GLEN ALLEN, Va. (AP) -- Real estate investment trust Dynex Capital Inc. said fourth-quarter net income more than doubled, lifted by a 54 percent rise in net interest income.

The company, which invests in mortgage assets, posted net income of $9.6 million, or 40 cents per share, compared with $4.1 million, or 23 cents per share a year ago.

The results beat the 31 cents expected by analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Net interest income rose to $10.3 million from $6.8 million a year ago. The increase was attributable to growth in average interest earning investments to $1.2 billion for the quarter versus $800 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

For the year, net income was $29.5 million, or $1.41 per share, compared with $17.6 million, or $1.02 a year ago.

Shares in Dynex rose a penny to $10.69 in extended trading after ending Thursday up six cents. They've traded between $8.57 and $11 in the past year.