Datametrics Reports Gain in Quarter, Profit for Year

Datametrics earned $584,000, or 10 cents a share, in the fourth quarter ended Oct. 31, up 60% from $366,000, or 6 cents a share, a year earlier. About $220,000 of the profit in the latest quarter was attributable to tax benefits.

Despite the strong fourth quarter, the Chatsworth company’s earnings fell 25% for the year to $1.4 million, or 24 cents a share, compared to $1.9 million, or 39 cents a share, in the previous fiscal year. The year-earlier profit was higher primarily because the company had nearly $300,000 more in tax benefits than it did in the fiscal year just completed. For the fiscal year, the company’s revenue rose 32% to $24.1 million from $18.2 million.

Revenue for the fourth quarter rose 53% to $7.7 million from $5 million.

Datametrics makes printers and other computer-related equipment used by aerospace contractors and the military. The company recently brought in some new managers and is trying to improve its manufacturing systems, upgrade its products and reduce costs. The company attributed its strong finish in part to a boost in the number of recent orders from contractors.