NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2025, 9:52 a.m. ET — Market Closed
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) heads into the final trading days of 2025 with U.S. markets shut for the weekend and investors weighing a fresh company headline against a broadly upbeat year-end tape.
The most notable Amazon-specific news in the past 24–48 hours: the company said it will halt plans to launch commercial drone deliveries in Italy, citing the country’s broader regulatory environment after what it described as constructive engagement with aerospace authorities. [1]
For shareholders, the near-term question is whether the Italy drone decision is treated as a one-off operational adjustment—or as another reminder that some of Amazon’s long-horizon innovation bets can face uneven regulatory paths across regions.
Where Amazon stock stands with markets closed
Amazon shares last finished the week at $232.52 at Friday’s close (Dec. 26), with the stock’s market capitalization around $2.49 trillion. [2]
Key reference points investors are watching into Monday’s open:
With markets closed, there’s no new price discovery until the next U.S. session begins. Still, weekend headlines can shape Monday’s tone—especially in a low-liquidity, year-end environment where price moves can be exaggerated.
The headline in focus: Amazon halts drone-delivery plans in Italy
Amazon said Sunday it has decided not to pursue commercial drone deliveries in Italy, explaining that while it “made good progress” with the country’s aerospace regulators, the broader business regulatory framework did not support the company’s longer-term objectives for the drone program. [5]
Italy’s civil aviation authority, ENAC, called the decision unexpected and suggested it was tied to internal company policy following “recent financial events involving the Group,” according to Reuters. [6]
The Italy pullback comes after Amazon previously highlighted successful initial drone tests in San Salvo (Abruzzo) in December 2024, positioning the country as a potential next step for expanding its Prime Air ambitions. [7]
Why this matters to AMZN investors
Drone delivery has never been a core driver of Amazon’s near-term earnings model—AWS, advertising, and retail efficiency remain far larger profit levers. But the drone story can influence sentiment because it touches on:
- Regulatory friction in Europe (timelines, approvals, operational constraints)
- Capital discipline and prioritization (what initiatives get scaled vs. paused)
- Innovation narrative (how aggressively Amazon can operationalize frontier logistics)
In other words, Italy may not move the quarterly numbers, but it can affect the “Amazon optionality” story that helps underpin long-duration valuations.
Analyst forecasts and the Street’s current posture on AMZN
Despite Amazon stock’s comparatively muted 2025 performance versus some mega-cap peers, the sell-side tone remains broadly constructive.
- Consensus view: MarketBeat lists Amazon with a consensus “Moderate Buy” and an average price target around $295.50. [8]
- Recent notable target: Oppenheimer raised its Amazon price target to $305 (from $290) earlier this month, with its thesis leaning heavily on AWS valuation math and longer-term margin opportunity. [9]
- Coverage initiation: Guggenheim initiated coverage with a Buy recommendation in mid-December, according to reporting compiled by Fintel and published via Nasdaq. [10]
Separately, some newly published weekend commentary continues to frame Amazon as an “AI infrastructure monetization” story—especially through AWS and higher-margin layers like ads—though investors should distinguish independent commentary from formal bank research. [11]
The market backdrop into Monday: year-end momentum, thin liquidity, Fed focus
Amazon’s next move won’t happen in a vacuum. Reuters’ latest “week ahead” outlook underscores that U.S. equities have been pressing near record territory, with the S&P 500 roughly 1% from 7,000 after a record close last week, and positioned for an extended monthly winning streak. [12]
Strategists interviewed by Reuters emphasized that year-end positioning and lighter volumes can amplify swings. Paul Nolte, senior wealth adviser and market strategist at Murphy & Sylvest Wealth Management, said: “Momentum is certainly on the side of the bulls.” [13]
The week also brings macro catalysts. Reuters notes that minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December meeting are due Tuesday, which markets may parse for clarity on the rate path. Michael Reynolds, vice president of investment strategy at Glenmede, told Reuters the minutes could be “illuminating” in understanding arguments around the table. [14]
For mega-cap stocks like Amazon, rate expectations matter because they can shift how investors discount future cash flows—often impacting higher-duration growth names most.
What investors should know before the next session
With the exchange closed, the practical setup for Amazon stock into Monday is less about intraday price ticks and more about what could change sentiment at the open.
Here are the key items to monitor before the next regular session:
- Any follow-on reporting or clarification around Italy’s drone decision.
Watch for additional detail on whether the move is isolated to Italy or signals a broader recalibration of Prime Air expansion priorities. (So far, the company’s statement points specifically to Italy’s broader regulatory framework.) [15] - The year-end “tape” and liquidity conditions.
Reuters highlights that portfolio adjustments and thin trading can heighten volatility even without major news—relevant for widely held mega-caps like AMZN. [16] - Rates narrative and Fed expectations.
If Fed minutes shift the market’s confidence around 2026 cuts, that can spill into big tech leadership—either supporting risk-on positioning or triggering rotation. [17] - The ongoing debate: AI spend vs. AI payoff.
Amazon sits at the center of the capex-and-cloud narrative through AWS. That makes the stock sensitive not just to Amazon headlines, but also to broader read-throughs from cloud and AI infrastructure demand.
Bottom line for AMZN heading into the next open
Amazon enters the last stretch of 2025 trading with its stock near $232 and market value near $2.5 trillion, while the broader market’s year-end tone remains constructive but potentially jittery due to thin liquidity and macro catalysts. [18]
The Italy drone-delivery halt is the biggest fresh company headline this weekend. It may not change near-term earnings math, but it reinforces a theme investors keep returning to with Amazon: the company’s biggest upside engines (AWS, advertising, efficiency) sit alongside ambitious bets that can be highly dependent on local regulatory and operational realities. [19]
References
1. www.reuters.com, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. finance.yahoo.com, 4. stockanalysis.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.marketbeat.com, 9. www.investing.com, 10. www.nasdaq.com, 11. seekingalpha.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. stockanalysis.com, 19. www.reuters.com
