Stock Analysis on Net

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

$24.99

Economic Value Added (EVA)

Microsoft Excel

EVA is registered trademark of Stern Stewart.

Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.

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Economic Profit

Amazon.com Inc., economic profit calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1
Cost of capital2
Invested capital3
 
Economic profit4

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

1 NOPAT. See details »

2 Cost of capital. See details »

3 Invested capital. See details »

4 2024 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= × =


Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
The NOPAT exhibited significant volatility over the five-year period. It increased substantially from 24,183 million US dollars in 2020 to a peak of 37,525 million in 2021. However, there was a sharp decline into negative territory in 2022, with a value of -5,619 million. This loss was followed by a recovery in 2023 and further substantial growth in 2024, reaching 58,988 million US dollars. This pattern indicates fluctuating operational profitability with a notable turnaround after a difficult year in 2022.
Cost of Capital
The cost of capital showed moderate fluctuation across the years. It decreased from 15.35% in 2020 to 14.53% in 2022, suggesting a slight reduction in the company's expense of funding its capital. Subsequently, it increased again to 15.16% in 2023 and further to 15.46% in 2024, indicating a rising capital cost towards the end of the period.
Invested Capital
Invested capital demonstrated a consistent upward trend throughout the period. Starting at 150,160 million US dollars in 2020, it increased significantly each year, reaching 375,421 million in 2024. This continuous growth points to substantial and sustained investment in the company's assets over the observed years.
Economic Profit
Economic profit varied considerably during the period. It rose from 1,127 million US dollars in 2020 to 6,916 million in 2021, reflecting improved value creation beyond the cost of capital. However, in 2022, it sharply declined to -44,744 million, indicating value destruction that year. Although there was some improvement in 2023 with economic profit at -17,652 million, the company remained below the cost of capital threshold. A slight positive economic profit of 951 million in 2024 suggests marginal value generation in the final year.
Summary
Overall, the data depict a company experiencing significant operational and financial fluctuations. While invested capital steadily increased, implying ongoing asset expansion or investment, profitability was inconsistent. The sharp negative performance in 2022, both in terms of NOPAT and economic profit, contrasts with strong recoveries in subsequent years. The cost of capital fluctuated moderately, adding complexity to value creation dynamics. By 2024, the company showed signs of returning to positive economic profit territory, although profitability and value generation remain areas requiring close management attention.

Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)

Amazon.com Inc., NOPAT calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Net income (loss)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)1
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts2
Increase (decrease) in unearned revenue3
Increase (decrease) in equity equivalents4
Interest expense
Interest expense, operating lease liability5
Adjusted interest expense
Tax benefit of interest expense6
Adjusted interest expense, after taxes7
(Gain) loss on marketable securities
Interest income
Investment income, before taxes
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income8
Investment income, after taxes9
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

1 Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »

2 Addition of increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts.

3 Addition of increase (decrease) in unearned revenue.

4 Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to net income (loss).

5 2024 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= × =

6 2024 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense = Adjusted interest expense × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =

7 Addition of after taxes interest expense to net income (loss).

8 2024 Calculation
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income = Investment income, before tax × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =

9 Elimination of after taxes investment income.


Net Income (Loss)
The net income fluctuated significantly over the five-year period. Beginning at $21,331 million in 2020, there was a substantial increase to $33,364 million in 2021. However, 2022 marked a notable downturn with a net loss of $2,722 million. This negative performance rebounded sharply in the subsequent years, reaching $30,425 million in 2023 and further rising to $59,248 million in 2024. The data indicates a strong recovery and growth trajectory after the loss experienced in 2022.
Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
NOPAT followed a similar pattern to net income, starting at $24,183 million in 2020 and rising to $37,525 million in 2021. It then experienced a sharp decline to a negative $5,619 million in 2022, deeper than the net income loss in the same year, indicating challenges in operating profitability. However, a significant recovery occurred in 2023 with NOPAT increasing to $31,856 million, followed by a strong increase to $58,988 million in 2024. This suggests an improvement in the company's core operational efficiency and profitability in the last two years.
Overall Analysis
The financial results reveal volatility, with a peak in 2021, a pronounced downturn in 2022, and substantial recovery and growth by 2024. The presence of negative figures in 2022 for both net income and NOPAT indicates operational and profitability challenges during that year. The subsequent rebound in 2023 and 2024 demonstrates strong adaptive or strategic measures resulting in enhanced earnings and operating profit, achieving new highs at the end of the evaluated period.

