Amazon (AMZN) Stock Stays Flat After Acquiring Rivr Robototics Startup

Amazon (AMZN) has acquired Rivr, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup that makes stair-climbing delivery robots for doorstep drop-offs. The acquisition underscores the tech giant’s focus on improving last-mile delivery through robotics, especially in hard-to-reach areas. However, despite the major acquisition, the AMZN stock has remained largely unreactive even after sliding 5% over the past five days, according to TipRanks data.

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Amazon Expands Into Robot Delivery

Rivr is a robotics company based in Zurich that makes a delivery robot capable of climbing stairs. CEO Marko Bjelonic shared the news of Amazon’s acquisition on LinkedIn. He once described the robot as a “dog on roller skates” because of how it moves across different surfaces while carrying packages.

Amazon had shown interest in Rivr before the acquisition. The tech giant’s Industrial Innovation Fund and Bezos Expeditions invested in Rivr during a 2024 seed round, providing $22.2 million in total. In total, Rivr raised $25 million and was valued at roughly $100 million afterward.

Bjelonic said the acquisition will help the company get its robots to more places faster. With Amazon’s backing, Rivr aims to bring its delivery robots to more homes and scale real-world use in doorstep delivery.

AMZN Stock Barely Moves on Latest Acquisition

Current data from TipRanks show that AMZN stock is still trading around $205 at the time of writing, reflecting a slight 1.3% dip in the past 24 hours. The new Rivr acquisition has done nothing to propel the stock forward. However, it’s still uncertain whether the coming days could see a change in direction.

Although AMZN has dropped over 8.5% in the last three months, Wall Street analysts continue to maintain bullish outlooks, with none recommending a Sell. TipRanks also reports that analysts are forecasting an average price target of $280 for AMZN, with about 35.9% upside potential.

Rivr Tests Delivery Robots in Early Pilot Program

Rivr started a pilot program in Austin in partnership with the delivery company Veho. They aimed to assess the performance of their robots in a live environment. At the time of the announcement, the company planned to increase its robot count to 100 by 2026.

It is unclear whether the company met its target of 100 robots, as sources indicate it was still in the early stages. Nevertheless, the pilot program was focused on understanding how the robots operate during actual deliveries.

Notably, the new acquisition gives Amazon an opportunity to improve last-mile delivery. Using Rivr’s robots could allow the company to deliver packages more efficiently while reducing the need for manual doorstep drop-offs.

Is Amazon Stock a Good Buy Right Now?

TipRanks data shows Amazon (AMZN) is rated a “Strong Buy” by analysts, with the majority giving Buy ratings and a few assigning Hold ratings. The average 12-month price target of … reflects confidence in the stock’s continued growth as the company expands its delivery and robotics operations. Investors can visit TipRanks’ Stocks Comparison Center to view ratings, price targets, and performance for Amazon and other top tech stocks.

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