Understanding Amazon.com's Position In Broadline Retail Industry Compared To Competitors

In the dynamic and fiercely competitive business environment, conducting a thorough analysis of companies is crucial for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will perform an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Amazon.com AMZN in relation to its major competitors in the Broadline Retail industry. By closely examining crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.

Amazon.com Background

Amazon is the leading online retailer and marketplace for third party sellers. Retail related revenue represents approximately 75% of total, followed by Amazon Web Services' cloud computing, storage, database, and other offerings (15%), advertising services (5% to 10%), and other the remainder. International segments constitute 25% to 30% of Amazon's non-AWS sales, led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

By conducting a comprehensive analysis of Amazon.com, the following trends become evident:

• The Price to Earnings ratio of 46.68 for this company is 2.26x above the industry average, indicating a premium valuation associated with the stock.

• The elevated Price to Book ratio of 8.86 relative to the industry average by 1.69x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.

• The Price to Sales ratio of 3.76, which is 2.28x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.

• With a Return on Equity (ROE) of 6.19% that is 0.93% below the industry average, it appears that the company exhibits potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.

• The Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $32.08 Billion is 4.6x above the industry average, highlighting stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.

• With higher gross profit of $31.0 Billion, which indicates 2.15x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.

• The company's revenue growth of 11.04% is notably higher compared to the industry average of 7.92%, showcasing exceptional sales performance and strong demand for its products or services.

Debt To Equity Ratio

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio gauges the extent to which a company has financed its operations through debt relative to equity.

Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.

By evaluating Amazon.com against its top 4 peers in terms of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following observations arise:

• Compared to its top 4 peers, Amazon.com has a stronger financial position indicated by its lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

• This suggests that the company relies less on debt financing and has a more favorable balance between debt and equity, which can be seen as a positive attribute by investors.

Key Takeaways

For PE, PB, and PS ratios, Amazon.com is considered overvalued compared to its peers in the Broadline Retail industry. This is indicated by the high PE, PB, and PS ratios. In terms of ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth, Amazon.com's performance is relatively weaker compared to its industry peers. The low ROE suggests lower profitability, while the high EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth indicate strong operational performance despite lower profitability.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.