Key Highlights
- AMZN finished trading at $250.56, sitting 1.4% beneath its record closing price of $254.
- April has delivered a 20% gain, with positive closes in nine of the past 10 trading days.
- Truist analysts lifted their target to $285, anticipating 25% AWS revenue expansion in Q1.
- TD Cowen’s John Blackledge maintains a Buy recommendation with a $300 target.
- The company announced plans to purchase Globalstar for approximately $12 billion while securing a satellite partnership with Apple.
Amazon has assembled a remarkably consistent upward trajectory over recent weeks. Friday’s closing price of $250.56 marks the company’s strongest position since early November 2025, leaving shares within striking distance of their historical peak at $254.
The advance has unfolded methodically. AMZN posted gains in nine of its last 10 trading sessions, accumulating a 20% April surge. For the year, shares have climbed approximately 8.6%.
With the Q1 earnings release scheduled for April 29, investor focus has intensified. Wall Street expects earnings per share of $1.63, up slightly from $1.59 in the prior-year period. Revenue estimates cluster around $177 billion, reflecting roughly 14% annual growth.
Truist analyst Youssef Squali elevated his price objective Friday to $285 from $280 while reaffirming his Buy stance. His projections call for AWS revenue to expand 25% in Q1, marking an uptick from the 23% Q4 2024 rate. Squali attributes this acceleration to deepening AI collaborations with partners including OpenAI and Anthropic.
Squali also projects North America marketplace sales will advance approximately 10% year-over-year. He characterizes current macro challenges such as elevated fuel prices as “manageable” assuming they remain temporary.
Jim Cramer offered his perspective over the weekend, labeling Amazon “ascendant” while positioning it favorably against Microsoft, which he noted others have termed a “chronic underperformer.” Cramer indicated Amazon represents the superior investment opportunity currently, given its momentum compared to revenue deceleration concerns surrounding Microsoft.
Wall Street Eyes $300 Price Level
TD Cowen’s John Blackledge, recognized as a 5-star analyst, reaffirmed his Buy recommendation alongside a $300 price objective — representing approximately 20% appreciation from Friday’s session. His forecast places Q1 revenue modestly above consensus, with operating income tracking roughly 4% ahead of Street expectations.
Blackledge highlights high-margin advertising income and AWS as primary profit catalysts, complemented by ongoing fulfillment optimization gains.
Looking toward Q2 2026, his projections exceed Wall Street consensus by 1.5% on revenue and 5% on operating income — indicating expectations for sustained AWS momentum.
Industry-wide, Amazon commands a Strong Buy rating based on 42 Buy recommendations against just 3 Hold ratings. The consensus price objective sits at $284.77, suggesting approximately 14% appreciation potential from present levels.
During Q4 2025, AWS delivered 24% year-over-year revenue growth. CEO Andy Jassy characterized this performance as the division’s “fastest growth in 13 quarters” — a benchmark analysts are incorporating into their Q1 projections.
Strategic Satellite Expansion Announced
Beyond quarterly results, Amazon unveiled a significant strategic initiative this week. Tuesday brought news of an acquisition agreement for Globalstar at the equivalent of $90 per share — establishing a transaction value approaching $12 billion.
This move enables Amazon to develop its own satellite-based broadband infrastructure, challenging a space currently dominated by Elon Musk’s Starlink operation.
Simultaneously, Amazon finalized an arrangement with Apple to deliver satellite connectivity capabilities for existing and upcoming iPhone and Apple Watch products. This partnership builds upon a pre-existing Globalstar relationship Apple had previously established.
The Street’s average price target of $284.77 indicates potential upside of approximately 14% from AMZN’s latest close at $250.56.
