UPDATE 1-Alfac 3rd-qtr operating profit beats view

Published: 28 Oct 2009 12:42:34 PST

* Aflac Q3 profit 77 cents/shr vs 21 cents/shr year ago

* Operating earnings beat expectations

NEW YORK, Oct 28 - Aflac Inc, the world's largest seller of supplemental disability insurance, said on Wednesday that its net profit more than tripled in the third quarter due to strong revenue growth.

Aflac said net earnings were $363 million, or 77 cents a share, compared with $100 million, or 21 cents a share, a year earlier.

Operating earnings, which analysts use to measure performance because it excludes investment gains and losses, rose to $589 million, or $1.25 a share, from $493 million, or $1.02 a share, a year ago.

Analysts. on average, had expected the insurer to earn $1.20 a share on that basis, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The largest writer of long-term disability insurance in the United States and Japan said total revenue rose 22.6 percent to $4.5 billion from $3.7 billion a year ago.

Aflac shares were flat at $40.58 after hours. The stock has traded in a range between $10.83 and $49.36 over the past year.