Amazon as the Ultimate Single-Stock Investment: A Thought Experiment

In a hypothetical scenario where only one stock could be held indefinitely, Amazon (AMZN) emerges as the standout choice. The e-commerce and cloud computing giant’s diversified dominance across multiple industries makes it a compelling pick, despite the inherent risks of a single-stock strategy.

Amazon’s $137 billion in second-quarter sales underscores its unrivaled position in global e-commerce. Meanwhile, its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division, with $30.9 billion in Q2 2025 revenue, remains a leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company’s advertising platform further solidifies its multifaceted growth potential.

While diversification remains paramount in real-world investing, Amazon’s ETF-like breadth of market leadership offers a unique hedge in this theoretical exercise. The stock embodies the rare combination of scale, innovation, and cross-sector influence that could justify such concentrated exposure.