Amazon Stock (AMZN) Delivers After $4B Rural America Pledge

Shares in U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon (AMZN) (AMZN) traveled xxx% higher today as it pledged to bring AI and more mascara to rural America. The group said it would be expanding same-day and next-day deliveries to over 4,000 smaller cities, towns and rural communities by the end of 2025. In addition, it said it was investing over $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by 2026, with a focus on small towns and rural communities across the country. For each new facility opened, Amazon estimates that an average of 170 jobs will be created. It said that it would also transform existing rural delivery stations into hybrid hubs storing inventory on site. One key aim is to speed up the pace of delivery to rural customers and improve the service offered to them. "It's about transforming daily life for rural customers, who typically live farther from brick-and-mortar retailers, have fewer product and brand choices, and face limited delivery options when shopping online," Amazon said. It said that its AI tools were already helping it predict local customer preferences, allowing it to stock popular items alongside products curated for specific communities. These tools include delivery location accuracy, product demand prediction, and intelligent robotics. Interestingly, Amazon, which is battling with rivals such as Walmart and Target to deliver goods to rural customers, said there were clear differences in what these shoppers bought by location. In the West of the U.S. customers like to buy coffee pods and face masks using same-day delivery, paper plates and mascara in the Midwest and water bottles and phone chargers in the South. Amazon also revealed that so far this year the number of items delivered the same or next day in the U.S. increased over 30% compared to the same period last year.">traveled 2.4% higher today as it pledged to bring AI and more mascara to rural America.

Triple Deliveries

The group said it would be expanding same-day and next-day deliveries to over 4,000 smaller cities, towns and rural communities by the end of 2025. In addition, it said it was investing over $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by 2026, with a focus on small towns and rural communities across the country.

For each new facility opened, Amazon estimates that an average of 170 jobs will be created. It said that it would also transform existing rural delivery stations into hybrid hubs storing inventory on site.

One key aim is to speed up the pace of delivery to rural customers and improve the service offered to them.

“It’s about transforming daily life for rural customers, who typically live farther from brick-and-mortar retailers, have fewer product and brand choices, and face limited delivery options when shopping online,” Amazon said.

Rural Choice

It said that its AI tools were already helping it predict local customer preferences, allowing it to stock popular items alongside products curated for specific communities.

These tools include delivery location accuracy, product demand prediction, and intelligent robotics.

Interestingly, Amazon, which is battling with rivals such as Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT) to deliver goods to rural customers, said there were clear differences in what these shoppers bought by location.

In the West of the U.S. customers like to buy coffee pods and face masks using same-day delivery, paper plates and mascara in the Midwest and water bottles and phone chargers in the South.

Amazon also revealed that so far this year the number of items delivered the same or next day in the U.S. increased over 30% compared to the same period last year.

Is AMZN a Good Stock to Buy Now?

On TipRanks, AMZN has a Strong Buy consensus based on 46 Buy and 1 Hold ratings. Its highest price target is $305. AMZN stock’s consensus price target is $242.48 implying an 13.73% upside.

See more AMZN analyst ratings