Argentina's Galicia posts slightly bigger 4th-qtr net profit

BUENOS AIRES Feb 15 (Reuters) - Leading Argentine banking conglomerate Grupo Financiero Galicia reported on Friday a fourth-quarter net profit of 368.2 million pesos ($74.8 million), rising from 355.1 million pesos in the same period of 2011.

The net profit fell slightly below market expectations. A Reuters poll of five analysts had put the company's net profit at a median of 373 million pesos, with estimates ranging from 350 million to 395 million pesos.