Student Transportation Q4 Profit Rises - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Student Transportation Inc., or STI (STB, STB.TO) posted fourth-quarter net income of $7.0 million or $0.07 per share, compared to $4.7 million or $0.06 per share in the prior year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $0.07 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenues for the latest fourth quarter were $152.45 million, up from $142.57 million in the comparable quarter last year, while three analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $157.07 million for the quarter.

"This was a pivotal year for us in many ways. While we had another stable and consistent year with our operations and financial results, we also paved the way for future improvements to drive new growth in revenues and earnings," said Denis J. Gallagher, STI Chairman and CEO. "Our revenue increased 13.3 percent, in the range we had indicated all year, and our Adjusted EBITDA* margin increased to 18.4 percent from 18.3 percent. Our total debt decreased by just under $70 million, our payout ratio continued trending lower to 71 percent, while our earnings per share and net income doubled."