Special Devices Company Reports 24% Drop in Profit

Special Devices Inc., a Newhall-based supplier of parts that ignite missile systems and trigger automobile air bags, said its latest quarterly profit dropped 24%, to $376,000 from $498,000 a year earlier.

For its fiscal third quarter ended Aug. 1, Special Devices posted sales of $9.45 million, up 22% from $7.77 million. However, Special Devices had lower earnings because a larger percentage of its sales came from its automotive division, which operates on smaller profit margins than the company’s aerospace division.

For the nine months ended Aug. 1, the company’s profit was down 32%, to $670,000 from $983,000 a year earlier. Sales for the nine months were up 15%, to $24.6 million from $21.3 million.