Amazon today reported its third quarter 2012 results. The company reported net sales of $13.81 billion in the third quarter, an increased 27%, compared with $10.88 billion in third quarter 2011. Operating loss was $28 million in the third quarter, compared with operating income of $79 million in third quarter 2011. Net loss was $274 million in the third quarter, or $0.60 per diluted share, compared with net income of $63 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in third quarter 2011.
“Our approach is to work hard to charge less. Sell devices near breakeven and you can pack a lot of sophisticated hardware into a very low price point,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “The next two bestselling products worldwide are our Kindle Paperwhite and our $69 Kindle. We’re selling more of each of these devices than the #4 bestselling product, book three of the Fifty Shades of Grey series. And we haven’t even started shipping our best tablet – the $299 Kindle Fire HD 8.9” ships November 20.”
For the fourth Quarter 2012 Guidance, the company reported Net sales expected to be between $20.25 billion and $22.75 billion, or to grow between 16% and 31% compared with fourth quarter 2011. Operating income (loss) is expected to be between $(490) million and $310 million, compared with $260 million in the prior year period.
