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Amazon Q4 defies analysts

30.01.09 | Anna Richardson

Amazon has announced fourth quarter sales exceeding analysts' estimates, with revenue rising 18% to $6.7bn (£4.69bn) and net income increasing 9% to $225m (£157m) in the period to 31st December 2008. For the full year, earnings rose 36% to $645m (£451m), with revenue rising 29% to $19.17bn (£13.4bn).

The company's international segment sales, which represent its UK, German, Japanese, French and Chinese sites, were $3.07bn (£2.15bn), up 19% from fourth quarter 2007.

Amazon founder and c.e.o., Jeff Bezos, pointed to the importance of low prices, great selection and free shipping offers and added that the company was "particularly grateful for the unusually strong demand for Kindle in the fourth quarter".

The selection of e-books available to Kindle users increased by 45,000 titles in the fourth quarter, bringing the total to 230,000.

Amazon expects net sales in the first quarter 2009 of between $4.525bn (£3.169bn) and $4.925bn (£3.452bn), or to grow between 9% and 19% compared with first quarter 2008.

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