GM Units See Mixed Results; Electronics Profit Rises 72%

General Motors Corp.’s electronics and data processing subsidiaries reported big gains Wednesday in third-quarter profit. The company’s finance subsidiary said its earnings declined 31%.

GM Hughes Electronics Corp. registered a 72% rise in third-quarter profit, which it credited to growth in sales, tight cost control and the sale of its 30% interest in Japan Communications Satellite Co.

The Los Angeles-based electronics contractor reported earnings of $193.1 million, or 56 cents per share of General Motors class H common stock, compared to $112.3 million, or 38 cents a share, in third-quarter 1992.

Those earnings figures each include an after-tax charge of $30.9 million related to GM’s purchase of Hughes Aircraft Co.

Revenue totaled $3.32 billion in the third quarter, up from $2.88 billion in the same period last year.

* Dallas-based Electronic Data Processing Corp. reported record quarterly earnings due to a rise in sales and a decline in expenses.

The firm’s third-quarter profit was up 15% to $191.6 million, or 40 cents per share of General Motors class E stock, compared to $167.3 million, or 35 cents a share, in the same period last year.

Revenue rose from $2.06 billion in third-quarter 1992 to $2.08 billion in the most recent period.

General Motors Acceptance Corp. reported a 31% drop in earnings in the third quarter due to poorer underwriting results in its insurance operations and a reduction in its level of assets. The company’s profit was $205 million, compared to $297 million in third-quarter 1992.

The company’s net income from financing operations was $166 million, down from $245 million in third-quarter 1992.

The company financed or leased 29% of all GM vehicles sold in the United States during the quarter.