'E-commerce on fire': Here's what 4 analysts expect from Amazon's first-quarter results

FILE PHOTO: Jeff Bezos, president and CEO of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, speaks at the Economic Club of Washington DC's "Milestone Celebration Dinner" in WashingtonReuters

• Amazon will release its first-quarter earnings Thursday afternoon, revealing how the e-commerce giant has performed throughout the coronavirus shutdown.
• Analysts expect the company's delivery business to soar as consumers shift to online shopping from quarantine.
• Other firms expect Amazon's Web Services segment to beat expectations as online traffic spikes.
• Here's what four analysts expect from the company's first-quarter report.
• Watch Amazon trade live here.

Amazon is slated to release its first-quarter results Thursday afternoon, and analysts are generally optimistic toward the e-commerce giant's mid-pandemic performance.

Early indicators suggest Amazon is one of the firms to benefit most from a spike in online shopping. Widespread lockdowns have forced consumers to turn to online options for most shopping. Amazon's sector dominance lifted share prices early on in the pandemic's life-cycle, and its shift to prioritizing essential items helped supply meet a massive uptick in demand. Others see a surge in web traffic as a boon to Amazon's Web Services business.

The company's hiring plans further hint at its balance sheet strength through the economic downturn. Amazon announced on April 13 it plans to hire an additional 75,000 employees across its delivery and warehouse operations. The retail titan added 100,000 new jobs in March.

Amazon's share price notched numerous record highs through April as investors bet on the firm to serve as one of the few market winners throughout the virus outbreak. The stock closed Wednesday at $2,378.22 per share, up 29% year-to-date.

Here's what four analysts expect from Amazon's first-quarter earnings report.

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