Amazon reports 20 percent growth in FY15 net sales

Net sales at Amazon.com increased 20 percent to 107 billion dollars in 2015, compared with 89 billion dollars in 2014. For its fourth quarter net sales increased 22 percent to 35.7 billion dollars, compared with 29.3 billion dollars in fourth quarter 2014.

“Twenty years ago, I was driving the packages to the post office myself and hoping we might one day afford a forklift. This year, we pass 100 billion dollars in annual sales and serve 300 million customers,” said Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon.com.

Fourth quarter and FY15 highlights

Excluding the 1.2 billion dollars unfavourable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales increased 26 percent compared with fourth quarter 2014. Operating income increased 88 percent to 1.1 billion dollars in the fourth quarter. Net income was 482 million dollars in the fourth quarter, or 1 dollar per diluted share.

For the full year, excluding the 5.2 billion dollars unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the year, net sales increased 26 percent compared with 2014. Operating income was 2.2 billion dollars, compared with operating income of 178 million dollars in 2014. Net income was 596 million dollars, or 1.25 dollars per diluted share.

First quarter 2016 guidance

Net sales are expected to be between 26.5 billion dollars and 29 billion dollars for the first quarter of 2016, or to grow between 17 percent and 28 percent compared with first quarter 2015. Operating income is expected to be between 100 million dollars and 700 million dollars, compared with 255 million dollars in first quarter 2015.