Amazon.com Announces First Quarter Sales up 15% to $22.72 Billion

Amazon.com, Inc. today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

Operating cash flow increased 47% to $7.84 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $5.35 billion for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2014. Free cash flow increased to $3.16 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $1.49 billion for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2014.

Common shares outstanding plus shares underlying stock-based awards totaled 483 million on March 31, 2015, compared with 476 million one year ago.

Net sales increased 15% to $22.72 billion in the first quarter, compared with $19.74 billion in first quarter 2014. Excluding the $1.3 billion unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales increased 22% compared to first quarter 2014.

Operating income increased 74% to $255 million in the first quarter, compared with operating income of $146 million in first quarter 2014.

Net loss was $57 million in the first quarter, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared with net income of $108 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in first quarter 2014.

“Amazon Web Services is a $5 billion business and still growing fast — in fact it’s accelerating,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “Born a decade ago, AWS is a good example of how we approach ideas and risk-taking at Amazon. We strive to focus relentlessly on the customer, innovate rapidly, and drive operational excellence. We manage by two seemingly contradictory traits: impatience to deliver faster and a willingness to think long term. We are so grateful to our AWS customers and remain dedicated to inventing on their behalf.”