HealthTronics posts a smaller loss in 4th qtr without impairment charges, shares set new high

HealthTronics 4th-qtr loss narrows as charges fall

AUSTIN, Texas — Medical equipment maker HealthTronics Inc. reported a narrower fourth-quarter loss compared to a year earlier, when it absorbed $144 million in impairment charges.

After the market closed on Thursday, HealthTronics said it lost $2.3 million, or 5 cents per share, in the last quarter of 2009. That compared with $131.2 million, or $3.64 per share, in 2008. Excluding costs related to its purchase of rival Endocare, HealthTronics said it earned 6 cents per share.

Its revenue rose 13 percent to $50.3 million from $44.6 million.

For the year, HealthTronics lost $3.9 million, or 10 cents per share, narrower than the loss of $128.7 million, or $3.53 per share, in 2008. Revenue grew 12 percent to $185.3 million from $165.9 million.

The company said it expects to earn 25 to 30 cents per share in 2010 on $203 million to $208 million in revenue.

In afternoon trading, HealthTronics stock rose 13 cents, or 4.3 percent, to $3.19. Earlier in the day they set an annual high of $3.30.