Cash Operating Taxes

Amazon.com Inc., cash operating taxes calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Provision (benefit) for income taxes, net
Less: Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
Add: Tax savings from interest expense
Less: Tax imposed on investment income
Cash operating taxes

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).


Provision (benefit) for income taxes, net
The net provision for income taxes showed considerable volatility over the observed periods. In 2020 and 2021, the provision increased significantly from 2,863 million USD to 4,791 million USD. However, the year 2022 presented an unusual pattern with a net tax benefit of -3,217 million USD, indicating a reversal or tax benefit situation rather than a conventional tax expense. Subsequently, the provision rose again sharply to 7,120 million USD in 2023 and further to 9,265 million USD in 2024, reflecting a substantial increase in tax obligations or adjustments during these years.
Cash operating taxes
Cash operating taxes exhibited a steadily increasing trend from 3,844 million USD in 2020 to 5,646 million USD in 2021, followed by a more moderate rise to 5,689 million USD in 2022. In 2023, there was a notable surge to 13,583 million USD, nearly doubling the previous year's amount. This upward momentum continued in 2024 with cash operating taxes reaching 14,023 million USD. The substantial increase observed in the last two years suggests significant growth in actual tax payments, potentially correlated with rising taxable income or changes in tax rates and regulations.

Invested Capital

Amazon.com Inc., invested capital calculation (financing approach)

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Current portion of lease liabilities, finance leases
Current portion of long-term debt
Long-term lease liabilities, finance leases, excluding current portion
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
Operating lease liability1
Total reported debt & leases
Stockholders’ equity
Net deferred tax (assets) liabilities2
Allowance for doubtful accounts3
Unearned revenue4
Equity equivalents5
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax6
Adjusted stockholders’ equity
Construction in progress7
Marketable securities8
Invested capital

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

1 Addition of capitalized operating leases.

2 Elimination of deferred taxes from assets and liabilities. See details »

3 Addition of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.

4 Addition of unearned revenue.

5 Addition of equity equivalents to stockholders’ equity.

6 Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.

7 Subtraction of construction in progress.

8 Subtraction of marketable securities.


Total reported debt & leases

Over the five-year period, total reported debt and leases exhibited an overall increasing trend from 100,504 million US dollars in 2020 to a peak of 154,972 million in 2022. This increase suggests a significant rise in the company's leverage or obligations during these years. However, this peak level of debt was relatively maintained in 2023, with a slight decrease to 154,556 million, followed by a further moderate reduction to 147,838 million in 2024. The slight decline in the last two years might indicate strategic deleveraging or improved debt management efforts.

Stockholders’ equity

Stockholders' equity demonstrated strong and consistent growth throughout the period under review. Starting at 93,404 million US dollars in 2020, equity levels increased markedly year over year, reaching 138,245 million in 2021 and continuing upward to 146,043 million in 2022. This growth accelerated significantly during 2023 and 2024, culminating in a sizable equity base of 285,970 million by the end of 2024. The substantial rise in equity in the final years suggests enhanced retained earnings, possible equity issuances, or asset revaluations, which strengthen the company's net asset position and financial stability.

Invested capital

Invested capital showed a continuous and pronounced increase across the five years. Beginning at 150,160 million US dollars in 2020, it increased substantially to 202,836 million in 2021, then accelerated its upward trajectory to 269,358 million in 2022. The growth sustained momentum through 2023 and 2024, reaching 326,668 million and 375,421 million respectively. This pattern indicates significant expansion in the company's total capital employed in operations, possibly due to investments in long-term assets, acquisitions, or business growth initiatives.


