Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd today reported a 26.6 percent fall in fourth-quarter earnings compared to 2009, to $92.7 million.However, the company comfortably beat analysts’ expectations, posting $1.02 per share in operating earnings, compared to a consensus forecast of 71 cents. Aspen shares rose in late trading after the release of the results.Fourth-quarter results included $32.8 million of further losses from September’s New Zealand earthquake.The re/insurer’s full-year profits for 2010 plunged 34 percent to $324 million, compared to the 2009 figure of $473.9 million.