Amazon Sees a Big First Quarter, but Likely Will Post a Loss

With the company's first-ever quarterly profit in the rearview mirror, Amazon.com (AMZN Quote) investors return to familiar territory when the online retailer reports first-quarter earnings on Tuesday.

The company will almost certainly swing back into the red for its seasonally slow first quarter, so analysts and investors will be scrutinizing the company's reams of data -- it is famous for pumping out long press releases filled with minutiae -- for signs that, eventually, it will be profitable on a consistent basis.

Seattle-based Amazon, which is scheduled to post results after the close of trading Tuesday, is expected to report a first-quarter loss, excluding certain items, of 9 cents a share, compared with a 21-cent loss in the year-ago period, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. Analysts expect revenue to come in at $805 million, up from $700 million a year ago.

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