Us West Reports Stable Earnings

Englewood, Colo.-based US West earned $330 million, or 70 cents per share, in the quarter ending March 31. It earned $324 million, or 73 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue was $2.8 billion, up 7 percent from $2.6 billion a year ago.

The company gained $39 million from the sale of some rural exchanges during the quarter. It recorded a gain of $15 million from selling similar assets in the year-ago period.

Without those sales, US West’s profit would have been $291 million compared with $294 million a year ago.

The company said it was hurt somewhat by expenses in its international operations. It provides mobile phone and a phone-cable service in the United Kingdom.