Amazon expands in robotics

Article Excerpt

AMAZON.COM INC., $142.10, is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol AMZN; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (www.amazon.com; Shares o/s: 10.2 billion; Market cap: $1.5 trillion; No divds.) is now buying Roomba maker iRobot Corp. (symbol IRBT on Nasdaq) for $1.7 billion in cash. iRobot has an estimated 75% of the U.S. smart vacuum market. In addition, Amazon and iRobot have already worked together to integrate their respective Alexa and Roomba products, allowing owners to start their vacuum with a voice command. Roomba also gives Amazon another connected-home product that deepens its ties to consumers’ homes. As well, iRobot’s technology will help as Amazon builds out its robotics capabilities for the home. Amazon.com is a buy. buy…