Comcast 4Q more than doubles on higher revenue, tax gain

Comcast 4Q profit up on revenue increase, tax gain

PHILADELPHIA — Comcast is reporting a sharp increase in net income for the fourth quarter, helped by higher revenue and a tax gain.

The nation’s largest cable operator also solidified its position as the biggest U.S. Internet service provider, beating AT&T for a second quarter in a row. It now has 15.9 million Internet customers.

Comcast earned $955 million, or 33 cents per share, in the quarter, compared with $412 million, or 14 cents, in the same quarter a year earlier.

Revenue rose 2.9 percent to $9.07 billion from $8.81 billion.

Comcast added 290,000 net subscribers in its core businesses of video, Internet and phone, the same as the 2008 quarter.

Weakness in video was offset by increases in Internet and phone subscriptions.