(By Balachander) Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) posted quarterly earnings and sales that trailed market expectations as expenses jumped, and the online retail giant guided third-quarter below consensus. Shares shed 2.73 percent in extended trading on Thursday.
Earnings per share (EPS) were one cent, down from 41 cents in the year-ago quarter, missing analysts' expectations of 2 cents.
Sales soared 29 percent to $12.83 billion, yet fell slightly shy of market expectations of a 30 percent growth for the second quarter.
Consolidated operating margin shrank to 2.8 percent from 3.9 percent, the Seattle-based world's largest online retailer reported.
Operating expenses jumped 31 percent to $12.73 billion.
Sales at the company's North America segment surged 36 percent, and International segment sales soared 22 percent. Worldwide Media sales advanced 13 percent and Electronics and other General Merchandise sales climbed 38 percent.
Looking ahead for the third quarter, the company guided sales between $12.9 billion and $14.3 billion, while analysts expect $14.10 billion. The forecast represents a growth between 19 percent and 31 percent from the year-ago period.
The stock, which has been trading between $166.97 and $246.71 over the past year, ended Thursday's regular trading at $220.01.