REX American Resources Corp. reported higher net income and sales Wednesday.

The Harrison Twp.-based energy-interests company reported net income for the three months that ended Oct. 31, 2011 of nearly $6.5 million, or 70 cents per diluted share, well above the nearly $4.3 million, or 44 cents per share, reported for the same quarter last year. For the first nine months of 2011, the company reported net income of nearly $13.5 million, or $1.43 per share, again above the nearly $9.7 million, or 98 cents per share, reported at the same point in 2010.

For the most recent quarter, Rex reported net sales of $84.5 million, compared to $70.3 million for the same quarter last year. For the first nine months of the year, net sales were put at $239.5 million, compared to $206.5 million for the same point in 2010.

The results reflect REX-owned alternative energy-segment interests in six operating ethanol production facilities, the company said.

“We believe our quarterly results reflect the benefit of our strategy to diversify our ethanol investment portfolio and focus on state-of-the-art plants located in Corn Belt states,” Stuart Rose, Rex chief executive, said in a statement.

REX previously operated as REX Stores Corp. The company shed its retail stores and changed its name in 2009.