(RTTNews) - Tuesday, health information service provider WebMD Health Corp. (WBMD: News ), reported a rise in profit for the third quarter, as revenues increased 15% from last year on higher advertising revenues. Earnings for the quarter came in ahead of Street estimates. Looking ahead, the company reiterated its earnings forecast for fiscal year 2009, as well as its fourth quarter.

The New York-based company's net income for the third quarter increased to $12.8 million or $0.21 per share from $10.8 million or $0.18 per share in the same quarter last year.

Earnings before interest, taxes, non-cash and other items, or EBITDA for the third quarter rose 30% to $33.1 million or $0.56 per share from $25.5 million or $0.43 per share in the prior year period.

Income from continuing operations for the quarter increased to $12.6 million or $0.21 per share from $10.0 million or $0.17 per share in the prior year quarter. Income from discontinued operations was $0.2 million, compared to $0.8 million in the prior year period

On average, seven analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $0.19 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time charges and gains.

In the sequentially preceding quarter, WebMD Health reported net income of $2.1 million or $0.04 per share, down from $6.4 million or $0.11 per share in the year-earlier quarter. Net income from continuing operations, however, increased to $7.0 million or $0.12 per share from $5.7 million or $0.10 per share in the same quarter a year ago,
Revenue for the recent third quarter increased to $111.5 million from $96.8 million a year earlier. Street analysts' had a consensus revenue estimate of $111.08 million for the quarter.

For the preceding second quarter, WebMD reported revenues that increased 15% to $98.6 million from $86.0 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Public portal advertising and sponsorship revenue for the recent third quarter was $89.4 million for the third quarter, up 20% from $74.7 million in the prior year period. Traffic to the WebMD Health Network continued to grow strongly, reaching an average of 59.2 million unique users per month and total traffic of 1.4 billion page views during the quarter, increases of 19% and 27%, respectively, from a year ago. In the quarter, 1.6 million continuing medical education, or CME programs were completed on the WebMD Professional Network, an increase of 25% from last year.

Private portal services revenue for the quarter rose modestly to $22.2 million from $22.1 million in the prior year quarter.

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