United Stationers earnings fall in third quarter

LOS ANGELES, Oct 30 (Reuters) - United Stationers Inc (USTR.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), a wholesale distributor of business products, reported lower third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, citing lower technology sales and weak market conditions.

Fourth-quarter sales were in line with a year earlier.

Third quarter net income fell to $27.5 million, or $1 per share, from $39.2 million, or $1.26 per share, a year earlier.

Three Wall Street analysts had expected adjusted earnings per share of 97 cents to $1.

Net sales rose to $1.19 billion from $1.17 billion, while analysts had expected $1.2 billion in sales.

Shares closed up about 1 percent at $54.86 on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Dana Ford)