Ford Motor Co. reported its first annual net profit since 2005, assisting the auto maker further distance itself from its afflicted U. S. rivals while stoking consumer buzz about the company and its vehicles.

The automaker, which has grabbed strong turnaround at both its domestic and some overseas rivals, claimed Thursday that it fetched $2.7 billion in 2009. The company was backed by special items that further added $2.6 billion to its bottom line margin over the year.

Net income for the fourth-quarter was $868 million, or 25 cents a share compared with a loss of $5.98 billion, or $2.51 a share. Excluding items, the company registered a
43-cent earnings-per-share profit, surpassing the Thomson Reuters analyst speculations of 26 cents a share.

The auto maker's fourth-quarter revenue was $35.4 billion.

"What is most important is to return the company to financial health", Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said Thursday. The company plans to be profitable for the full year in 2010 and 2011 on a pre-tax basis.

The second-largest U. S.-based auto maker must now face an unpredictable automotive market especially in Europe, where the loss of incentive programs is hoped to squeeze net industry sales by as much as 2 million vehicles this year.