Amazon.com IncAmazon's free cash flow has turned negative due to massive AI capex exceeding $150B annually.
As capital spending on AI by the five tech giants balloons roughly sixfold from 2019 to 2025 to around 412 billion dollars, a wide gap in financial health has emerged. Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta all generate operating cash flow from their core businesses that exceeds their investments, keeping free cash flow positive. In contrast, Amazon's free cash flow has shrunk sharply and recently turned negative due to massive annualized capital spending exceeding 150 billion dollars, while Oracle has plunged into a clear deficit after rapidly ramping up investment amid sluggish growth in operating cash flow, flashing a warning signal. Ryosuke Izumida, a former institutional investor, points out that the key to winning the AI investment race is whether core business cash flow is growing.
Amazon.com IncAmazon's free cash flow has turned negative due to massive AI capex exceeding $150B annually.
Alphabet Inc Class CAlphabet generates operating cash flow exceeding AI investments, keeping free cash flow positive.
Meta Platforms Inc.Meta generates operating cash flow exceeding AI investments, keeping free cash flow positive.
Microsoft CorporationMicrosoft generates operating cash flow exceeding AI investments, keeping free cash flow positive.
Oracle CorporationOracle's free cash flow has plunged into deficit due to rapid AI investment amid sluggish operating cash flow growth.