Amazon.com (AMZN)

AMAZON.COM ANNOUNCES RECORD FREE CASH FLOW FUELED BY LOWER PRICES AND FREE SHIPPING FOR CUSTOMERS

SEATTLE—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 26, 2005—Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2005.

Operating cash flow grew 52% to $624 million for the trailing twelve months, compared with $410 million for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2004. Free cash flow grew 37% to $486 million for the trailing twelve months, compared with $354 million for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2004.

Common shares outstanding plus shares underlying stock-based awards outstanding totaled 438 million at June 30, 2005, compared with 434 million a year ago.

Net sales increased 26% to $1.75 billion in the second quarter, compared with $1.39 billion in second quarter 2004. Excluding the $25 million benefit from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales grew 25% compared with second quarter 2004.

Operating income increased 21% to $104 million in the second quarter, compared with $86 million in second quarter 2004. As previously announced, the Company chose to adopt SFAS 123(R), the new accounting rules on stock-based compensation, earlier than required, effective January 1, 2005. Excluding the more than $5 million impact on the quarter’s results from this adoption, operating income would have grown 27% to $110 million. Operating income benefited by $2 million from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter.

Net income was $52 million in the second quarter, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared with net income of $76 million, or $0.18 per diluted share in second quarter 2004, which includes $56 million in income tax expense, compared with $5 million income tax expense in second quarter 2004.

“Amazon Prime members love getting unlimited two-day shipping for free with no minimum order size,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. ”Though expensive for the company, Amazon Prime creates a premium experience for customers who join, and as a result we hope they’ll purchase more from us in the long term.”

Amazon Prime, Amazon.com’s first-ever membership program, was introduced February 2005. For a flat membership fee of $79 per year, Amazon Prime members get unlimited, express two-day shipping for free, with no minimum purchase requirement on over a million eligible items sold by Amazon.com. Members can order as late as 6:30 p.m. ET and still get their order the next day for only $3.99 per item, and can share the benefits of Amazon Prime with up to four family members living in their household. Sign up for Amazon Prime at www.amazon.com/prime.

“We are pleased with our $486 million of free cash flow, up 37%,” said Tom Szkutak, CFO of Amazon.com. “We continue to offer lower prices and free two-day shipping for Amazon Prime members while generating additional free cash flow for our shareholders.”