A pro forma operating profit is a controversial measure of a company's performance because it excludes some costs, such as interest and depreciation, that normally count against the bottom line.
Regardless, Bezos' prediction was daring given that Amazon lost $1.4 billion on revenues of $2.8 billion last year. It was perhaps even more daring that the company stuck to the promise in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Amazon said it expected to report fourth-quarter results in February.
Some analysts are still not completely convinced that Amazon can pull it off, given the weakened economy. But David Kathman, an analyst at Morningstar Inc. in Chicago, said operating profit is only one indicator of the Seattle-based e-tailer's financial health.
"I'll be looking at other things as well, like getting fulfillment costs down," Kathman said. Fulfillment refers to storing and shipping merchandise - the types of activities that take place at Amazon's New Castle plant.
"About 13 percent of their revenue goes to shipping and storing," Kathman said. "They're trying to get it down to single digits."
The 212,000-square-foot New Castle center, which opened in 1997, is the smallest of Amazon's six warehouse and distribution sites, or fulfillment centers. The New Castle site employs about 500 workers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
Bezos said Amazon expected to expand the New Castle site - which houses row upon row of books, CDs, and other small items - or to move the operation to a larger center nearby. However, he said Amazon did not have firm plans.
The company's largest fulfillment center occupies 877,000 square feet in Coffeyville, Kan. Its others are in Campbellsville, Ky.; Fernley, Nev.; Lexington, Ky.; and Grand Forks, N.D.
Bezos is touring the Campbellsville and Fernley sites this week.
Amazon's distribution centers naturally are busiest during the holiday season.
