Financials

National Home Healthcare: Scarsdale, N.Y.-based National Home Health Care reported a 60-percent jump in net income for the fourth quarter ended July 31. The company posted net income of $1.3 million, or 24 cents a share, compared to $764,000, or 15 cents a share, for the same quarter the previous year.

For the fiscal year, NHHC posted a net income of $4.2 million, or 78 cents a share, compared to $4.09 million, or 77 cents a share, for fiscal year 2000.

Lincare: Clearwater, Fla.-based Lincare net income increased 17 percent for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, posting net income of $34.8 million, or 31 cents a share, compared to $29.7 million, or 28 cents a share, for the same quarter the previous year.

Apria: Apria Healthcare, Costa Mesa, Calif., net income increased 19 percent for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 to $17.6 million, or 31 cents a share, compared to $14.8 million, or 28 cents a share, posted for the same quarter the previous year.

Praxair: Danbury, Conn.-based Praxair reported a decrease in net income of almost 50 percent for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, posting net income of $62 million, or 38 cents a share, compared to $122 million, or 76 cents a share, for the same quarter the previous year.

Matria: Matria Healthcare, Marietta, Ga., reported a decrease of 49 percent for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, posting net income of $790,000, or 9 cents a share, compared to $1.6 million, or 17 cents a share, for the same quarter in 2000.

American HomePatient: Brentwood, Tenn.-based American HomePatient posted a net loss for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 of $5.9 million, or 34 cents a share, compared to a net loss of $5.4 million, or 35 cents a share, for the same quarter a year ago.

Option Care: Option Care, Bannockburn, Ill., posted net income of $2.5 million, or 19 cents a share, for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to $2 million, or 16 cents a share, for the same period a year ago.