Top Analyst Reports for Amazon, Oracle & Merck

Research Daily presents insightful updates from analysts on key stocks. Today, we focus on Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), Oracle Corp. (ORCL), and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) among 16 major companies.

Amazon (AMZN) Rides on Prime & AWS Amid Rising Competition

Amazon's stock has increased by 4.1% over the past year, but this lags behind the Internet Commerce industry, which saw a 15.4% gain. The company's revenue growth is supported by strong performance in its Prime membership and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

AWS continues to expand, benefitting from an increased number of users and enhanced service offerings. Amazon is focusing on ultrafast delivery services and enriching its content library, which also supports growth. The online retail giant is building strong relationships with third-party sellers and has a booming advertising business.

Furthermore, Amazon is expanding into diverse areas like grocery, pharmacy, healthcare, and autonomous technology, which adds to its positive outlook. The company's investment in generative AI is expected to yield benefits. Analysts predict that net sales for 2025 will rise by 8.6% compared to 2024.

However, Amazon recently provided disappointing guidance for the first quarter, attributing this to foreign exchange impacts and the absence of an extra Leap Year day that could have aided growth.

Oracle (ORCL) Gains from Cloud Suite Adoption Amid Competition

Oracle's stock performance has outpaced the Computer Software industry in the last year, with shares rising by 13.8%, while the industry faced a decline of 6.2%. Recently, Oracle reported mixed results for fiscal Q3 2025, with earnings and revenue falling short of expectations. Nonetheless, the growth in cloud services, particularly its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, is notable.

Continued investment in cloud infrastructure positions Oracle well for ongoing success in the evolving software market. Partnerships with Amazon and Google enhance its cloud database offerings, which bodes well for future growth. Analysts foresee a 7.7% increase in net sales for fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024.

However, increased spending on product improvements to stay competitive in the cloud sector may limit margin gains.

Keytruda to Remain Merck's (MRK) Key Top-Line Driver

Merck shares have struggled, declining 29.7% over the past year, while the Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry shows a modest drop of 4.7%. The company is currently facing increased competition, particularly related to its diabetes treatments and ongoing challenges for the Gardasil vaccine in China. Concerns also loom regarding the loss of exclusivity for its blockbuster drug, Keytruda.

Despite these challenges, Keytruda's sales are expected to remain strong until patent expiration. Analyst estimates have remained steady ahead of the upcoming Q1 results. Merck's track record of earnings surprises has been positive in recent quarters.

Keytruda, along with new product introductions, continues to drive Merck's overall sales. The drug is likely to see continued growth through expanded indications, while the animal health division is also contributing positively to results. Merck maintains a strong pipeline focused on cancer treatments.

Additional featured reports today include updates on other major players like AT&T Inc., Danaher Corp., and Duke Energy Corp.

Amazon, Oracle, Merck