Century Aluminum (NASDAQ:CENX) Turns it Around in Fourth Quarter

Century Aluminum (NASDAQ:CENX) generated a profit in the fourth quarter, turning things around after a lost in the same quarter last year.

Net income surged to $59.94 million, or $0.64 a share, far above the $24.35 million, or $0.28 a share the company lost last year in the same quarter. Analysts had been looking for earnings of $0.22 a share.

Revenue for the quarter increased to $316.85 million, soaring above the $256.81 million last year. Analysts estimated revenue of $306.13 million.

Net profit was $65.3 million, or 64 cents a share, against a loss of $24.4 million, or 28 cents a share, in the same quarter of 2009

Increased demand and higher aluminum prices boosted the results for the company.

Century Aluminum closed Tuesday at $15.45, dropping $0.38, or 2.40 percent.