Alliance Holdings Q4 Results Top Estimate; Ups Quarterly Distribution

(RTTNews) - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (AHGP),a limited partnership formed to own and control Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, Tuesday reported a rise in fourth-quarter earnings as well as revenues that beat estimates. In addition, the company raised its quarterly distribution by 2.5 percent.

For the fourth quarter, earnings attributable to the company increased to $58.68 million, from $52.89 million a year earlier. Earnings per limited partner unit rose to $0.98 from $0.88 a year ago. On average, 4 analysts polled by Thomson-Reuters estimated the company's earnings to be $0.91 per unit for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.

Revenue for the 3-month period increased to $566.61 million from $549.32 million a year ago. Analysts had expected the company to report revenues of $542.18 million.

The company announced that the Board of Directors has increased quarterly dividend to $0.8275 per unit, payable on 19 February to shareholders on record as of the close of trading on 12 February.