Amazon Expects Profitability, If Only On Pro Forma BasisAmazon Expects Profitability, If Only On Pro Forma Basis

Amazon.com Inc. CEO Jeff Bezos, addressing the company's third-quarter loss of $169.9 million, said that the online superstore would be profitable by year's end--pro forma operating profitability, that is. In that sense, Amazon's (AMZN--Nasdaq) results look almost rosy: Its pro forma loss from operations for the quarter ended Sept. 30 shrunk 60% to $27.1 million, compared with a loss of $68.4 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Amazon's U.S. retail and services segments combined were profitable on a pro forma basis for the second straight quarter to the tune of $928,000, compared with a $29 million loss last year.