(Reuters) - N:TWC, the second-largest U.S. cable operator, posted a 19.5 percent rise in quarterly profit as its residential subscriber trends improved through the quarter.
Net income attributable to common shareholders rose to $479 million (285 million pounds), or $1.70 per share, in the first quarter ended March 31, from $401 million, or $1.34 per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, the company earned $1.78 per share — above analysts' average expectation of $1.68 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Revenue rose 2 percent to $5.58 billion. Analysts were expecting $5.64 billion. The company said it lost 34,000 residential video customers in the quarter on a net basis.
Time Warner Cable will be acquired in a $45.2 billion deal by Comcast once regulators approve the transaction.
(Reporting by Soham Chatterjee; Editing by Joyjeet Das)