( FOX News )- Global Payments Inc. said late Thursday its third-quarter profit rose to $40.1 million, or 50 cents a share, from $34.3 million, or 42 cents a share, a year ago. Excluding a tax benefit, the company would have reported a profit of 44 cents a share for the latest quarter. Revenue rose to $310.6 million from $260.4 million in the year ago period. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research estimated a quarterly profit of 43 cents a share on revenue of $299.7 million. The company expects a 2008 profit of $1.95 to $1.97 a share on revenue of $1.25 billion to $1.26 billion. Analysts estimate a profit of $1.93 a share on revenue of $1.24 billion.