Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) Maintains "Buy" Grade Amidst Strategic Investments and Prime Growth

• Amazon's AI investment in Anthropic highlights its commitment to innovation, with the AI firm reaching a $61.5 billion valuation.
• Prime membership has surged to 250 million subscribers globally, demonstrating strong customer loyalty despite a price increase.
• Stock performance shows a slight decline, but Benchmark's "Buy" grade indicates confidence in Amazon's long-term growth potential.

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) is a global e-commerce and technology giant, known for its vast online marketplace, cloud computing services, and digital streaming offerings. The company competes with other major players like Walmart in retail and Microsoft in cloud services. On March 3, 2025, Benchmark maintained its "Buy" grade for AMZN, with the action being "hold," and the stock price was $208.15.

Amazon's investment in the AI sector is noteworthy, as highlighted by CNBC. The company-backed AI firm, Anthropic, recently achieved a valuation of $61.5 billion after a $3.5 billion funding round. This round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and included investors like Salesforce Ventures and Cisco Investments. Anthropic's AI chatbot, Claude, launched in March 2023, is gaining traction in sales and customer service.

Amazon's Prime membership has reached a record 250 million subscribers globally, despite a $20 increase in annual fees in early 2024. This growth is driven by the value offered through Prime Video, faster shipping, and exclusive deals. The price hike had minimal impact on retention, showcasing strong customer loyalty.

Despite these positive developments, Amazon's stock experienced a slight decline, down 0.6% in early trading, priced at $211.08. The stock is currently trading at $207.85, reflecting a decrease of 2.09% with a $4.43 drop. The stock has fluctuated between $206.69 and $214.01 during the day, with a market cap of approximately $2.2 trillion.

Amazon's stock has seen a high of $242.52 and a low of $151.61 over the past year. The company's trading volume stands at 21.8 million shares. Despite the recent dip, Benchmark's "Buy" grade suggests confidence in Amazon's long-term growth potential, supported by its strategic investments and expanding Prime membership.