Safeguard Health Posts 50% Drop in Net Earnings

Safeguard Health Enterprises Inc. said net earnings for the first quarter fell 50% to $367,000 from $742,000. First quarter revenues increased 31% to $14.5 million from $11.1 million.

The Anaheim-based provider of prepaid dental care had predicted last month that its earnings for the quarter would be off because of unexpected high costs resulting from the opening of 14 new dental offices in California and Washington since mid-1985.