Tax Benefit Boosts Apria Healthcare Group

Home-care company Apria Healthcare Group Inc. on Thursday reported a fourth-quarter net income of $151.9 million, or $2.83 a share, including a tax benefit of $131.4 million. Without the benefit, earnings were 38 cents a share.

The Costa Mesa company earned $51.8 million, or 4 cents a share, in the previous year’s final quarter. Revenue rose 9% to $242.3 million.

For the year, Apria earned $204.1 million, or $3.81 a share, compared with a loss of $207.9 million, or $4.02 a share for the previous year. Annual revenue rose slightly to $940 million.

Apria also said in a press release that its board authorized the repurchase of up to $2.3-million worth of stock, which lost 69 cents Thursday to close at $15.69 a share.