Apria Healthcare profit jumps 8.2%

Apria Healthcare Group Inc., the biggest U.S. provider of home health services, said profit rose 8.2%, partly because of tax benefits and recovery of money lost in Hurricane Katrina.

Fourth-quarter net income rose to $21 million, or 49 cents a share, from $19.5 million, or 43 cents, a year earlier, the Lake Forest-based company said. The company said revenue increased 8.7% to $391 million.

Analysts had expected Apria to post profit of 45 cents a share.

Apria estimated that revenue would grow this year by 4% to 5%, from $1.52 billion in 2006. The company said earnings in 2007 would be $1.78 to $1.82 a share, up from the $1.75 that it reported for last year.

Shares of Apria rose $2.18, or 7.9%, to $29.83.