Vest Financial LLC Reduces Holdings in Amazon.com, Inc.

Vest Financial LLC has decreased its holdings in Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report) by 0.9% during the second quarter of the year, as indicated by their most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). After selling off 116 shares during this quarter, Vest Financial now holds a total of 13,428 shares of the prominent e-commerce company. At the close of the latest reporting period, the value of Vest Financial’s stake in Amazon.com was approximately $2,595,000.

Other institutional investors have also been active with their AMZN positions in recent times. For example, Lansing Street Advisors significantly increased their investment in Amazon.com by 41.1% during the second quarter, bringing their total ownership to 2,288 shares valued at $442,000. Similarly, Main Street Financial Solutions LLC raised its stake by 5.4%, now holding 56,370 shares worth around $10,894,000 after acquiring an additional 2,868 shares in that period.

Parametrica Management Ltd made a notable increase as well, expanding its holdings in Amazon.com by an impressive 55.6%, resulting in a total of 20,965 shares valued at $4,051,000 following the purchase of 7,491 additional shares. Furthermore, Vanguard Capital Wealth Advisors also enhanced its stake by 3.2%, owning 62,960 shares now valued at $12,167,000 after acquiring another 1,935 shares. Meanwhile, Wealthgarden F.S. LLC entered a new position in Amazon.com worth approximately $879,000 during the second quarter. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own about 72.20% of Amazon.com’s stock.

Performance of Amazon.com Shares

As of Friday, shares of AMZN opened at $188.82. The company's 50-day moving average stands at $179.58, while the 200-day moving average is at $183.17. Amazon.com currently displays a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.10, and a quick ratio of 0.88. Its market capitalization is approximately $1.98 trillion, and the company reports a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.17, along with a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta value of 1.14. Over the past year, Amazon.com shares have seen a low of $118.35 and a high of $201.20.

On August 1st, Amazon.com reported its quarterly earnings, showcasing earnings per share (EPS) of $1.23, which exceeded the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.18. The company generated revenues of $147.98 billion for the quarter, slightly below the analyst expectations of $148.63 billion. Amazon reported a net profit margin of 7.35% and a return on equity of 21.39%. Analysts predict that Amazon.com will post an EPS of 4.85 for the current fiscal year.

Insider Trading Activities

In addition to institutional activities, there has been notable insider trading within Amazon.com. On September 24th, senior vice president David Zapolsky sold 2,190 shares at an average price of $195.00, bringing the total transaction value to $427,050. Following this sale, Zapolsky maintained ownership of 62,420 shares valued at approximately $12,171,900, resulting in no change to his overall shareholding percentage. In a related transaction, CEO Andrew R. Jassy sold 20,784 shares on August 21st at an average price of $180.77, totaling approximately $3,757,123.68 in transactions. After this sale, Jassy still holds about 2,056,534 shares valued close to $371.76 million. Combined, these insider transactions represent a 0.00% decrease in their ownership. Over the previous ninety days, insiders have sold 54,355 shares worth around $9,877,423, and corporate insiders own roughly 10.80% of Amazon’s stock.

Analysts' Perspectives

Recently, several research firms have published their analyses on Amazon.com’s stock. Pivotal Research started coverage with a “buy” rating and set a price target of $260.00. Additionally, Wedbush reiterated its “outperform” rating and maintained a price target of $225.00 on Amazon.com shares. Maxim Group increased its target price from $238.00 to $251.00, affirming a “buy” rating for the stock. In contrast, Jefferies Financial Group adjusted its price target down from $235.00 to $225.00, sticking with a “buy” rating. Evercore ISI also reaffirmed an “outperform” rating with a price target of $240.00. Overall, there have been two hold ratings, forty-two buy ratings, and one strong buy rating for Amazon.com, leading to an overall average rating of “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of approximately $224.00.

Insights into Amazon.com

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. is involved in various sectors, primarily focusing on the retail sale of products, advertising, and subscription services through both online and physical platforms globally. The company operates through key segments which include North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Additionally, it is known for creating and selling electronic devices such as the Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero, besides engaging in media content development and production.

Holdings, Investment, Stocks