Tech spending hurts AMZN

Article Excerpt

AMAZON.COM $211.99 (Nasdaq symbol AMZN; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (206-266-1000; www.amazon.com; Shares outstanding: 461.0 million; Market cap: $97.7 billion; No dividends paid) reported sharply lower earnings in the latest quarter. In the three months ended September 30, 2011, Amazon’s earnings fell 72.7%, to $63 million, or $0.14 a share. A year earlier, it earned $231 million, or $0.51 a share. The decline came despite a 43.9% jump in sales, to $10.9 billion from $7.6 billion. During the quarter, the company spent $779 million on “technology and content,” up 74% from $442 million a year earlier. That was the main reason for the lower earnings. This additional spending included investments in new models of its Kindle electronic book reader, including the Kindle Fire, the company’s first tablet computer. Amazon.com is a hold. hold…