Alton Group Inc.: The Irvine manufacturer of...

Alton Group Inc.: The Irvine manufacturer of analytical and diagnostic instruments reported a profit of $70,000, or 2 cents a share, for its latest fiscal quarter. That compared to earnings of $11,000, or less than 1 cent a share, for the same period a year earlier. Sales for the company’s second fiscal quarter, which ended Dec. 31, were up 4% to $562,000 from $541,000. For the first half of its fiscal year, the company lost $55,000 or 2 cents a share, compared to a loss of $175,000, or 8 cents a share, for the same period a year earlier. Six-month sales increased 13% to $862,000 from $763,000.