Albertson’s Inc., the nation’s second-largest supermarket chain, said Tuesday that fourth-quarter earnings rose as the acquisitions of the Shaw’s and Bristol Farms grocery chains and an additional week of business helped offset hurricane-related costs. The company also said it regained market share one year after a strike and lockout in Southern California.

The Boise, Idaho-based company reported fourth-quarter net income of $194 million (52 cents per diluted share), compared with $130 million (35 cents) for the like period a year earlier.

The company matched the 52 cents per share average fourth-quarter profit estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

The results were affected by a $4 million (1 cent per diluted share) charge related to extra costs associated with the Florida hurricanes and by an $8 million (1 cent per share) charge related to a change in lease accounting. The most recent fourth quarter also had one more week than the year-ago period.

Fourth-quarter revenue grew 29 percent to $11.1 billion from the prior-year fourth quarter.

Alberton’s said the increase in total sales was due to the acquisition of Shaw’s and Bristol Farms, its progress in recovery from the labor dispute in Southern California, and the impact of new national merchandising programs.

The labor dispute began Oct. 11, 2003, when the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union struck Safeway-owned Vons and Pavilions. Ralphs and Albertson’s, which were negotiating jointly with Safeway, then locked out their union employees. About 59,000 workers were idled at 852 stores from the Mexican border to Mammoth Lakes during the four-and-a-half -month strike and lockout.

“We regained our market share after a painful labor dispute in Southern California,” said Albertson’s Chief Executive Larry Johnston. “This coupled with a new labor contract in the region positions our company for success in 2005 and beyond in America’s largest retail marketplace.”

During the fourth quarter, Albertson’s total company comparable store sales for the quarter increased 5.3 percent and identical store sales increased 5.1 percent.

For fiscal 2005, the company expects earnings from continuing operations to be between $1.33 and $1.43 per diluted share. Comparable and identical store sales are anticipated to be positive for the full year, and capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion.