Name: Debt to Equity

Definition: Debt to equity shows how much debt the company uses compared to the amount invested by its owners. It’s a bit like comparing your mortgage to your house down payment. Higher ratios suggest the business is comfortable borrowing to grow — which can boost returns in good times, but adds risk if conditions worsen. Lower ratios signal a more conservative, steady approach.

Interpretation:
• In '2021', AMZN's debt to equity was 0.84, showing the balance between debt financing and shareholders' equity. Industry average for Catalog/Specialty Distribution in '2021' stood at 0.70.
• In '2022', AMZN's debt to equity was 0.96, showing the balance between debt financing and shareholders' equity. The increase compared to '2021' may signal growing financial pressure. Industry average for Catalog/Specialty Distribution in '2022' stood at 0.80. Industry average increased by 0.10 compared to previous year.
• In '2023', AMZN's debt to equity was 0.67, showing the balance between debt financing and shareholders' equity. The decrease since '2022' reflects improving financial health. Industry average for Catalog/Specialty Distribution in '2023' stood at 0.78. Industry average declined by 0.03 from previous year.
• In '2024', AMZN's debt to equity was 0.46, showing the balance between debt financing and shareholders' equity. The decrease since '2023' reflects improving financial health. Industry average for Catalog/Specialty Distribution in '2024' stood at 0.38. Industry average declined by 0.40 from previous year.
Overall, AMZN's debt to equity has been volatile but showed a downward trend over the past 4 years.

Formula: Debt to Equity = Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity

Good Range: Below 1.0 is conservative; 1-2 is common depending on industry.