UPDATE: Dollar Thrifty Posts Upbeat Q4 Profit

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc DTG posted a strong rise in its fourth-quarter earnings. Dollar Thrifty projects earnings of $4.60 to $5.20 per share for 2012 and $1.15 to $1.40 per share for the first quarter. However, analysts were expecting 2012 earnings of $4.82 per share and Q1 earnings of $0.79 per share. Dollar Thrifty's fourth quarter profit climbed to $33.9 million, or $1.08 per share, from a year-ago profit of $12.5 million, or $0.41 per share. Excluding one-time charges, Dollar Thrifty earned $1.09 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $0.76 per share. Dollar Thrifty's revenue climbed 1.3% to $353.7 million, versus analysts' estimates of $356 million. Dollar Thrifty shares gained 0.56% to $73.77 in pre-market trading.