Amazon is the parent of Amazon.com and became one of the world's most valuable companies through e-commerce and cloud computing.
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore. The company expanded into many product categories and built a large marketplace that connects customers with both Amazon and third-party sellers. Its logistics network and Prime subscription also strengthened the retail business.
Amazon Web Services, or AWS, became a second major engine of growth. AWS provides computing, storage, databases, and other online infrastructure to businesses and governments. Its profitability and scale helped investors view Amazon as more than a retailer.
Amazon's market capitalization reflects both its retail prospects and the value attributed to AWS and other businesses. The company is sometimes confused with Amazon Web Services, but AWS is a segment of Amazon. Amazon's shares trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol AMZN.