Amazon Q4 Misses Estimates, but Shares Rise

Amazon.com has reported mixed results in its Q4 and 2012 report. For the quarter, the company's net sales grew 22% on a year-over-year basis to $21.3 billion; however, net profit declined over that same time frame. It dropped 45% to $97 million, or $0.21 per diluted share.

Although analysts had been expecting substantially higher numbers in both metrics -- $22.3 billion in the top line and $0.28 in EPS -- the retailer's stock nevertheless jumped in after-hours trading. It was up by more than $20, or 8%, to $280.63.

For the full year, net sales grew 27% to $61.1 billion, while the bottom line came in at loss of $39 million ($0.09 diluted EPS). Those figures for 2011 were $48.1 billion and a profit of $631 million ($1.37 diluted EPS).

The article Amazon Q4 Misses Estimates, but Shares Rise originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in Amazon.com The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Amazon.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.