California Amplifier Posts Its First Profit Since 1984

California Amplifier, benefiting from cost cutting, returned to profitability in its second quarter ended Aug. 31, posting net income of $148,000, or 4 cents a share, on sales of $2 million.

The Camarillo maker of components for satellite-dish antennas had lost money for eight consecutive three-month periods. In last year’s second quarter, the company lost $244,000, or 7 cents a share, on sales of $4.2 million.

For the six months ended Aug. 31, California Amplifier earned $114,000, or 3 cents a share, on sales of $4.3 million. During the same period a year earlier, the company lost $490,000, or 14 cents a share, on sales of $7.1 million.

California Amplifier was founded five years ago to take advantage of the growth of the satellite-television industry, but the market collapsed this year when various pay-television services began scrambling their signals.

The company has been phasing out its manufacturing operations since February, cutting its work force so far from 250 to 70. Most sales in the past six months have been to the military, previously a minor part of the company’s business.