PDA Engineering Reports Drop in 3rd-Quarter Net

Despite higher revenues for the period, PDA Engineering of Costa Mesa reported fiscal 1987 third-quarter net earnings of $167,000, down 20% from $210 a year earlier. The computer software developer attributed the decline to higher sales costs and higher tax rates.

Revenues for the period ended March 31 were $5.4 million, about 8% higher than the $5 million posted last year.

For the first nine months, profits of $810,000 were down 27% from the $1.1 million reported last year. Revenues for the nine months were $16.2 million, up 24% from the $13 million posted a year earlier.

The company attributed the revenue gains to increased sales of its software programs and said profits were lower because of marketing costs necessary to generate those sales.