Electronic Arts has just released financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter, and despite what market analysts have been predicting, the publisher has posted some impressive results, with $30 million in profit for the quarter, in comparison to a $42 million loss during the same period last year.

Sales were up 14 percent year over year, to $979 million this quarter, too, on the back of some healthily performing franchises, as Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Army of Two: The 40th Day and Mass Effect 2 all sold one million units during the three months ending March 31st alone.

EA’ CEO John Riccitiello was no doubt chuffed with the results, commenting:

“We had an excellent fourth quarter, driving record-breaking non-GAAP revenue in the fiscal year. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 outperformed, which contributed to revenue at the high end of our guidance range, and we exceeded our expectations on the bottom line.”

Feeling confident in its market presence, EA has again stated that it was the number one publisher for the last quarter with 19 percent marketshare, and in addition, it’s the number one third-party publisher on the Wii and PSP.

EA is also showing signs of success as far as its digital, online strategy is concerned, as digital revenue grew 33 percent to $570 million compared to last year, with further growth (around another 30 percent) expected in the year to come.

This fourth quarter naturally also brings to an end EA’s fiscal year 2010. Net revenue was down to $3.65 billion for the year, compared to fiscal year 2009’s $4.21 billion, with net loss standing at $677 million (compared to $1 billion the previous fiscal year).

EA also released some interesting figures related to its released franchises and fourth quarter sales results:

• FIFA 10, Madden NFL 10, The Sims 3, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and Need for Speed: Shift have all sold over five million units each
• EA’s Hasbro branded games have sold over 8 million units
• The Sims franchise has sold over 125 million units worldwide
• FIFA 10 has sold over 10 million units since launch
• Battlefield 1943 sold over 1.5 million units to date and is the best-selling download-only title on PSN and XBL
• 2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa is approaching 2 million units sold
• Army of Two: The 40th Day sold over one million in the fourth quarter
• Mass Effect 2 sold over 1.6 million units in the fourth quarter
• Dante’s Inferno sold almost one million units