Amazon Doubles Down on Same-Day Delivery with Project Mercury

Amazon is laying the groundwork for Project Mercury, an ambitious expansion of its same-day delivery network that could reshape how the company handles the final leg of its massive U.S. fulfillment operation.

The project aims to increase same-day delivery hubs from roughly 85 today to more than 1,000 by 2031, with 80% of Prime subscribers living within a 10-mile straight-line radius of a same-day facility.

Amazon is investing $6.8 billion in U.S. same-day delivery capacity for 2026 and 2027, with an internal analysis estimating Project Mercury could generate $7.1 billion in economic value over a decade and reach positive cash flow by 2030.

The project's costs and benefits are a balancing act for investors, who have seen the stock rise on news of the project but must consider the substantial upfront investment required to achieve these goals.