Fitbit likely was a hot seller for Christmas

NEW YORK -- It was a merry Christmas for fitness-tracking device maker Fitbit.

The company's app was the most downloaded on Apple's app store Christmas Day, a sign many people couldn't wait to set up their Fitbit trackers after unwrapping them. It also suggests Fitbit trackers were a hot seller during the holidays, despite increasing competition from Apple's smartwatch and other wearable devices.

Investors were pleased, sending shares of the San Francisco company higher Monday.

The Fitbit app topped Apple's app store in the U.S. on Christmas Day and the day after, according App Annie, which tracks app downloads and rankings. That's far better than last year, when the Fitbit app ranked at No. 18 on Christmas Day and No. 15 the day after, according to research from Raymond James & Associates. In a note to clients, Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt called the numbers "impressive."

Fitbit declined to comment Monday. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

While app downloads don't necessarily mean a tracker was sold, McCourt said it's a "good measure of relative sales success."

Retailers confirmed Monday Fitbit trackers were in high demand during the holiday shopping season.

Macy's Inc. said the Fitbit's products sold "very well" at the department store. Discount retailer Target Corp. said the trackers were one of its top-selling electronics during the holiday season. And Amazon.com Inc. said the Fitbit Charge was one of its most popular items for customers that used its same-day delivery service in Chicago, Dallas, New York and other major cities.

App downloads could also lead to future sales. Users who track their health information on the app are more likely to buy another Fitbit device when they want to upgrade, said Ross Rubin, senior director of industry analysis at App Annie.

Amanda Hetherington opened a Fitbit Flex on Christmas Eve, a gift from her son, and plans to buy more.

Hetherington, who said she is working on getting back into shape, downloaded the app on Christmas Day. Besides steps, she also plans to track what she eats and how much water she drinks with the app.

She already is making changes: This weekend she parked farther from a restaurant to get in more steps.

"I love it so much," said Hetherington, who lives near Columbia, South Carolina, "I'll probably get one for my husband for Valentine's Day."

Fitbit sells several devices that track users' steps, calories or sleep patterns. They cost as little as $60 for a tracker that clips to clothing to about $250 for a watch. The company had sold more than 13 million devices this year before the holiday shopping season, surpassing the 10.9 million it sold last year.