NEW YORK, Jan 20, 2026, 10:38 EST
Amazon keeps popping up in long-term “forever” stock lists released over the past day, with analysts citing the resilience of its cloud segment. Its shares dipped roughly 2% in late morning trading. Apple and Walmart also fell alongside the wider market, while Netflix edged up a bit.
European buyers, notably governments and regulated sectors, are ramping up pressure on U.S. cloud providers for “sovereign” solutions that ensure data and operational control stay within the EU. This surge in demand is forcing Big Tech to alter their products and boost spending, potentially shifting the future landscape of cloud revenue. 1
This also highlights how fast a fresh corporate move gets woven into retail-investor stories about “generational wealth.” The focus shifts away from the next quarter, zeroing in on whether the company can land its next big venture before the current one fizzles out.
Amazon’s AWS announced last week the launch of its AWS European Sovereign Cloud, featuring data centres that are “physically and legally separate” from its other infrastructure. Michael Hanisch, AWS Germany’s Chief Technology Officer, told Reuters the setup could “operate even if the European Union were disconnected from the internet.” The initiative will see an investment exceeding 7.8 billion euros, with the first data centre under construction in Brandenburg. Reuters also noted that Microsoft and Google are promoting Europe-based cloud options aimed at clients with stricter data rules. 2
AWS announced in a blog post that its first sovereign cloud Region in Brandenburg is now generally available, built to operate independently even if external connectivity fails. The company outlined plans for new sovereign Local Zones in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal. It also detailed an operating model intended to be managed by EU residents, with a shift toward EU citizens running it and an advisory board composed solely of EU citizens. 3
In a “Forever Portfolio” column released Monday, Motley Fool’s Keith Speights named Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Intuitive Surgical, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals as stocks he intends to hold indefinitely. Amazon’s latest filings reveal AWS pulled in $93.146 billion in net sales during the first nine months of 2025, generating $33.141 billion in operating income—roughly 60% of Amazon’s total operating income for that stretch. Speights highlighted this AWS dominance as a key part of Amazon’s long-term appeal. 4
On Tuesday, James Brumley of Motley Fool highlighted Amazon, Walmart, and Netflix as “generational wealth” picks, citing their strongholds in key markets. He pointed to Amazon’s knack for launching ventures beyond retail, Walmart’s dominance in physical stores, and the unsettled nature of streaming as factors that could sustain their relevance longer than many large firms. 5
On Monday, Finviz highlighted a third analysis from Insider Monkey that positioned AWS’s sovereign cloud rollout as a clear boost to Amazon’s long-term growth narrative. The piece emphasized the operational split in Europe and the company’s planned investment. 6
But “forever” bets can sour. Building sovereign clouds is costly and filling them takes time, and Europe’s legal battles over data access won’t disappear just because the servers are inside the EU. Competition is fierce across cloud, retail, and streaming sectors. Meanwhile, every healthcare company mentioned faces the typical drug development and regulatory risks that can upend growth narratives in a flash.
So far this week, investors are zeroing in on companies with diverse revenue streams — think cloud, retail, devices, subscriptions — viewing policy changes in Europe as potential growth drivers rather than obstacles over the long term.
