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Amazon doubles fourth-quarter profit

Web retailer Amazon.com Inc. said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, helped by fast-growing international sales.
/ Source: The Associated Press

Web retailer Amazon.com Inc. said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, helped by fast-growing international sales.

Amazon's earnings in the crucial holiday quarter climbed to $207 million, or 48 cents per share, from $98 million, or 23 cents per share, in the same period last year.

Results were in line with Wall Street's expectations. Analysts Polled by Thomson Financial forecast a profit of 48 cents per share.

Revenue rose 42 percent to $5.67 billion from $3.9 billion in the year-ago quarter, topping analysts' view for $5.37 billion.

International sales growth outpaced U.S. sales in the holiday quarter. U.S. and Canada sales rose 40 percent to $3.08 billion, while international sales climbed 46 percent to $2.59 billion.