Comcast Q4 Profit Rises, Lifts Dividend - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Comcast Corp. (CMCSK, CMCSA) Tuesday reported higher profit and revenue for the fourth quarter. Further, the firm hiked its dividend and increased its stock repurchase program authorization. The stock is up more than 3 percent in pre-market activity.

Net income attributable to the company increased to $1.913 billion from $1.518 billion in the previous year. Earnings per share advanced to $0.72 from $0.56.

Adjusted earnings totaled $0.66 per share, while it amounted to $0.52 per share last year. On average, 30 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $0.68 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenue increased to $16.926 billion from $15.937 billion in the prior year. Wall Street expected revenues of $16.63 billion.

Further, Comcast said its Board of Directors has increased its stock repurchase program authorization to $7.5 billion. Comcast plans to repurchase $3.0 billion during 2014.

Additionally, the firm increased its dividend by 15.4 percent to $0.90 per share on an annualized basis. In accordance with the increase, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 a share on the company's common stock, payable on April 23.

The stock which closed up 0.2 percent on Monday at $52.49 is gaining 3.6 percent in pre-market activity.