Dish Network Corp, the second largest U.S. satellite TV company after DirectTV, reported a 38 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit as it generated more revenue per user.
Dish said its stable of U.S. customers reached about 14.1 million as it added 8,000 pay-TV subscribers on a net basis in the fourth quarter. The average revenue generated per subscriber rose 5 percent to $81.24.
Investors are waiting to learn more about Dish’s strategy regarding the wireless spectrum the company has spent billions amassing.
Chairman Charlie Ergen has said he is keeping all options open, including acquiring T-Mobile US, building a wireless network and selling Dish’s spectrum.
The company made no mention of Ergen’s plans in its earnings statement on Friday.
DirecTV on Thursday reported fourth-quarter results that topped Wall Street estimates with better-than-expected U.S. growth and announced a $3.5 billion share buyback.
Dish’s net income attributable to the company for the quarter ended December 31 was $288 million, or 63 cents per share, compared with $209 million, or 46 cents per share, a year earlier.
Revenue rose about 7 percent to $3.54 billion.
Analysts on average were looking for revenue of $3.59 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.
Dish shares, which have gained about 16 percent in the last three months, closed at $57.07 on the Nasdaq on Wednesday.
