Operating Expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Amazon Stock-based compensation expense decreased by 28.9% to $4.03B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 9.3%, from $3.69B to $4.03B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Stock-based compensation expense shows an upward trend with a 12.9% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ1 2007
Last reportedQ1 2026Apr 30, 2026
How to read this metric
Higher levels indicate significant use of equity for compensation, which can lead to shareholder dilution over time.
Detailed definition
This represents the expense recognized for equity-based awards granted to employees, such as stock options or restricted...
Peer comparison
Standard operating expense for most public companies, particularly in competitive talent markets.
Metric ID:
ms_stock_based_compensationHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $3.59B | $3.18B | $3.68B | $3.25B | $5.21B | $5.56B | $5.61B | $4.75B | $7.13B | $5.83B | $6.32B | $4.96B | $6.72B | $5.33B | $5.00B | $3.69B | $6.53B | $4.85B | $5.67B | $4.03B |
| QoQ Change | — | -11.4% | +15.7% | -11.7% | +60.3% | +6.7% | +0.9% | -15.3% | +50.1% | -18.2% | +8.4% | -21.5% | +35.5% | -20.7% | -6.3% | -26.1% | +77.1% | -25.8% | +17.0% | -28.9% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +45.1% | +74.7% | +52.3% | +46.1% | +36.8% | +4.9% | +12.7% | +4.5% | -5.7% | -8.5% | -21.0% | -25.6% | -2.8% | -9.1% | +13.5% | +9.3% |
Range$3.18B – $7.13B
CAGR+2.5%
Avg YoY Growth+14.2%
Median YoY Growth+7.1%
Stock-based compensation expense at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Amazon's stock-based compensation expense?
- Amazon (AMZN) reported stock-based compensation expense of $4.03B in Q1 2026.
- How has Amazon's stock-based compensation expense changed year-over-year?
- Amazon's stock-based compensation expense increased by 9.3% year-over-year, from $3.69B to $4.03B.
- What is the long-term trend for Amazon's stock-based compensation expense?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Amazon's stock-based compensation expense has grown at a 12.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $12.76B to $20.74B.
- What does stock-based compensation expense mean?
- The cost of paying employees with company stock instead of cash.