Boeing profit jumps 26 percent as commercial aircraft sale rises

(Reuters) - Boeing Co posted a 26 percent increase in quarterly profit, helped by a rise in commercial aircraft deliveries.

The company earned $1.23 billion (743.24 million pounds), or $1.61 a share, in the fourth quarter, up from $978 million, or $1.28 a share, a year earlier.

Core earnings, which exclude some pension and other costs, rose to $1.88 a share from $1.46 a year earlier.

Revenue increased 7 percent to $23.8 billion.

For 2014, the company expects core earnings to be between $7.00 and $7.20 per share.

(Reporting by Sweta Singh in Bangalore; Editing by Savio D'Souza)