Special Devices Earnings Rise 14% to $2.15 Million

Special Devices Inc., a Newhall company that designs and manufactures pyrotechnic devices, said its earnings for the fiscal third quarter that ended July 28 were $2.15 million, up 14% from $1.89 million in the third quarter last year.

Sales for the quarter were $25.63 million, down 11% from $28.97 million a year earlier.

For the first nine months of fiscal year 1996, sales were $15.9 million, down from $21.9 million last year.

For the first nine months, earnings were $5.03 million, up 13% from $4.45 million a year ago, and sales were down 5% to $72.39 million from $76.22 million.

Sales in the automotive business declined--despite increased unit sales--because prices were reduced, the company said. Sales also declined in the aerospace business because some programs were delayed, while others were not extended.