Stewart Enterprises Boosts Profit

JEFFERSON, La. (AP) — Funeral provider Stewart Enterprises posted a sharp increase in fiscal fourth-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' forecasts.

For the three months ending October 31st, Jefferson-based Stewart earned $9.1 million, or 10 cents per share, compared with year-ago fourth-quarter earnings of $3.5 million, or 4 cents per share.

Revenue rose to $125.3 million from $123.8 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast per-share earnings of 7 cents per share on revenue of $127.1 million.