NEW YORK, Feb 25, 2026, 10:36 EST — Regular session
Amazon.com climbed 0.9% to $210.34 as of 10:36 a.m. EST Wednesday, moving alongside the Nasdaq. The stock’s been whipsawing, with investors balancing hefty AI investments and a growing list of legal and regulatory concerns. (Google)
The reason this stands out right now? Amazon straddles a pair of critical pressure points. First: the steep price tag for expanding its AI-ready cloud and data-center infrastructure, an area where investors are pressing harder for proof those dollars will pay off.
Another issue: regulators in both the U.S. and Europe are probing the company’s marketplace and how it operates, assessing just how much leverage Amazon wields over merchants and employees through its terms.
Bank of America’s Justin Post is sticking with his Buy rating and $275 price target, pointing to increased cloud capacity and a pickup in AI deals as potential sentiment boosters for Amazon Web Services. But Post flagged a risk too: he estimates “hyperscalers” — the largest cloud players — are on track to pour $1.2 trillion into capital expenditures over the coming two years, a level he says could squeeze pricing and push costs higher. (Investing)
Spain’s CNMC competition authority flagged Amazon and Apple for delays in dropping contract clauses that allegedly curbed Apple resellers on Amazon’s Spanish platform. The regulator warned that this could trigger another fine. Amazon plans to appeal. Apple, for its part, said it respects the CNMC but stands by its position against the ruling. (Reuters)
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta is pressing a state judge to halt what he describes as Amazon’s moves to keep merchants from offering lower prices elsewhere, part of an ongoing antitrust fight. The latest filing zeroes in on the “Buy Box,” that prominent area where customers click “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now.” Amazon, for its part, dismissed the push as “a transparent attempt to distract,” arguing the state’s case lacks strength. The trial is on the calendar for January 2027. (Reuters)
Italy’s privacy regulator has told Amazon Italia Logistica to halt its use of personal data from over 1,800 workers at a warehouse outside Rome, also blocking the company from processing footage gathered from cameras placed close to bathrooms and staff break rooms. Amazon responded that it’s looking into the order and will adjust its procedures if required. (Reuters)
Expansion remains in focus. Amazon plans to pour $12 billion into Louisiana, targeting new data centers, 540 full-time jobs, and a $400 million initiative to bolster local water systems. The company said it will shoulder the costs, partnering with Southwestern Electric Power to handle the electrical side. Amazon pointed out that its investments typically roll out in phases, spanning federal, state, and local announcements over multiple years. (Reuters)
Filings offered another angle. Amazon Web Services head Matthew Garman unloaded 17,751 Amazon shares on Feb. 23, according to a Form 4, acting under a Rule 10b5-1 pre-set trading plan. After the move, he had 9,405 shares left, plus more in a company 401(k) account. ([SEC][7])
Still, the bullish scenario comes with a clear risk: building and supplying the next generation of AI data centers could turn out to be tougher—and pricier—than investors are banking on. On Wednesday, Reuters pointed to turbine shortages, sluggish grid buildout, and regulatory snags as real choke points, just as tech giants are dialing up their spending. (Reuters)
The next key event for AI stocks is Nvidia’s quarterly earnings, set to hit after the bell on Wednesday. Investors usually watch these numbers closely, seeing them as a proxy for demand in cloud and AI infrastructure. “I don’t think it’s the end of the world,” said Ken Polcari, partner and chief market strategist at Slatestone Wealth, addressing anxiety over AI-related shakeups. (Reuters)
[7]: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1018724/000202481326000002/xslF345X05/wk-form4_1771972671.xml “SEC FORM
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