Alibaba Leads Year-to-Date Performance in Broadline Retail Stocks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 19 2025
0mins
Should l Buy AMZN?
Source: SeekingAlpha
Consumer Discretionary Sector Performance: The S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector has gained +7.2% year-to-date in 2025, underperforming compared to the overall S&P 500, which has a higher performance. The sector ranks eighth among 11 major sectors, while the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) has increased by +9.1% YTD.
Top Performing Retail Stocks: Alibaba Group leads the top 10 broadline retail stocks with a YTD performance of +73.75%, followed by Kohl’s Corporation and Dillard’s, Inc. Other notable companies include Vipshop Holdings and Macy’s, with most stocks rated as 'Hold' in terms of Quant Rating.
Amazon's Performance: Amazon.com ranks last among the listed stocks with a YTD performance of +3.36%, but it holds the highest Quant Rating of 'Strong Buy 4.94', indicating strong investor confidence despite its lower performance.
Additional Consumer Discretionary ETFs: The article mentions several consumer discretionary ETFs, including XLY, VCR, FXD, FDIS, RSPD, and RXI, suggesting a variety of investment options within the sector.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy AMZN?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
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: 204.080
Low
250.00
Averages
294.69
High
340.00
Current: 204.080
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.
Amazon Reports Strong Q4 Results but Shares Decline
- AWS Revenue Acceleration: Amazon's AWS segment saw a 24% revenue increase in Q4, reaching $35.58 billion, surpassing the market expectation of $34.93 billion, indicating strong demand for AI infrastructure that is expected to further enhance profitability.
- Significant Capex Increase: Amazon plans to ramp up its capital expenditures from $132 billion in 2025 to $200 billion in 2026, primarily for AI data centers and robotics, a strategic investment that will bolster its competitive edge in cloud computing and automation.
- Strong E-commerce Performance: North American sales rose 10% year-over-year to $127.1 billion, while international sales increased 17% to $50.7 billion, with advertising revenue also climbing 22% to $21.3 billion, showcasing Amazon's robust operational leverage in e-commerce.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Amazon forecasts Q1 revenue between $173.5 billion and $178.5 billion, reflecting an 11% to 15% growth, and despite the stock dip due to capex plans, analysts view this as a great buying opportunity for long-term investors.
See More
Amazon Pharmacy Expands Same-Day Prescription Delivery Nationwide
- Service Expansion: Amazon Pharmacy plans to expand its same-day prescription delivery service to 4,500 cities and towns across the U.S. by the end of 2026, adding nearly 2,000 new communities, significantly enhancing the coverage and convenience of medication delivery.
- New Market Penetration: This expansion will include newly served states such as Idaho and Massachusetts, aiming to provide fast and reliable medication delivery to more customers, addressing the needs of patients in diverse regions.
- Enhanced Patient Experience: John Love, Vice President of Amazon Pharmacy, stated that by combining pharmacy expertise with logistics networks, they aim to remove critical barriers for patients in accessing medications, thereby accelerating the start of treatment and improving overall medication experiences.
- Standard for Digital Pharmacy: Through this expansion, Amazon Pharmacy sets a new standard, emphasizing that patients should not have to choose between speed, cost, and convenience, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of digital pharmacy services.
See More
Analysis of Smart Money Flows
- Concentration of Money Flows: Most portfolios are now heavily concentrated in the 'Magnificent Seven' stocks, indicating a high dependency on these companies, which could lead to concentrated investment risks.
- Apple's Outflow: In early trading, Apple Inc (AAPL) experienced negative money flows, suggesting a decline in investor confidence that may impact its short-term stock performance.
- Divergent ETF Performance: Both SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) saw positive money flows in early trading, reflecting market optimism towards these indices, potentially driving related stocks higher.
- Investment Strategy Advice: Investors are advised to continue holding quality long-term positions while adding tactical investments based on market signals, and to stay within the Arora Protection Band to participate in upside while protecting against downside risks.
See More
Walmart Joins the $1 Trillion Market Club
- Strong E-commerce Growth: Walmart's e-commerce sales surged 27% year-over-year in Q3 2026, driving a 5.8% increase in total revenue, showcasing its robust competitiveness and ongoing appeal in the retail market.
- Store Advantage: With 4,700 stores serving as distribution hubs, Walmart can quickly fulfill orders, particularly in markets where Amazon does not yet offer same-day delivery, enhancing customer shopping experience and convenience.
- Market Expansion Potential: Walmart has a store within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population and over 10,800 stores globally, indicating significant expansion potential across various markets, especially maintaining stable growth under economic pressure.
- Dividend Stability: Having raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, Walmart is a Dividend King; despite a current yield of only 0.7%, its reliability and stability attract investors, further enhancing the stock's investment value.
See More
Bill Ackman's New Investment Position
- Portfolio Update: Bill Ackman's new investment position in Pershing Square Capital Management has garnered market attention, although specific investment details remain undisclosed, its influence is significant.
- Market Reaction: On the day of the video release, Ackman's portfolio could impact the trading performance of related stocks, with investors maintaining a keen interest in his investment strategies.
- Investor Education: The video aims to help viewers understand Ackman's investment philosophy, encouraging more people to pay attention to his decisions and market trends.
- Subscription and Engagement: The video also urges viewers to subscribe to the channel and click on the special offer link, reflecting Ackman and his team's proactive approach to engaging with investors through social media.
See More
Amazon's Q4 Earnings Report Triggers Stock Decline
- Surging Capital Expenditures: Amazon announced a capital expenditure of approximately $200 billion for 2026, a significant increase from $128 billion in 2025, raising concerns among investors about whether the returns on such spending will justify the costs.
