Amazon Reports Q3 Results on October 29 – Split Strategy Could Reduce Investor Risks

Amazon will release its third quarter 2026 results after market close on October 29, 2026. Investors face the question of whether they should enter the position before or after the earnings release – or whether a split strategy makes sense, where half a position is built before the quarterly report and the second half is purchased after publication.

Expectations for the Third Quarter

According to Yahoo Finance, analysts expect earnings per share of $1.96 and revenue of $202.20 billion for the third quarter 2026. Amazon itself provided guidance on August 20, 2026, of revenue between $197 and $202 billion and operating profit of $22.5 to $26.5 billion for the third quarter.

The earnings call is scheduled for 11:00 p.m. CEST on October 29, accompanied by a webcast and presentation slides.

Focus on AWS, Margins, and AI Investments

Three areas are at the centre of investor attention: growth in the cloud division AWS (Amazon Web Services), development of operating margins, and substantial spending on artificial intelligence and its associated infrastructure. AWS, alongside the advertising business and the stake in AI company Anthropic, is considered one of Amazon's key value drivers.

An analyst on Seeking Alpha rates the stock as "Buy" and plans to hold the position through the quarterly report. The rating is based on AWS, the advertising business, and the Anthropic stake. Another analysis from October 26, 2026 on Seeking Alpha values the company at $290 per share and points out that a potential IPO of Anthropic could create additional upside potential.

Multi-Year Earnings Expectations

For the full year 2026, analysts according to Yahoo Finance expect earnings per share of $8.03 – an increase of roughly 12 percent compared to $7.17 in fiscal year 2025. For the following year 2027, a further significant jump to $10.59 per share is projected, which would correspond to growth of just under 32 percent.

Split Strategy: Before or After the Earnings Report?

A split strategy – building half a position before the quarterly results, the second half afterwards – can make sense for investors wanting to reduce price risks around earnings releases. Those who acquire part of the position before October 29 secure an entry base and benefit if the numbers surprise positively. The downside: if the results or guidance disappoint, the first tranche can initially move into the red.

The second part of the position after the numbers has the advantage that uncertainty is eliminated. Investors can then decide on the basis of published facts – but possibly at a higher price if the numbers are good and the stock rises after hours.

A Seeking Alpha analysis from October 21, 2026 recommended a "Buy Now Before Q3 Earnings On 29 October" strategy, meaning entering before the numbers. The detailed reasoning is not available.

Market Environment and Index Performance

The broader market environment was recently subdued: the S&P 500 fell 0.52 percent to 7,623.68 points by October 23, 2026, 2:00 a.m. CEST compared to the previous close. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.21 percent to 25,955.34 points in the same period. The DAX was at 25,132.5 points, a decline of 0.98 percent since the previous close.

Whether a split strategy or a complete entry before or after the numbers is more advantageous can only be assessed in hindsight. What remains crucial is the question of how Amazon performs on AWS growth, margin dynamics, and AI investments – and whether the fourth quarter guidance meets expectations.