KUALA LUMPUR: KPJ HEALTHCARE BHD []'s second quarter earnings increased by 3.4% to RM30.16 million from RM29.16 million a year ago on the back of a better performance from its hospital operations.

It said on Friday, Aug 19 the pre-tax profit increased by 9.4% to RM45.22 million from RM41.30 a year ago, adding the 'increase is in line with the increase in revenue of the hospitals'.

KPJ's revenue rose 14.8% to RM470.89 million from RM410.23 million a year ago while earnings per share were 5.70 sen compared with 5.54 sen. It declared a dividend of 2.4 sen a share.

'The board of directors is confident that the group's performance in financial year 2011 will continue to improve in tandem with increasing hospital capacity and activities,' it said.

For the first half, its earnings rose 2.2% to RM57.67 million from RM56.41 million while revenue rose at a stronger pace of 5.5% to RM908.64 million from RM786.28 million.

It reported that its revenue from the Malaysian hospitals was RM844.78 million in the first half while Indonesia reported revenue of'' RM3.78 million. Its Malaysian hospitals recorded profit of RM86.30 million but its Indonesian operations posted losses of RM4.39 million.