Beverly Enterprises Inc. reported a loss of...

Beverly Enterprises Inc. reported a loss of $952,000 for the first quarter, contrasted with a profit of $18.5 million in the year-ago period. The Pasadena-based firm, which operates nursing homes, pharmacies and home health-care agencies, said it was hurt by steep labor costs in its second half, producing a $22.4-million loss in the fourth quarter. The first-quarter improvement was due to increased reimbursement rates, the company said.