Stock Market Today, Nov. 5: Amazon Shares Slide as Technology Selloff Erases Early Gains
On Nov. 5, 2026, Amazon shares reversed an early rally as rising yields and tech selling took over the session.
On November 5, Amazon's stock plummeted, erasing early gains made that day. The company's shares fell to $260.21, a 2.19% decrease from their previous value. Investors were initially buoyed by Amazon's partnership with Uber, which promised free restaurant-delivery benefits to Prime members through Uber Eats. However, these early gains were short-lived as a technology sell-off swept through the market following U.S. midterm election results.
The Democratic Party's victory in Congress raised concerns about potential tighter AI regulations and a halt on data center construction projects, which are crucial for Amazon's artificial intelligence push.
Amazon's cloud computing division, AWS, is a major focus for investors. The company's profitability within AWS and its AI infrastructure spending are closely watched metrics. Trading volume was notably high at 83.5 million shares, nearly triple the three-month average of 38.5 million shares.
Amazon, the e-commerce giant that went public in 1997, has seen explosive growth with a 265,645% increase in value since its initial public offering. The broader market also experienced a downturn, with the S&P 500 closing at 7,354, down 4.36%, and the Nasdaq Composite at 24,315, down 5.52%.
Other companies in the same sector fared differently. Walmart closed at $127.72, down 1.12%, while Costco Wholesale opened at $1,065.59, up 1.83%. The broader tech sell-off was driven by worries that the incoming Democratic leadership in Congress could impose stricter regulations on AI and potentially delay data center construction, which could negatively impact Amazon's AWS business at a time when the company is heavily investing in AI infrastructure expansion.
The company's recent third-quarter earnings report fell short of revenue estimates, and capital expenditures continued to rise, leading to a negative Q3 free cash flow of $42.4 billion, compared to $14.8 billion in the previous year. This has raised concerns among Wall Street analysts about the impact of Amazon's increasing AI costs in a market with rising interest rates, which makes borrowing for AI development more expensive, and persistent inflation, which could affect consumer spending and sales.
Despite the current challenges, Amazon remains optimistic about its long-term prospects. The company forecasted a 40% year-over-year growth in AWS revenue by 2027 and 2028, driven by strong demand for its AI offerings. Management's confidence in AWS's future success underscores the potential long-term value of Amazon's AI investments.
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