- Strong AWS Growth: Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a 24% year-over-year sales increase in Q4, reaching $35.6 billion, marking the fastest growth in 13 quarters, driven by strong demand from AI customers, including OpenAI.
- AI-Driven Business Innovations: Amazon's investments in AI support growth across various platforms, with Amazon Connect achieving an annualized revenue run rate of $1 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting a 30% year-over-year growth, while over 1 million AI-powered robots in warehouses enhance shipping speeds.
- Improved Financial Performance: AI optimizations have led to a rapid increase in Amazon's gross profit margin, with operating income rising from $68.6 billion in 2024 to $80 billion in 2025, indicating strong long-term growth potential, making the current dip an attractive buying opportunity for investors.
See More
Amazon Reports Strong Q4 Results but Shares Decline
- AWS Revenue Acceleration: Amazon's AWS segment saw a 24% revenue increase in Q4, reaching $35.58 billion, surpassing the market expectation of $34.93 billion, indicating strong demand for AI infrastructure that is expected to further enhance profitability.
- Significant Capex Increase: Amazon plans to ramp up its capital expenditures from $132 billion in 2025 to $200 billion in 2026, primarily for AI data centers and robotics, a strategic investment that will bolster its competitive edge in cloud computing and automation.
- Strong E-commerce Performance: North American sales rose 10% year-over-year to $127.1 billion, while international sales increased 17% to $50.7 billion, with advertising revenue also climbing 22% to $21.3 billion, showcasing Amazon's robust operational leverage in e-commerce.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Amazon forecasts Q1 revenue between $173.5 billion and $178.5 billion, reflecting an 11% to 15% growth, and despite the stock dip due to capex plans, analysts view this as a great buying opportunity for long-term investors.
See More
Amazon Pharmacy Expands Same-Day Prescription Delivery Nationwide
- Service Expansion: Amazon Pharmacy plans to expand its same-day prescription delivery service to 4,500 cities and towns across the U.S. by the end of 2026, adding nearly 2,000 new communities, significantly enhancing the coverage and convenience of medication delivery.
- New Market Penetration: This expansion will include newly served states such as Idaho and Massachusetts, aiming to provide fast and reliable medication delivery to more customers, addressing the needs of patients in diverse regions.
- Enhanced Patient Experience: John Love, Vice President of Amazon Pharmacy, stated that by combining pharmacy expertise with logistics networks, they aim to remove critical barriers for patients in accessing medications, thereby accelerating the start of treatment and improving overall medication experiences.
- Standard for Digital Pharmacy: Through this expansion, Amazon Pharmacy sets a new standard, emphasizing that patients should not have to choose between speed, cost, and convenience, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of digital pharmacy services.
See More
Analysis of Smart Money Flows
- Concentration of Money Flows: Most portfolios are now heavily concentrated in the 'Magnificent Seven' stocks, indicating a high dependency on these companies, which could lead to concentrated investment risks.
- Apple's Outflow: In early trading, Apple Inc (AAPL) experienced negative money flows, suggesting a decline in investor confidence that may impact its short-term stock performance.
- Divergent ETF Performance: Both SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) saw positive money flows in early trading, reflecting market optimism towards these indices, potentially driving related stocks higher.
- Investment Strategy Advice: Investors are advised to continue holding quality long-term positions while adding tactical investments based on market signals, and to stay within the Arora Protection Band to participate in upside while protecting against downside risks.
See More
Walmart Joins the $1 Trillion Market Club
- Strong E-commerce Growth: Walmart's e-commerce sales surged 27% year-over-year in Q3 2026, driving a 5.8% increase in total revenue, showcasing its robust competitiveness and ongoing appeal in the retail market.
- Store Advantage: With 4,700 stores serving as distribution hubs, Walmart can quickly fulfill orders, particularly in markets where Amazon does not yet offer same-day delivery, enhancing customer shopping experience and convenience.
- Market Expansion Potential: Walmart has a store within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population and over 10,800 stores globally, indicating significant expansion potential across various markets, especially maintaining stable growth under economic pressure.
- Dividend Stability: Having raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, Walmart is a Dividend King; despite a current yield of only 0.7%, its reliability and stability attract investors, further enhancing the stock's investment value.
See More
Bill Ackman's New Investment Position
- Portfolio Update: Bill Ackman's new investment position in Pershing Square Capital Management has garnered market attention, although specific investment details remain undisclosed, its influence is significant.
- Market Reaction: On the day of the video release, Ackman's portfolio could impact the trading performance of related stocks, with investors maintaining a keen interest in his investment strategies.
- Investor Education: The video aims to help viewers understand Ackman's investment philosophy, encouraging more people to pay attention to his decisions and market trends.
- Subscription and Engagement: The video also urges viewers to subscribe to the channel and click on the special offer link, reflecting Ackman and his team's proactive approach to engaging with investors through social media.
See More
Amazon's Q4 Earnings Report Triggers Stock Decline
- Surging Capital Expenditures: Amazon announced a capital expenditure of approximately $200 billion for 2026, a significant increase from $128 billion in 2025, raising concerns among investors about whether the returns on such spending will justify the costs.
- Strong AWS Growth: Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a 24% year-over-year sales increase in Q4, reaching $35.6 billion, marking the fastest growth in 13 quarters, driven by strong demand from AI customers, including OpenAI.
- AI-Driven Business Innovations: Amazon's investments in AI support growth across various platforms, with Amazon Connect achieving an annualized revenue run rate of $1 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting a 30% year-over-year growth, while over 1 million AI-powered robots in warehouses enhance shipping speeds.
- Improved Financial Performance: AI optimizations have led to a rapid increase in Amazon's gross profit margin, with operating income rising from $68.6 billion in 2024 to $80 billion in 2025, indicating strong long-term growth potential, making the current dip an attractive buying opportunity for investors.
See More
