Amazon earnings live updates: Wall Street watching for cloud demand, advertising strength

Amazon will release its fourth-quarter earnings following the market close on Thursday, with analysts expressing optimism due to robust holiday demand and notable advertising revenue growth. As of Wednesday, Amazon's stock had risen 8% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 3% gain. The earnings report is scheduled for shortly after 4 p.m. ET, with a conference call to follow at 5 p.m. Analysts anticipate a consensus net sales estimate of $187.32 billion for the quarter, driven in part by online stores, third-party seller services, and subscription services. Key growth indicators also include a projected 19% increase in Amazon Web Services revenue. All eyes are on the tech giant as it navigates through a promising start to the new year, solidifying its position in the market.