Apria Healthcare 2Q profit tops estimates; revenue climbs 36% to $531.2M

BOSTON, Sep 11, 2008 (Thomson Financial via COMTEX) -- AHG | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Apria Healthcare Group Inc. Thursday said second-quarter net earnings rose to $23.2 million, to 52 cents a share, from $19.3 million, or 44 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

The mean estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters was for profit of 49 cents a share.

Revenue for the Lake Forest, Calif.-based healthcare company jumped 36% to $531.2 million from $391.9 million a year earlier. Analysts, on average, had expected revenue of $535.3 million.

For the full year, Apria Healthcare expects to meet its earnings guidance of $2.04 to $2.14 a share and free cash flow of $95 million to $105 million. The company estimates total revenue growth will be in the range of 30% to 33%, down from the previous estimate of 33% to 35%. Analysts, on average, project 2008 income of $1.99 a share on revenue of $2.16 billion.

Shares closed Wednesday at $19.33. Casey Logan cl/rv

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