Printronix Profits Fall in Quarter, Fiscal Year

Still struggling along with a depressed computer industry, Printronix Inc. posted a 69% drop in profits for the fourth quarter ended March 29 while fiscal year earnings fell 9% from the year before.

Fourth quarter net income for the Irvine manufacturer of computer printers was $894,000, compared to $2.77 million during the same period last year. For all of fiscal 1985, the company reported net income of $7.1 million, compared to $7.8 million the year before.

Sales for the fourth quarter were $37 million, up 5.7% from $35 million a year earlier. Full-year revenue increased 27.6% to $148 million from $116 million in fiscal 1984.

A company spokesman said earnings were squeezed by development costs of Printronix’ new laser printer products and by the September purchase of Anadex Inc., which the company projects will be profitable in fiscal 1986.