Net sales lift 15% at online retailer Amazon in 2014

04 Feb '15

3 min read

Net sales at the biggest global online retailer Amazon lifted 15 per cent year on year in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014.

Amazon said its net sales surged to $29.33 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with $25.59 billion in fourth quarter 2013, up 15 per cent.

“Excluding the $895 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales increased 18 per cent from the prior year quarter,” the retailer added.

Operating income in the reporting quarter rose higher at $591 million as against operating income of $510 million in fourth quarter of 2013.

Fourth quarter of 2014 net income however fell to $214 million or $0.45 per diluted share, compared with net income of $239 million or $0.51 per diluted share in same quarter of 2013.

For the full year of 2014, net sales surged 20 per cent to $88.99 billion in 2014, compared with $74.45 billion in 2013.

Excluding the $636 million unfavourable impact from changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the year, net sales also increased 20 per cent compared with 2013.

However, operating income plunged to $178 million in 2014 as against operating income of $745 million in 2013.

In 2014, Amazon posted a massive net loss of $241 million or $0.52 per diluted share, compared with net income of $274 million or $0.59 per diluted share in 2013.

Operating cash flow increased 25 per cent to $6.84 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $5.47 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

Free cash flow decreased to $1.95 billion for the trailing twelve months as against $2.03 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

Common shares outstanding plus shares underlying stock-based awards totaled to 483 million on December 31, 2014, compared with 476 million one year ago.

Amazon announced it will open a 46,000 square-foot fashion photography studio in Shoreditch, London in 2015.

The studio will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe and will provide both on-model and off-model imaging for Amazon’s rapidly growing European fashion business.

In 2014, the second year of its operation, Amazon.in emerged as India’s largest online store through 24 new departments, selection of over 19 million products and grew its seller base exponentially to more than 16,000 sellers. (AR)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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