United Continental Holdings Inc posted higher-than expected quarterly earnings before one-time items, sending its shares up nearly 5 percent.

The parent of United Airlines reported a wider net loss due to expenses tied to the merger of UAL Corp and Continental Airlines.

Excluding merger costs and other one-time items that came to US$485 million, UAL earned US$160 million, or 44 cents a share, in the fourth quarter. On that basis, analysts expected 23 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The fourth-quarter net loss was US$325 million, or US$1.01 per share, compared with a loss of US$266 million, or 85 cents per share, a year earlier.

Quarterly revenue rose 15 percent to US$8.43 billion, topping the US$8.38 billion expected by analysts. Operating expenses also rose 15 percent, with fuel costs rising nearly 27 percent.

The company's shares were up US$1.14 to US$25.23 in early trading.

United Continental was formed last year when UAL Corp acquired Continental Airlines. The new United is the world's largest airline.