Amazon.com (AMZN) Earnings Preview: Q1 Results Likely To Show Better US Profit Margins And Customer Rush To Get Prime Service Ahead Of Price Hike

Fresh on the heels of a groundbreaking deal with HBO to bring beloved dramas like "The Sopranos" and "The Wire" to its streaming video users later this year, Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) is expected to report higher first-quarter earnings on Thursday, thanks to falling shipping expenses, a steady expansion to higher-margin business like entertainment and Web services, and a rush of Prime memberships before a big price hike.