Amazon profit jumps while revenue misses mark

While Amazon is known for its huge online retail operations, it is also a major provider of cloud computing
While Amazon is known for its huge online retail operations, it is also a major provider of cloud computing

US online colossus Amazon on Thursday reported that profit in the final three months of last year leapt, but saw shares sink as rising revenue fell shy of expectations.


Net income for the quarter was $749 million, compared with $482 in the same period a year earlier, according to earnings figures.

While revenue rose to $43.7 billion from $35.7 billion in a similar year-over-year comparison, Wall Street had expected Amazon to take in more cash during the key holiday shopping season.

Amazon shares were down more than 3.5 percent to $808 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings report.

While Amazon is known for its huge online retail operations, it is also a major provider of cloud computing, and is a rival to Netflix in streaming video. It has been ramping up efforts in artificial intelligence with its Alexa-powered speakers and partnerships with makers of connected devices.

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