UNITED ONLINE ON A ROLL WITH SOLID Q4 NUMBERS.

Byline: Daily News

WOODLAND HILLS - United Online Inc. bought and grew its way to a banner fourth quarter, as the discount Internet services provider announced Wednesday that sales increased 23 percent.

The November acquisition of Classmates Online Inc., as well as the April pickup of Mega Web and United Online's own organic growth pushed revenues to $119.6 million, up sharply from the $96.9 million recorded in the same period one year ago. Excluding one-time items, profits increased 15 percent, to $16.6 million, or 26 cents per share, from $14.5 million, or 21 cents per share, in the like period last year.

The company, whose flagship offerings remain the bargain dial-up Internet services Net Zero, Juno and Bluelight.com, also announced that it will launch a voice-over-Internet service by the end of 2005, adding telephony to its Internet access and content services.

``As a CEO, what more could I ask for?'' said Mark Goldston, United Online's chairman, chief executive officer and president. ``A record quarter, a record year, two acquisitions and we can now leverage what we've done to go into a new business that could be a huge new category.''

For the full year, revenue swelled 32 percent, to $448.6 million from $339.2 million in fiscal 2003. Net income, excluding one-time tax benefits, increased to $48.9 million, or 74 cents per share, from $38.3 million, or 56 cents per share, in the prior year.

The company also projected that operating income would be between $19.7 million and $20.7 million in the upcoming quarter on revenue of between $126 million and $129 million. Pay accounts should increase to the range of 4.85 million to 4.95 million users.

The news, reported after the stock closed at $9.75, moved shares upward 34 cents in after-hours trading.