Amazon reports strong third quarter

Amazon's third-quarter results have topped projections and the company's fourth-quarter revenue outlook is better than expected. Its fourth-quarter operating profits, however, look light against analysts' expectations.

The company reported net income of $231m (£147m), or 51 cents a share, on revenue of $7.56bn, up from $5.45bn a year ago, it said in a statement. Wall Street analysts were expecting earnings of 48 cents a share on revenue of $7.36bn.

Meanwhile, the company also delivered a healthy fourth-quarter outlook. Amazon projected revenue of $12bn to $13.3bn. Wall Street was expecting fourth-quarter sales in the region of $12.3bn. Amazon also said that it expected operating income of $360m to $560m. That outlook is below the $615m in operating profit expected by the market.

For more on this ZDNet UK-selected story, see Amazon: Strong third quarter, outlook, but margin worries emerge on ZDNet.com.