NEW YORK, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Coal miner Alpha Natural Resources Inc posted a better-than-expected third-quarter profit on Tuesday and raised its forecast for metallurgical coal sales next year.
The company reported a net loss of $19.5 million, or 19 cents per share, compared with a profit of $67.4 million, or 93 cents per share, a year earlier.

But, excluding merger-related expenses and other one-time items, adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations were 47 cents, topping analysts' average forecast of 38 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company raised its forecast for 2010 metallurgical coal shipments to a range of 10 to 12 million tons, up 1 million tons from its previous forecast.
Revenue slipped 41 percent to $729 million, said Alpha, which produces steam, or thermal coal for power generation, and metallurgical, or coking coal for steelmaking.

(Reporting by Matt Daily, editing by Dave Zimmerman) Keywords: DZALPHANATURAL/ (steve.james@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646-223-6013; Reuters Messaging: steve.james.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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