Cardinal 4th-quarter profit rises, revenue flat

Aug 2 (Reuters) - Cardinal Health Inc said on Thursday its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose, but revenue remained flat as gains in its medical segment were offset by a decline in its pharmaceuticals business.

Net profit in the quarter ended June 30 rose to $236 million, or 68 cents a share, from $202.7 million, or 57 cents a share, a year earlier.

Earnings from continuing operations excluding one-time items rose to $255 million, or 73 cents a share, from $207.3 million, or 59 cents a share, a year ago.

Analysts on average were expecting earnings on that basis of 72 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue was unchanged at $26.8 billion. Analysts were on average expecting revenue of $27.3 billion.

The company forecast earnings for fiscal 2013, excluding one-time items, of $3.35 a share to $3.50 a share.

Analysts have been expecting earnings of $3.54 a share, on revenue of $105.8 billion.