Cost of Capital

Amazon.com Inc., cost of capital calculations

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt and finance leases3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt and finance leases. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt and finance leases3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt and finance leases. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt and finance leases3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt and finance leases. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt and finance leases3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt and finance leases. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt and finance leases3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt and finance leases. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »


Economic Spread Ratio

Amazon.com Inc., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Economic profit1
Invested capital2
Performance Ratio
Economic spread ratio3
Benchmarks
Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors4
Home Depot Inc.
Lowe’s Cos. Inc.
TJX Cos. Inc.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

1 Economic profit. See details »

2 Invested capital. See details »

3 2024 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


Economic Profit
Economic profit experienced significant volatility over the period. Starting at 1,127 million US dollars in 2020, it increased sharply to 6,916 million in 2021. However, it then declined dramatically into negative territory, reaching -44,744 million in 2022, followed by a partial recovery to -17,652 million in 2023, and finally returning to a small positive value of 951 million in 2024. This pattern indicates periods of considerable financial challenges, particularly during 2022 and 2023, with a tentative improvement seen in the final year.
Invested Capital
Invested capital showed a consistent upward trend throughout the entire period. The value increased from 150,160 million US dollars in 2020 to 375,421 million in 2024. This steady growth suggests ongoing investments or asset accumulation, reflecting expanding capital base or operations over time.
Economic Spread Ratio
The economic spread ratio, which reflects the difference between return on invested capital and the cost of capital, followed a pattern similar to economic profit. It was positive but modest at 0.75% in 2020, rose sharply to 3.41% in 2021, then turned significantly negative to -16.61% in 2022 and -5.4% in 2023, before improving to a small positive of 0.25% in 2024. This indicates that the company’s returns exceeded its capital costs initially, but subsequently fell below these costs for two years before returning to near break-even levels.
Summary
The data show a period of significant financial stress between 2022 and 2023 characterized by large negative economic profits and negative economic spreads, despite the invested capital steadily increasing. The recovery observed in 2024 is modest but positive, suggesting initial signs of financial improvement following a difficult period. The consistent increase in invested capital coupled with fluctuating profitability measures may point to challenges in generating adequate returns on the expanded asset base during the middle years.

Economic Profit Margin

Amazon.com Inc., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Economic profit1
 
Net sales
Add: Increase (decrease) in unearned revenue
Adjusted net sales
Performance Ratio
Economic profit margin2
Benchmarks
Economic Profit Margin, Competitors3
Home Depot Inc.
Lowe’s Cos. Inc.
TJX Cos. Inc.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

1 Economic profit. See details »

2 2024 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Adjusted net sales
= 100 × ÷ =

3 Click competitor name to see calculations.


Adjusted Net Sales
There is a consistent upward trend in adjusted net sales from 2020 to 2024. The values increased from approximately 387 billion US dollars in 2020 to over 641 billion US dollars in 2024. This steady growth indicates expanding revenue generation over the periods analyzed.
Economic Profit
Economic profit shows a volatile pattern. It initially rose from 1,127 million US dollars in 2020 to 6,916 million US dollars in 2021, suggesting improved profitability and value creation during that period. However, this positive trend was reversed dramatically in 2022, with economic profit turning negative at -44,744 million US dollars. The negative economic profit persisted in 2023 with -17,652 million US dollars but improved significantly in 2024 to a positive 951 million US dollars. This suggests substantial challenges impacting economic profitability during 2022 and 2023, followed by a notable recovery in 2024.
Economic Profit Margin
The economic profit margin follows a similar pattern to economic profit. It increased from 0.29% in 2020 to 1.46% in 2021, reflecting an improvement in profitability relative to sales. In 2022, the margin dropped sharply to -8.67%, indicating significant losses relative to sales. Though this deficit decreased to -3.05% in 2023, it remains negative, signaling ongoing profitability challenges. By 2024, the margin improved to a marginally positive 0.15%, aligning with the recovery seen in economic profit.
Overall Insights
Despite robust growth in adjusted net sales, the company faced significant economic profit and margin difficulties starting in 2022 and continuing through 2023. The negative economic profits and margins imply that costs, capital charges, or other factors substantially outweighed sales growth during these years. The partial recovery in 2024 indicates a possible stabilization or strategic adjustments that enhanced economic value. Continued monitoring of profitability metrics relative to sales is essential to assess whether this recovery is sustainable.