Amazon Stock Price Today: Sharp Post-Earnings Swing as AWS Growth Hits 20% and Holiday Outlook Rises

Amazon’s shares seesawed late on Thursday, October 30, as investors digested a stronger-than-expected third-quarter report and upbeat holiday guidance. After an initial pop, the Amazon stock price reversed sharply, underscoring how sensitive the market remains to cloud momentum, margins, and fourth-quarter expectations.

Amazon stock price: intraday and after-hours action

As of 5:11 p.m. ET / 9:11 p.m. GMT, Amazon traded around $222.86, down about 3.3% from the prior close (roughly $230.39). In the immediate aftermath of results, the Amazon stock price spiked to an after-hours high near $252.55—a move of roughly +9.6% from the prior close—before giving back gains.

Quick tape check (today):

• Previous close: ~$230.39

• Post-earnings high (after hours): $252.55 (~+9.6%)

• Latest quote (5:11 p.m. ET): $222.86 (~-3.3%)

• Intraday low: $222.71

• Volume: Elevated versus typical after-hours trade

The whipsaw suggests a crowded setup into earnings and fast re-pricing as traders reassessed details in guidance and business mix.

What moved AMZN: Q3 highlights in focus

Results: Revenue landed near $180.2 billion with EPS about $1.95, clearing consensus. The standout: AWS growth re-accelerated to ~20% year over year (around $33 billion in sales), the fastest pace since 2022. Retail efficiency, advertising, and logistics productivity supported margin expansion.

Guidance: For the holiday quarter (Q4), management outlined net sales of roughly $206–$213 billion, implying about 10–13% growth year over year. That range reassured on demand and capacity, while still leaving room for macro and promotional intensity to influence the final print.

Why the reversal? Initial buying likely chased the AWS beat and stronger operating leverage. The later fade hints at profit-taking after a big year-to-date run, algorithmic volatility, and close reading of segment commentary (cloud backlog, AI workload timing, retail mix, and investment cadence). Traders also weigh broader tech sentiment and rates heading into a data-heavy stretch.

Key storylines for the Amazon stock price

• Cloud momentum vs. investment cycle: A clear AWS re-acceleration eases concerns, but the market will parse whether 20%+ is sustainable into 2026 as AI workloads ramp from pilots to production.

• Holiday quarter execution: The $206–$213 billion sales range sets the bar. Watch unit growth, shipping speed, and ad yield during peak weeks, as well as third-party seller take-rate dynamics.

• Margins and efficiency: Continued automation, regionalized fulfillment, and advertising mix can protect operating income even if unit growth moderates.

• Hiring and cost structure: Any incremental workforce or capex updates—especially around data centers and AI infrastructure—can sway medium-term margin and free-cash-flow trajectories.

Levels to watch (technical context)

• Resistance zone: $250–$253 (post-earnings high cluster). A decisive break could re-ignite momentum traders targeting prior swing highs.

• First support: ~$222–$225 (after-hours low area). A firm hold would suggest the pullback is digestion rather than trend change.

• Secondary support: ~$215 (recent consolidation shelf). A loss there would invite a deeper retrace toward the 50-day moving region (level will update with tomorrow’s data).

What’s next for AMZN traders and investors

• Tomorrow’s open (ET): Expect wide implied ranges as market-makers re-price options after the earnings event. Liquidity can be uneven in the first 15–30 minutes.

• Read-throughs: Peers in cloud, digital ads, and e-commerce may react to AWS growth and holiday outlook.

• Catalyst path: November retail updates, macro prints (jobs, inflation), and any color on AI customer adoption curves could continue to sway the Amazon stock price into year-end.