Amazon record profits driven by change in marketing and server costs - Business Insider

But Amazon's quarterly filings show a large portion of its profit gains were led by a change in accounting estimates and a marketing cutback, showing how the company was able to boost its bottom line in the face of a pandemic. Growth in its higher-margin businesses, such as its cloud and advertising units, helped too, as its retail profitability dropped during the quarter.

The bigger impact, however, came from a reduction in marketing expenses. Amazon's CFO Brian Olsavsky said in a call with analysts that the company cut its marketing spend by "about a third" in the quarter to reduce the heavy customer demand pressuring its supply chain during COVID-19. That means Amazon spent roughly $2.1 billionon marketing than it normally would have during the quarter. Its marketing expense grew just 1% to $4.

Daniel Aobdia, an accounting professor at Northwestern University and a former fellow at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, told Business Insider that those two factors were key to Amazon's record profits. Given Amazon spent more than $4 billion on COVID-related initiatives, those changes helped offset the loss.

R.J. Hottovy, an analyst at Morningstar, said because of the massive $4 billion COVID-related expenses during the quarter, Amazon had to make up profits from other sources as well. That primarily came from Amazon's higher-margin units, including its cloud, advertising, and third-party seller marketplace, he said. While Amazon doesn't give a profit breakdown for its advertising and marketplace businesses, each unit's quarterly sales grew by 41% and 52%, respectively.

United States United States Latest News, United States United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's new life in Los Angeles - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web. Harry has rejected the traditional role of Court Buffoon which the courtiers and press have forced onto “spares” in the past. William will have to earn his respect without a manufactured “foil”. And who cares? We're so beyond, 'lifestyles of the rich and kinda famous.'
Source: BusinessInsider - 🏆 729. / 51 Read more »

Inside story: Humana's $100 million bet on telehealth startup Heal - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Source: BusinessInsider - 🏆 729. / 51 Read more »

Unemployed during coronavirus pandemic: Business Insider survey - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web. Well Good Evening, check me out then Work at a university. So yup. Unemployed. And they are clueless how to reopen so far.
Source: BusinessInsider - 🏆 729. / 51 Read more »

Investing advice, 5 commodities to buy for profits into 2021: BofA - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web. What uncertainty? For those that don’t have a paid account: 1) air 2) water 3) earth 4) fire 5 everything changed when the fire nation attacked
Source: BusinessInsider - 🏆 729. / 51 Read more »

How to make money from Amazon Influencer Program, affiliate commission - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Source: BusinessInsider - 🏆 729. / 51 Read more »