Arkansas Best’s 4Q Profit Dips

Arkansas Best Corp. said Friday its fourth-quarter profit declined to $13.5 million, or 54 cents a share, from $14.2 million, or 56 cents, a year earlier.

Revenue rose to $459.3 million, from $454.3 million for the previous fourth quarter.

Arkansas Best’s largest subsidiary, ABF Freight System, had fourth-quarter revenue of $441.3 million, compared with $441.4 million a year earlier.

ABF’s operating income was $19.8 million, down from $20.8 million a year earlier.

For the full year, Arkansas Best earned $56.8 million, or $2.26 a share, down from $84.1 million, or $3.30, for 2006.

Revenue for the full year was $1.84 billion, down from $1.88 billion in 2006.

Arkansas Best Corp. is ranked No. 16 on the 2007 Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.