CARY — Business software giant SAS reported today that its revenue rose a robust 12 percent in 2011, more than double the growth rate it enjoyed in 2010.

The Cary-based company's revenue has grown every year since it was founded in 1976. The privately held business doesn't release profits but says it has made money every year as well.

Corporations use SAS business intelligence and analytics software to analyze their operations and predict trends.

"Corporations trust SAS Business Analytics to solve their toughest problems, from increasing revenue through better pricing strategies to stopping fraud-related losses," co-founder and CEO Jim Goodnight said in a prepared statement.

Last year the company generated $2.75 billion in revenue, up from $2.43 billion in 2010.

SAS said last year's revenue growth enabled the company to boost its worldwide staff by 9.2 percent.

SAS is one of the Triangle's largest employers with 4,857 employees at its headquarters in Cary. It has 12,553 employees worldwide.