08:32 AM EST, 02/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Canadian telco giant BCE (TSX and NYSE: BCE) was at last look up 1.4% in U.S. pre-market on Thursday after reporting improved fourth-quarter earnings despite a slight decrease in revenue.

The company reported a 4.1% increase in adjusted net earnings of $719 million compared with a year earlier, which drove adjusted EPS up 3.9% to $0.79.

Fourth-quarter net earnings rose 16% to $505 million. Operating revenue of $6.42 billion fell slightly from $6.47 billion a year earlier.

"We're continuing to see a clear preference for fibre with total Internet revenue up 3.3% year-over-year, and we now have three million residential Internet customers on our FTTH network, up 10% in 2024. Digital now comprises 42% of total media revenue, compared to 35% in 2023, with digital revenue up 19% over last year. We're also gaining momentum in our objective to become a tech services leader with strong business solutions revenue growth of 18%," said BCE and Bell Canada Chief Executive Mirko Bibic.

The company maintained its annualized common share dividend at $3.99 and expects the same figure in 2025.

The company expects 2025 revenue growth of minus 3% to plus 1% and adjusted EBITDA growth of minus 2% to plus 2%. 2025 adjusted EPS growth is expected between minus 13% and minus 8%.

The U.S.-listed shares were last seen up $0.35 at $25.25 in pre-market trading.