Inquiry Into Amazon.com's Competitor Dynamics In Broadline Retail Industry

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.

When analyzing Amazon.com, the following trends become evident:

• At 48.28, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio significantly exceeds the industry average by 2.26x, suggesting a premium valuation relative to industry peers.

• With a Price to Book ratio of 9.17, which is 1.7x the industry average, Amazon.com might be considered overvalued in terms of its book value, as it is trading at a higher multiple compared to its industry peers.

• The stock's relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 3.89, surpassing the industry average by 2.26x, may indicate an aspect of overvaluation in terms of sales performance.

• The company has a lower Return on Equity (ROE) of 6.19%, which is 0.93% below the industry average. This indicates potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits, which could be attributed to various factors.

• 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.

• The gross profit of $31.0 Billion is 2.15x above that of its industry, highlighting stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.

• The company's revenue growth of 11.04% exceeds the industry average of 7.92%, indicating strong sales performance and market outperformance.

Debt To Equity Ratio

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio provides insights into the proportion of debt a company has in relation to its equity and asset value.

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 considering the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Amazon.com can be compared to its top 4 peers, leading to the following observations:

• Amazon.com demonstrates a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers in the sector.

• With a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, the company relies less on debt financing and maintains a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.

Key Takeaways

For Amazon.com, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to its peers in the Broadline Retail industry, indicating that the stock may be overvalued. The low ROE suggests that Amazon.com is not generating significant returns on shareholder equity. However, the high EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth show that the company is performing well in terms of operational and financial metrics compared to its industry peers.

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