Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Sells $5.7 Billion in Stock Ahead of Q2 Earnings

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has sold $5.7 billion worth of shares since late June, with the final 4.2 million shares sold for $954 million just before the company's Q2 earnings report on July 31. Despite the sale, Bezos remains Amazon's largest shareholder, owning 884 million shares or 8% of the company. Analysts expect Q2 earnings of $1.32 per share on $162 billion in revenue, reflecting 4% and 9% growth from last year.

Amazon (AMZN) is set to release its Q2 earnings report on July 31, with analysts projecting robust revenues and earnings per share (EPS). The company is expected to reveal revenue figures of $162 billion with an EPS forecast of $1.32, reflecting 4% and 9% growth from last year, respectively [1].

Jeff Bezos, the company's founder, has been actively selling his shares. Since late June, he has sold $5.7 billion worth of Amazon stock, with the final 4.2 million shares sold for $954 million just before the earnings report. Despite the sale, Bezos remains Amazon's largest shareholder, owning 884 million shares or 8% of the company [2].

The sales are part of Bezos' ongoing strategy to reduce his personal stake in Amazon while funding new ventures and philanthropic projects. He plans to sell up to 25 million shares by May 2026, following a legally sound structure under Rule 10b5-1 to avoid insider trading accusations [2].

Analysts remain optimistic about Amazon's Q2 performance, with 67 seasoned analysts setting an average one-year price target of $251.34, a bullish high estimate of $305.00, and a conservative low estimate of $195.00. The average target signifies a potential upside of 10.59% from the current stock price of $227.27 [1]. Additionally, a collective assessment from 73 brokerage firms positions Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN, Financial) average brokerage recommendation at 1.7, categorized as "Outperform" [1].

Investors will be paying close attention to Amazon Web Services (AWS) performance, innovations driven by artificial intelligence, and how the logistics sector is faring. Despite some prior concerns regarding tariffs, analysts are optimistic about a surge in consumer demand coupled with improved margins [1].

References:
[1] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2998249/amazon-amzn-q2-earnings-preview-key-areas-to-watch
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/jeff-bezos-sells-1-5-billion-in-amazon-shares-heres-how-much-he-still-owns/articleshow/122932585.cms?from=mdr