Amazon.com Sales Rise 18%

123jump.com Staff
23 Apr, 2009
New York City

Amazon.com reported sales rise of 18% to $4.89 billion and earnings gain of 23% to $277 million. Sales at North American sites increased 21% and at international sites increased 15%. Free cash flow increased 82% to $1.43 billion.

[R]6:40PM New York – Amazon.com reported 18% increase in sales and 23% in earnings.[/R]

Amazon.com, Inc first quarter sales increased 18% to $4.89 billion and net income increased 24% to $277 million. Earnings per share increased to 41 cents to from 34 cents.

Operating income increased 23% to $244 million. On constant currency basis sales increase 25%.

Free cash flow increased 82% to $1.43 billion for the trailing twelve months and operating cash flow in the period increased to $1.76 billion from $1.04 billion.

North American segment sales that includes sales through the U.S. and Canadian sites increased 21% to $2.58 billion from a year ago quarter. International sales including Germany, UK, France, Japan and China increased 15% to $2.31 billion.

Worldwide media sales increased 7% to $2.72 billion from a year ago and worldwide electronics and other general merchandise sales surged 38% to $2.05 billion.

Items for sellers using Amazon fulfillment surged more than 300%.

The company did not give any numbers for its electronic book device Kindle and founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said, “Kindle sales have exceeded our most optimistic expectations.”

Second Quarter Guidance

Net sales in the second quarter are expected to grow between 6% and 17% or to be between $4.30 billion and $4.75 billion and operating income is expected to be between $110 million and $190 million. In the prior year quarter the company included a gain of $53 million non-cash gain on the sale of European DVD rental assets.

The quarterly guidance also includes $90 million of stock based compensation and amortization of intangible assets.

In regular trading Amazon.com, Inc ((AMZN)) increased 1.8% or $1.41 to $80.61 and in the after-hours trading stock gained 2.65% or $2.14 to $82.78.