Amazon's two risks: it's spending $147 billion a year on AI — so much that it's now taking on debt to fund it — and the government is suing to rein in its retail dominance.
↓ the brief below
The bet, on credit · long-term debt
$119
B
Long-term debt jumped from $66B to $119B in a single quarter. Amazon is now borrowing to fund the AI build — on top of all the cash it already spends.
Amazon spent $147 billion on property and equipment over the past year — primarily AI infrastructure — which drove free cash flow down to roughly $1 billion and pushed it to borrow tens of billions more.
↳ If AI demand keeps growing, this looks visionary. If it cools, Amazon is left with a mountain of expensive, half-used data centers and new debt to service.
Amazon's size is its strength — and a target. U.S. and state regulators have sued, arguing Amazon uses its dominance in ways that harm sellers and shoppers. A loss could force changes to how the store is run.
Wall Street calls this
Antitrust risk
The retail flywheel from Chapter 3 is exactly what the cases aim to slow down.
From the 10-K · the legal front
We are litigating a number of matters alleging price fixing, monopolization, and consumer protection claims, including those brought by state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission.
↳ This is the government trying to constrain the very scale that makes Amazon Amazon. Combined with the capex bet, it's two big uncertainties at once.
Source · 10-K · Legal Proceedings / Commitments and Contingencies · FY2025 · Filed Feb 6, 2026
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A $147B/yr AI bet now funded partly by debt, while the FTC sues to rein Amazon in.