Specialty metals and plastics distribution company A.M. Castle & Co posted a narrower quarterly loss on increased demand and improved pricing.

The Franklin Park, Illinois-based company said it expects sales growth rate in 2011 to be similar to 2010.

The company said it experienced a continued recovery in several of its segments including oil and gas, mining and heavy equipment, and general industrial products.

For the fourth quarter, the company reported a net loss of $1.5 million, or 7 cents a share, compared with a loss of $15.5 million, or 68 cents a share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 30 percent to $235.6 million.

Analysts, on average, expected the company to post a loss of 4 cents a share, on revenue of $228.75 million.

Shares of the company, which have gained 7 percent since it announced third-quarter results on Nov. 5, closed at $16.63 on Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.