FedEx, UPS stocks fall after Amazon asks small businesses to help deliver packages

Amazon.com Inc. shares are little changed in premarket trading Thursday after the e-commerce giant put out a call overnight asking small businesses to help it deliver packages. FedEx Corp shares are down 1.3%, while United Parcel Service Inc.'s stock is off 1.3% premarket. In a release, Amazon said it would "take an active role in helping interested entrepreneurs start, set up, and manage their own delivery business" and "successful owners" could make up to $300,000 in profits annually. "Customer demand is higher than ever and we have a need to build more capacity," Amazon's senior vice president of worldwide operations said in the release. Amazon has been trying to take more control of its shipping processes in recent years. The stock has gained 68% over the past 12 months, while the S&P 500 has risen 11%.