Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. on Wednesday projected fourth-quarter and full-year earnings above analyst estimates, prompting shares to rise.

The Los Angeles maker of products for aerospace, energy and construction industries said it expects net income between 95 cents to $1.05 per share for the quarter and $1.71 to $1.81 per share for 2009. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters in average were expecting the company to report quarterly net income of 38 cents and full-year earnings of $1.14.

The company said it expects quarterly revenue of about $1.3 billion and 2009 revenue of $5.3 billion. Analysts estimated revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter and $5.27 billion for the year.

“Both demand and pricing were at better levels than expected, given the seasonal pressures that we typically experience in the fourth quarter,” said Chief Executive Officer David Hannah, in a press release

Reliance Steel is scheduled to release its financial results on Feb. 18.

Shares closed up $1.45, or 3 percent, to $46.86 on the New York Stock Exchange.