The Incredible Growth of Amazon: A Look at Investor Returns

Amazon, the e-commerce giant, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of incredible growth and success. From humble beginnings as an online bookstore to becoming a global powerhouse selling everything under the sun, Amazon has come a long way.

Investors who had the foresight to invest in Amazon stock have reaped significant rewards over the years. With the stock price surging to almost $2,500 per share before a 20-for-one stock split in 2022, those who invested early have seen impressive returns.

Amazon’s success can be attributed to its leadership in two key markets – e-commerce and cloud computing. With a dominant market share in both sectors, Amazon continues to invest heavily in innovation and growth, ensuring its position as a market leader.

For those who invested $5,000 in Amazon stock 10 years ago, the return on investment has been remarkable. With a split-adjusted share price of $16.40 per share in 2014, that initial investment would have grown by 1,120% over the past decade, resulting in a total value of approximately $62,000.

But for those who had the foresight to invest in Amazon when it went public in 1997, the returns have been even more staggering. With a split-adjusted price of 10 cents per share at the time of its IPO, a $5,000 investment would now be worth a staggering $8.2 million, representing an average annualized return of 31%.

As Amazon enters its fourth decade, the company shows no signs of slowing down. With continued investment in innovation and growth, Amazon is poised for even more success in the years to come.