustained Growth: Booking Holdings recorded 323 million room nights in Q3, an 8% year-over-year increase, driving a 13% rise in revenue, with management targeting 8% annual growth in gross bookings and revenue, translating to a 15% increase in adjusted earnings per share.
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- Surge in Layoff Plans: January 2026 saw the highest layoff plans since 2009, indicating a severe job market situation that could lead to further economic deterioration, impacting consumer confidence and spending.
- Weak Job Additions: The private sector added only 22,000 jobs, significantly lower than the 140,000 added during the same period last year, suggesting a sluggish economic recovery that may lead to decreased household income and consumer spending.
- Increase in Unemployment Claims: Initial claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose to 231,000 in the last week of January, reflecting the impact of severe winter weather on the job market, potentially exacerbating economic uncertainty.
- Disconnection Between Growth and Employment: Despite GDP growth reaching an annual rate of 4.4% in Q3 last year, challenges remain for low-income households, highlighting a “K-shaped” recovery that may exacerbate social inequality.
See More
Investment Prospects for Amazon and Booking Holdings
- Amazon's Innovation Edge: Amazon's online retail business maintains a durable competitive advantage through its extensive infrastructure and same-day delivery services, with its Rufus AI shopping assistant reaching 250 million active users in Q3 and projected to generate $10 billion in incremental annual sales by 2025.
- Advertising Revenue Surge: Amazon's advertising services have achieved an annual revenue run rate of $85 billion, with Q4 ad revenue increasing by 22% year-over-year, positioning the company to benefit as brands shift ad spending to digital platforms.
- Cloud Service Profitability: Amazon Web Services (AWS) saw a 24% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, contributing roughly half of the company's profits, with investments in custom chips and data center capacity keeping it at the forefront of AI services, and analysts expect earnings per share to grow at an annualized rate of 17% in the coming years.
- Booking Holdings' Market Position: Booking Holdings attracts users through loyalty rewards and its Connected Trips initiative, achieving 323 million room nights in Q3, an 8% year-over-year increase, driving a 13% rise in revenue, with management targeting an 8% annual growth rate moving forward.
See More
Investment Potential of Amazon and Booking Holdings
- Amazon's Market Advantage: Amazon's competitive edge in e-commerce stems from its extensive infrastructure and same-day delivery services, with its Rufus AI shopping assistant reaching 250 million active users in Q3, projected to generate $10 billion in incremental annual sales by 2025, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Advertising Revenue Growth: Amazon's advertising services have an annual revenue run rate of $85 billion, with Q4 ad revenue increasing by 22% year-over-year, as brands shift ad spending to digital platforms, significantly enhancing its overall profitability.
- Strong Cloud Computing Business: Amazon Web Services (AWS) saw a 24% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, contributing nearly half of the company's profits, with investments in custom chips and data center capacity maintaining its competitive edge in the AI services market, expected to continue driving profit growth.
- Sustained Growth for Booking Holdings: Booking Holdings recorded 323 million room nights in Q3, an 8% year-over-year increase, driving a 13% rise in revenue and a 19% increase in adjusted earnings per share, with plans to achieve 8% annual growth in gross bookings and revenue, reflecting strong market demand and pricing power.
See More
Investment Potential of Amazon and Booking Holdings
- Amazon's Innovation Edge: Amazon's online retail business maintains a competitive advantage through its extensive infrastructure and same-day delivery, with its Rufus AI shopping assistant reaching 250 million users in Q3 and projected to generate $10 billion in incremental annual sales by 2025.
- Advertising Revenue Surge: Amazon's advertising services have achieved an annual revenue run rate of $85 billion, with Q4 ad revenue increasing by 22% year-over-year, positioning the company favorably as brands shift ad spending to digital platforms.
- Cloud Services as Profit Engine: Amazon Web Services (AWS) saw a 24% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, contributing roughly half of the company's profits, with investments in custom chips and data center capacity keeping it at the forefront of AI service delivery.
- Booking Holdings' Sustained Growth: Booking Holdings recorded 323 million room nights in Q3, an 8% year-over-year increase, driving a 13% rise in revenue, with management targeting 8% annual growth in gross bookings and revenue, translating to a 15% increase in adjusted earnings per share.
See More
