Qwest Communications International Inc. posted second-quarter earnings Wednesday that more than doubled from the same period last year.

The Denver-based phone company said net income was $246 million, or 13 cents a share, compared with $117 million, or 6 cents a share, during the second quarter in 2006. It was the sixth consecutive quarter Qwest netted a profit.

Qwest did miss analyst expectations, though, sending stocks down in morning trading. Analysts had been estimating that the company’s net income would be 14 or 15 cents a share. Qwest shares were down 2.1 percent to $8.35.

The quarterly earnings were strengthened by cost-cutting efforts that helped counter fewer phone customers and weak sales.

The company said it has completed of its $2 billion share buyback plan and has eliminated $356 million in debt. Qwest also said it cut its operating costs by 4.2 percent to $2.93 million.

Its landline numbers dropped 7.1 percent and total residential lines dropped 6.1 percent. Wholesale revenue was down less than 1 percent, Qwest said.

The company did add 100,000 broadband customers and bundle penetration increased 60 percent.

Revenue declined slightly from $3.46 million from $3.47 million in 2006.