Amazon stock rose on the final day of its two-day Prime Big Deal Days discount event, with a new push into capturing more pharmacy spending. Shares are up 1%, just above the 21-day moving average. Amazon’s stock has shown signs of life after lagging the S&P 500 year-to-date.

Analysts forecast a more challenging holiday retail season. Adobe projects a 5.3% year-over-year growth in total U.S. online sales from November to December, a slowdown from 2024. Amazon launched its smaller autumn Prime Big Deals Days event, seen as the unofficial start of holiday shopping.

Amazon announced the launch of prescription vending kiosks at One Medical clinics in Los Angeles. Patients can have prescriptions sent to Amazon Pharmacy for in-office kiosk pickup. The move is part of Amazon’s broader push into the pharmacy business, following its acquisition of PillPack in 2018.

The kiosk announcement comes a year after Amazon announced it would open pharmacies in 20 U.S. cities for same-day delivery. The pharmacy push is part of CEO Andy Jassy’s broader health care strategy, following the 2022 acquisition of One Medical for $3.9 billion. Amazon does not disclose separate results for its health care sector.

Read more at Investor’s Business Daily: Amazon Stock Gains. Can Prime Big Deals Day Boost Holiday Spending?