Research in Motion (RIMM) Sales 14.9 Million Smartphones in Q4

Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) had a decent quarter but was punished in after-hours trading on disappointing guidance.

Revenue in the fourth quarter came in at $5.56 billion, or $1.78 a share. Analysts had been looking for $5.64 billion in revenue and $1.76 a share.

The good news was the company sold 14.9 million BlackBerry smartphones, toward the top of its projected range. Gross profit beat at 44.2 percent of sales, surpassing the 43.6 percent reported in the fiscal third quarter.

Going forward, guidance was weak, with RIM projecting $5.2 billion to $5.6 billion in revenue and EPS of $1.47 to $1.55. Analysts have been looking for $5.64 billion and EPS of $1.65.

Investors didn't seem to be impressed with full year guidance ending February of 2012, where RIM sees EPS “in excess of” $7.50, well above the average of $6.81, after the guidance offered for the first quarter.

Research in Motion closed at $64.09, gaining $1.97, or 3.17 percent. In after-hours trading, as of 5 PM EDT, the company was getting punished, losing $6.72, or 10.48 percent.