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Northern Trust Corp.’s stock closed up 5.7 percent Wednesday, to $55.44 a share, as the Chicago-based financial services company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results.

Northern, which caters to institutions and wealthy individuals, said it’s looking at potential acquisitions internationally and domestically for its institutional and personal business segments.

The company also is looking to acquire client relationships in markets where it has a lesser presence, such as the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and California.

Northern reported fourth-quarter net per share of 82 cents, compared with $1.47 in the year-earlier quarter. Wall Street expected 66 cents a share.