Mountain View, Calif. - In what has become a quarterly ritual, Google on Wednesday again surpassed analyst expectations by posting a fourth quarter profit that nearly tripled its figure from a year ago.

Buoyed by improved market share in its Web search and online advertising programs, the company said that it recorded net income of $1.03 billion, up from $372.2 million during the same period in 2005.

Its earnings per share of $3.18 easily beat consensus Wall Street estimates of $2.92, according to a survey conducted by Thomson Financial.

Mountain View, Calif.-based Google has now topped analysts' expectations in nine of its 10 quarters as a public company. Google also said that its revenue was $3.2 billion, up 67%.

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