Ashton-Tate’s Profit Surges 40.5% to Record High; New Products Credited

Ashton-Tate reported record third-quarter profit Tuesday of $11.1 million, up 40.5% over the same quarter last year, on record revenue of $68 million, a 17.9% increase.

That brought net income for the nine months ended Oct. 31 to $30.3 million, compared to $19.5 million for the first nine months of 1986. Revenue totaled $191.8 million, up from $147.9 million a year earlier.

The Torrance-based company attributed the record performance to the “strong sales” of its new MultiMate software and rapid acceptance of its dBase Mac, which is designed for the Apple Macintosh computer. Ashton-Tate also recently shipped a desktop publishing product, called Byline, for IBM personal computers and compatibles, Chief Executive Edward M. Esber Jr. said.

“These three new products are just the beginning of many new leading-edge products in which Aston-Tate has invested research and development dollars during the past three years,” Esber said.

Several new products will be put on the market over the next year, he said.