Medical waste firm Stericycle Inc. reported stronger net profits for its fourth quarter and 2011 year.

For the quarter ended Dec. 31, the Lake Forest, Ill.-based Stericycle posted a 28.6-percent increase in net earnings to $64.3 million, or 74 cents per diluted share, compared with  $50 million, or 57 cents per diluted share, in the 2010 fourth quarter, the company said in a news release.

Revenue for the fourth quarter rose 13.5 percent to $446.6 million from $393.5 million a year earlier.

For the year net income climbed 12.9 percent to $234.8 million, or $2.69 per diluted share, compared with $207.9 million, or $2.39 per diluted share, in 2010.

Revenue for 2011 jumped 16.4 percent to $1.68 billion, compared with $1.44 billion a year ago.

Acquisitions in 2011 added $48.9 million to revenue for the fourth quarter and $158.2 million for the year.