AST Streak Is Really 8

When AST Research Inc. reported a $115.8-million first quarter loss last week, some analysts and reporters chalked it up as the computer manufacturer’s seventh consecutive losing quarter.

That would be bad enough, but AST spokesman Emory Epperson soberly pointed out that it’s actually a little worse. The string is up to eight losing quarters now, he said, because the Irvine-based company had to revise financial results for the quarter that ended July 2, 1994.

Last year, AST changed what had been recorded as a $14.1-million quarterly profit to an $8.1-million loss to reflect costs that arose following the company’s acquisition of Tandy Corp.’s computer manufacturing operations.

* Greg Miller covers high technology for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at greg.miller@latimes.com.