On Monday, I picked up on an article, the first of a series on Amazon that appeared in the Financial Times. For the rest of this past week, the FT published substantial reviews of the Amazon's strategy, its perceived strengths and weaknesses, and its overall value. The coverage, largely written by Barney Jopson, included:
- "From warehouse to powerhouse", the article I linked to on Monday
- "The Bezos doctrine of ruthless pragmatism", an examination of Amazon's performance culture
- "Amazon finds upside to sales tax payment", covering the company's push into same-day delivery in some markets
- "Amazon plays catch-up in digital media", detailing its lagging positions in the tablet, digital music and digital movie markets
- "Lex in depth", comparing Amazon to Walmart at similar stages in the two companies' growth
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The last article, which was published on July 13, argues that Amazon's stock is overvalued and should not be considered a strong buy. It concludes:
"It is impossible not to admire what Amazon has achieved so far or not feel excited about what it could achieve in the next 20 years. But investing is not about excitement. It is about balancing risk and reward and knowing what is predictable and what is not. Wait for a reduced valuation before clicking 'buy'."
Although all five articles offer good information about the company, regular Amazon-watchers might find relatively little new ground in the first three. The digital media and stock-valuation pieces are worth seeking out, especially if you feel you already know all there is to know about Amazon.
