Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.
MINNEAPOLIS -- UnitedHealth Group, the nation's second-largest managed care company, reported today that fourth-quarter earnings leapt 45.8 percent, capping a year in which it added six million new members.
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth earned $739 million, or $1.09 a share. That beat by a penny the consensus of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call, and was up from $507 million, or 83 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.
In early trading today, UnitedHealth shares surged $1.60, or 2 percent, to $89.88 on the New York Stock Exchange, positioning the stock to achieve a new 52-week high.
Revenue jumped 39.7 percent to $10.51 billion, from $7.52 billion at the same time a year ago.
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