Amazon.com 4Q sales up 42%

SEATTLE Amazon.com reported that net sales increased 42% to $9.52 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with $6.7 billion in fourth quarter 2008.

The company reported that net income increased 71% to $384 million in the fourth quarter, or 85 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $225 million, or 52 cents per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2008.

For the full year, net sales increased 28% to $24.51 billion compared with $19.17 billion in 2008, Amazon.com reported.

Net income increased 40% to $902 million in 2009, or $2.04 per diluted share, compared with net income of $645 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, in 2008.

Amazon.com said it expects net sales for the first quarter of 2010 to be between $6.45 billion and $7 billion, or to grow between 32% and 43% compared with first quarter 2009.